Universal Pre-K & 3-K on the Lower East Side
Manny Cantor Center offers Universal Pre-K (UPK) for 4-year-olds and 3-K for 3-year-olds on the Lower East Side, at 197 East Broadway. Both programs are NYC-funded, which means they are tuition-free through the city for enrolled families — high-quality, play-based early childhood education without the cost barrier.
Our classrooms use the Creative Curriculum, giving children the social-emotional, language, and early literacy skills that set them up to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. Each day includes active play, hands-on exploration, meals, and — for families who need it — limited fee-based aftercare.
Our school braids funding in order to serve families across the Lower East Side. 3K and Pre-K are offered in partnership with Head Start and New York City Public Schools, ensuring that school is free for all enrolled three- and four-year-olds.
As with all NYCPS-contracted 3K and Pre-K programs in the city, our program utilizes the Creative Curriculum. Children learn through active play and exploration in classroom centers, and engage in units of study that support social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development. They have opportunities to move their bodies each day, either outside or in our on-site gymnasium space.
3K and Pre-K run five days per week, and breakfast, lunch, and snack are provided daily. Limited fee-based aftercare is available.
The Department of Education matches families and schools based on school admission priorities, seat availability, and family application choices.
2026-27 School Year Admissions Timeline
For the 2026-2027 school year, families with children born in 2022 will be eligible to apply for Pre-K, and families with children born in 2023 will be eligible to apply for 3K.
November, December + January: Interested families research school options and attend information sessions.
January 2026: MySchools application opens.
February 2026: MySchools application closes.
May 2026: 3K + UPK offers released; remaining seats filled on a rolling basis.
September 2026: School year begins.
Manny Cantor Center is grateful for the generous support of the Jewish Communal Fund as the founding donor of the Jewish Day Care initiative, with a gift made through UJA-Federation of New York, and for the JCF’s support in piloting this new model of family engagement.
3-K for 3-Year-Olds — NYC-Funded Early Learning
If you’re looking for a 3-K school on the Lower East Side, MCC’s 3-K program serves children who turn 3 during the school year. NYC 3-K is a city-funded program, so it is tuition-free for enrolled families — a full school day of play-based learning, meals, and community for your three-year-old.
In our 3-K classrooms, children explore language, early problem-solving, friendships, and independence through stories, dramatic play, and hands-on activities. It’s a joyful, developmentally appropriate start — a full year before pre-K.
3-K runs five days per week. Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are provided daily. Limited fee-based aftercare is available for families who need extended hours.
Universal Pre-K (UPK) for 4-Year-Olds
Our Universal Pre-K program serves children who turn 4 during the school year — the year before kindergarten. As an NYC-funded UPK provider on the Lower East Side, MCC offers a tuition-free, full school day rooted in play-based learning, with experienced teachers who help children grow as readers, thinkers, and community members.
Children in our UPK classrooms build kindergarten-readiness skills naturally — through stories, projects, STEM exploration, and classroom conversations, not worksheets. By the time they transition to kindergarten, they are confident, curious, and ready.
UPK runs five days per week and includes breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack daily. Limited fee-based aftercare is available.
Frequently Asked Questions About MCC’s 3-K and UPK Programs
Are MCC’s 3-K and UPK programs tuition-free?
Yes. Both 3-K and UPK at Manny Cantor Center are NYC-funded programs, which means they are tuition-free through the city for enrolled families. 3-K serves 3-year-olds and UPK serves 4-year-olds, both at MCC’s Lower East Side campus at 197 East Broadway, New York, NY 10002.
What ages are eligible for 3-K and UPK at MCC?
Children are generally eligible for 3-K the school year they turn 3, and for Universal Pre-K (UPK) the school year they turn 4. Please contact MCC’s admissions team to confirm current-year eligibility cutoffs.
How do I apply for 3-K or UPK at MCC?
Because 3-K and UPK are NYC-funded programs, families apply through New York City’s preschool application process at MySchools.nyc.gov. List Manny Cantor Center as a preferred school. MCC’s admissions team can help you navigate the process — schedule a tour or call (646) 395-4250 to ask about current availability.
What curriculum does MCC use for 3-K and UPK?
MCC’s 3-K and UPK programs use the Creative Curriculum, an evidence-based, play-based approach used by all NYCPS-contracted 3-K and Pre-K programs in the city. Children learn through active exploration, classroom centers, and units of study that support social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development.
Is aftercare available for 3-K and UPK students?
Limited fee-based aftercare is available for 3-K and UPK families at Manny Cantor Center. Contact the admissions team at enrollment@mannycantor.org or (646) 395-4250 for current availability and rates.
