Governor Kathy Hochul Visits William E. Cottle Elementary School to Highlight Universal Pre-K

William E. Cottle Elementary School welcomed a very special guest on the first day of the 2026–2027 school year as Governor Kathy Hochul visited Tuckahoe Union Free School District to highlight the importance of expanding access to high-quality Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) programs across New York State.

Joined by New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa, distinguished state and local leaders, educators, community partners, and Tuckahoe families, Governor Hochul visited Cottle to celebrate the district’s continued commitment to providing exceptional early learning opportunities for its youngest students.

Universal Pre-K has been an important part of the Tuckahoe community for many years, and the district is deeply appreciative of the additional funding and support provided through New York State’s continued investment in UPK. This support has allowed Tuckahoe to expand the number of available UPK seats and better meet the educational needs of our students and families.

The district is especially grateful for its partnership with Healthy Kids, whose collaboration helps make these opportunities possible for Tuckahoe families.

“We were honored to welcome Governor Hochul, Commissioner Rosa, and our state and local partners to Cottle Elementary on such a special day,” said Superintendent Benjamin P. Roberts. “The first day of school is always an exciting time in our district, but having the Governor here to recognize the importance of early childhood education made this year’s first day particularly meaningful. We are proud of our UPK program and grateful for the continued investment that allows us to provide more opportunities for our youngest learners.”

The visit served as a wonderful celebration of early childhood education and the strong partnerships that continue to support Tuckahoe students and families. The district looks forward to building upon this progress and ensuring that every Tuckahoe student has a strong foundation for success from their very first day of school.

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