Page 18 - The Indian EYE 042525

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline APRIL 25, 2025 | The Indian Eye 18

Mayor Adams Makes Historic $167 Million

Long-Term Commitment to Fund Critical Early

Childhood Education Programming

Administration to Strategically Realign Head Start Program to Prioritize Services for

Children Who Need Them Most, Expand Early Head Start for Younger Children

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY

ew York City Mayor Eric
Adams has announced new
Ninvestments in his upcom-
ing Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Executive
Budget totaling $167 million to sup-
port young children and their families
and strengthen funding to preserve
and protect critical early childhood
education programing benefiting the
most vulnerable children across the
five boroughs. These investments in-
clude committing — for the first time
— to annual funding for a citywide
3-K expansion and for pre-K students
with disabilities to ensure continuity.
Additionally, New York City Public
Schools will be conducting a strategic
realignment of the federally funded
Head Start program to expand Early
Head Start for younger children.
“To truly make New York City
the best place to raise a family, we for working-class New Yorkers, every education programs that had been of New York’s children under the age
know we must invest in our children’s day, everywhere.” previously funded with expiring stim- of five. To extend federal funding for
future, and today, we’re making bold “As a working mom, I know first- ulus dollars by making investments the program, and in response to his-
investments in early childhood ed- hand how hard it can be to balance in Summer Rising, a citywide 3-K toric utilization rates, New York City
ucation — to ensure our youngest a career and raising a family in New expansion, special education pre-K, Public Schools reapplied for Head
students have the tools they need to York City. That’s why investing in community schools, social workers, Start this year with the Administra-
succeed, and so parents don’t have to early childhood education isn’t just and arts education. This investment tion for Children & Families — lo-
choose between earning a paycheck policy — it’s personal,” said Chan- included one-time funding of $92 cated within the U.S. Department of
and caring for their children,” said cellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “For million to support a citywide 3-K Health & Human Services — to pri-
Mayor Adams. “For the first time the first time, our administration is expansion. Additionally, the Adams oritize an expansion of Early Head
ever, we’re baselining nearly $170 committing nearly $170 million every administration invested $20 million Start, which serves infants and tod-
million annually to support critical year to essential programs like pre-K to ensure that every student on a 3-K dlers under the age of three.
programs like pre-K special educa- special education and expanding 3-K waitlist was offered a seat, and $55 As Mayor Adams has repeatedly
tion and expand citywide 3-K, and access across the city. These bold in- million to provide more than 700 new said, every child who needs an Early
ensuring this funding becomes a vestments ensure our kids have the seats for three- and four-year-olds Childhood Education seat should be
permanent part of our city’s budget foundation they need to succeed. with special needs. In his upcoming offered a seat, and the transition to a
so that the programs can and will be Our Head Start program is vital, par- FY 2026 Executive Budget, May- new mix of seats for older and younger
maintained for years to come. We’re ticularly for our most vulnerable New or Adams will baseline funding for children will be carefully managed to
also working strategically to promote Yorkers, and I understand firsthand these crucial programs for the first minimize disruptions, with clear guid-
equity and high-impact outcomes for the importance of finding programs time ever in city history to support ance and alternative placements for
our youngest learners by planning that meet our families’ needs in their children and families and keep the affected families. Accordingly, New
ahead to buffer anticipated changes own neighborhoods. We are thrilled promise that every child who wants York City Public Schools will help
in federal Head Start funding, and to announce that our administration an early childhood seat will have ac- families explore the available Ear-
we’ll be working closely with fami- is committing to securing funding for cess to one, now and in the future. ly Head Start, Head Start, 3-K, and
lies to make sure they’re informed these programs, ensuring that every Mayor Adams is also committed pre-K options, and is engaging with
about Head Start and all the early family can feel confident knowing to ensuring that all children receive providers, elected officials, and fam-
childhood education options avail- their child has access to a quality pro- high-quality educational services, ilies to ensure transparency and sup-
able to them. Our administration gram in their community.” with a focus on providing the highest port throughout the process. The fiscal
understands what families need, as Over the FY 2025 budget cy- level of support to the city’s most vul- implications to the city will be deter-
well as the courage and conviction to cle, Mayor Adams protected more nerable children and families. Head mined after the federal government
do what’s right to continue delivering than $600 million in key, long-term Start is a critical lifeline for thousands responds to the grant application.

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