The Bethlehem Central School District is seeking a partnership with one or more community-based organizations to provide a Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program for up to 235 four-year-olds in the 2026-27 school year. 

Funding is available from New York State to provide an instructional program for four-year-olds in the Bethlehem Central School District. New York State has set the maximum reimbursement for UPK providers at $5,400 per child, including a district administrative reimbursement of $300. 

View a copy of the BCSD Pre-Kindergarten Program Request for Proposal (RFP) [PDF]

If you are unable to view the PDF, please email districtoffice@bethlehemschools.org to obtain a copy in a different format.

Interested applicants have until Friday, Mar. 6 at 3 p.m. to submit a proposal to the district.

The district has offered a limited number of UPK spots each of the last two years, 2024-25 and 2025-26.  Enrollment for UPK is done through a lottery. Depending on the response to the RFP, a lottery for Universal Pre-K for 2026-27 would be held in April.