What's UPK?

Facts and Figures

For New York State:

There are 4,690,107 children in New York State
54.4% of children under six have both parents in the labor force
48, 952 children are served by Head Start
42,876 children are served by Universal Pre-K programs
Average annual cost of child care for a four-year-old in a center is $8,060 (average annual cost of public college tuition is $3983 per year)
Only families with incomes below $28, 644 qualify for child care help in New York (federal law allows incomes up to $40, 799)
Average annual salary of a child care worker is $18, 690
A single caregiver in New York in a center can care for as many as 8 4-year-olds
Every $1 invested in quality early child care and education saves as much as $7 by increasing the likelihood that children will be literate, employed, and enrolled in post-secondary education and less likely to be school dropouts, dependent on welfare, or arrested for criminal activity.

Information adapted from Children's Defense Fund. For more NY State "Facts at a Glance," visit Education Week on the Web.