Pre-K Centers for the 26-27 School Year

Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the District will open two new Rochester Early Childhood Education Centers, one located at 145 Midland Avenue (previously School 39) and one at 820 Chili Avenue (previously School 44).  These sites will become RECEC Northeast and RECEC South, strengthening our early childhood continuum and expanding access to high-quality Prekindergarten learning environments for children and families across our community.

Early childhood education plays a critical role in a child’s long-term success, and research consistently shows that strong early learning experiences support language development, early literacy and numeracy, social-emotional growth, and school readiness.  Expanding and strengthening our early childhood system is one of the most powerful investments we can make in the long-term success of our students and our community.  As a district, we are committed to ensuring that every Rochester child has access to safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environments that set the foundation for success in kindergarten and beyond.

The new RECEC sites represent an important evolution of our mixed-delivery PreK model, which includes district-operated classrooms, community-based organization (CBO) partners, and school-based PreK programs embedded within elementary schools.  Within this model, the new early childhood hubs will:

• Provide dedicated spaces designed specifically for PreK learners.
• Increase equitable access to high-quality early learning opportunities across neighborhoods.
• Support instructional collaboration and specialized services for young children.
• Help ensure our elementary schools have the space needed to serve growing K-6 and special education programming.

As part of this transition, the current Rochester Early Childhood Education Center located on North Clinton Avenue will relocate to School 39, inclusive of additional classrooms, and a second RECEC will open at School 44.  Together, these two sites will serve as vibrant early childhood hubs while we also maintain PreK classrooms in selected elementary schools, preserve the Florence Brown PreK Center at School 33, and continue partnerships with community-based organizations.

While some classrooms will relocate as part of this transition, maintaining neighborhood access to PreK remains an important priority.  Our goal is to ensure families continue to have multiple high-quality options - including school-based programs, community partners, and the new early childhood centers, so that families can choose the setting that best meets their needs.

This work reflects our broader vision of building a strong and sustainable PreK continuum - one that offers families meaningful options and ensures that more children enter kindergarten with the skills and confidence they need to thrive.  Over the coming months, we will focus on careful planning and collaboration to ensure smooth transitions.  This includes preparing facilities, supporting staff and families through changes in program locations, and providing clear communication about enrollment, transportation, and available supports.  We recognize that any system change requires thoughtful planning and partnership, and we are committed to engaging school communities and families throughout this process.