Page 18 - The Indian Eye 071825

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 18, 2025 | The Indian Eye 18

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

NYC Mayor Adams Announces $80 Million in

New Investments to Bolster Early Childhood

$10 Million in Funding for Childcare Pilot Part of Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget,

Building On “Best Budget Ever”

OUR BUREAU learning opportunities for 0-2 year-
olds as part of their existing work in
NEW YORK, NY
the communities that need it most.
ew York City Mayor Eric Ad- The city will also undertake an anal-
ams has announced an addi- ysis to understand demand among
Ntional $80 million in funding low-income communities before be-
to support New York City families ginning an enrollment effort for the
and expand access to childcare and pilot program. The city expects that
early childhood education, putting the childcare pilot for 0-2 year-olds
New York City on the path to uni- to begin in January 2026. These ef-
versal childcare for low-income fam- forts combined will move the city
ilies if a pilot is successful. Part of closer to a truly inclusive early child-
the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Adopted hood system that begins at birth and
Budget, and building on the FY 2026 supports every learner.
Executive Budget — often called the These investments all build on
“Best Budget Ever” — Mayor Adams the Adams administration’s historic
announced $70 million in funding investments in early childhood edu-
to support pre-K special education cation and universal childcare. May-
students who require occupational or Adams’ Best Budget Ever includ-
therapy, speech therapy, or other re- ed investments totaling $167 million
lated services, as well as $10 million to support young children and their
in funding for a childcare pilot pro- families that strengthened funding
gram for 0-2 year-olds that will serve to preserve and protect critical ear-
low-income families across New York York on the path to becoming the with special education needs in in- ly childhood education programing
City. The pilot program — a first for first major U.S. city to provide free tegrated classes and evaluate close benefiting the most vulnerable chil-
a major city in the U.S. to offer — will universal childcare to low-income to 1,800 more students annually for dren across the five boroughs. These
be administered by New York City residents. This is all part of the bud- special education classes — doubling investments committed — for the
Public Schools and seeks to expand get that my mom and family needed the amount of Preschool Regional first time — to annual funding for a
access to infant and toddler care in a growing up, and as mayor, I’m proud Assessment Center teams. A total of citywide 3-K expansion and for the
targeted way, building on the founda- to deliver it to working-class families $50 million of the $70 million allocat- pre-K students with disabilities pro-
tion of its already existing early child- across the five boroughs.” ed for pre-K special education seats gram to ensure continuity.
hood programming. “New York City Public Schools will expand access to related services, Over the FY 2025 budget cy-
“For years, the cost of living has is incredibly grateful to the Adams such as speech or occupational and cle, Mayor Adams protected more
driven many New Yorkers out of the administration for their continued physical therapy for preschool stu- than $600 million in key, long-term
five boroughs, but our administration commitment to supporting our early dents. An additional $10 million will education programs that had been
has been taking action because we childhood education programming,” support increasing the number of ad- previously funded with expiring stim-
understand the best way to make the said New York City Public Schools ministrators to reduce caseloads and ulus dollars by making investments
American Dream a reality for New Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. adding more community coordina- in Summer Rising, a citywide 3-K
Yorkers is by making our city more “We are not only listening to what our tors to better support families. Final- expansion, special education pre-K,
affordable for working-class fami- families and communities need — ly, $10 million will help increase New community schools, social workers,
lies,” said Mayor Adams. “For too but we’re delivering it to them, too. It York City Public Schools’ internal and arts education.
long, working families have struggled is our mission to provide high-quality capacity to conduct initial preschool This investment also included
with the cost of childcare, which is and equitable educational opportu- special education evaluations, reduc- one-time funding of $92 million to
why we’re proud to build on the his- nities for all students, starting from ing the burden on families to locate support a citywide 3-K expansion.
toric investments we’ve made. With their earliest years, and we are build- private providers. Additionally, the Adams admin-
this $80 million in funding, part of ing upon the strong foundation of Additionally, beginning this istration invested $20 million to
our ‘Best Budget Ever,’ we’re mak- early childhood programming we’ve month, New York City Public ensure that every student on a 3-K
ing universal pre-K truly universal already established.” Schools — in partnership with the waitlist was offered a seat if they
to serve students with special needs, Under this adopted budget, New Mayor’s Office of Early Childhood applied on time, and $55 million to
and we’re launching a historic pilot York City Public Schools will be able Education — will begin outreach to provide more than 700 new seats
to provide childcare to 0–2 year-olds to reduce meeting wait times for childcare providers to gauge inter- for three- and four-year-olds with
that, if successful, could put New parents of the nearly 1,200 children est and capacity to care and expand special needs.

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