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De Blasio Reminds Parents Prekindergarten Deadline Is Wednesday

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday urged parents of 4-year-olds in New York City to apply for universal prekindergarten by this week's deadline -- even if they've applied already.

Speaking to reporters at the Riverdale Neighborhood House in the Bronx --where 4-year-old Lucas offered the mayor a "smoothie" made up of multi-colored Play-Doh --de Blasio noted that there might be new seats available to parents when his signature pre-K program opens this fall. The deadline to apply is by the close of business Wednesday.

Mayor Bill De Blasio Reminds Parents Prekindergarten Deadline Is Wednesday

"If they have not gone back and looked since March to see the new options that are available, potentially right in their own immediate area, they may not know there's something there for them. So they should go back," de Blasio told reporters, including WCBS 880's Rich Lamb and 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa.

De Blasio acknowledged there are some schools that are already overcrowded, and parents may not get the one closest to them.

Mayor Bill De Blasio Reminds Parents Prekindergarten Deadline Is Wednesday

De Blasio said interest levels in the new program are very high.

"I can just tell you from walking down the street in the city all over the place, parents are coming up to me and talking about pre-K, their introducing me to their children who qualify this year or their children will qualify in a couple of years," de Blasio said.

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