The city must give Success Academy $720,000 in back payments for three charter-school pre-K programs, a panel of appellate judges ruled Thursday.

The city Department of Education had withheld the payments because Success Academy had refused to sign a contract obligating it to follow the city’s curriculum.

“It’s a win for our littlest learners,” said Success Vice President of Legal Affairs Emily Kim, although the decision by the Appellate Division’s Third Department will likely be appealed by the city.