Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 30 - The Indian EYE 052926
P. 30

    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                   MAY 29, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 30

             Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul Extend

                              Nearly 100,000 3-K, Pre-K Offers

             Every family is encouraged to accept their offer by the deadline listed in their offer letter

            OUR BUREAU

            NEW YORK, NY
                    ayor Zohran Kwame Mam-
                    dani, Governor Kathy Ho-
            Mchul and Schools Chancel-
            lor Kamar Samuels have announced
            that  the  City  has  extended  99,921
            offers for 3-K and Pre-K for the up-
            coming school year, with more fami-
            lies receiving offers to one of their top
            choice programs and average travel
            distances decreasing across the city.
                On day eight of this Administra-
            tion, Mayor Mamdani and Governor
            Kathy Hochul announced the City’s
            first  steps  toward  universal  child
            care, announcing the launch of 2-K,
            expansion  of  Pre-K  and  an  aggres-
            sive focus on expanding 3-K access so
            families could find care in their own
            neighborhoods. Those efforts, made
            possible by a more than $1.2 billion
            investment from the state to support
            early childhood care and education,
            have already resulted in more fami-
            lies receiving offers to their preferred
            3-K program and fewer families end-
            ing up on waitlists.
                Fewer families this year received   boroughs.”                      This year, the percentage of fam-  the City’s child care outreach system
            placements at programs they did not   “Today’s announcement marks a   ilies receiving their top 3-K choice   and reach families too often left be-
            rank on their applications. For those   new era for child care in New York   increased  from  65%  to  70%,  while   hind by government. That work will
            3-K families, the average distance be-  City – one where families can trust   the percentage receiving one of their   continue through the Mamdani ad-
            tween home and program decreased   that government will deliver for   top three 3-K choices increased from   ministration’s commitment to base-
            by .85 miles, or approximately 17 city   them,” said Mayor Mamdani.   80% to 84%.                     line $5 million annually for outreach
            blocks. That distance is expected to   “Across the five boroughs, fam-  While every family received a   and engagement. The administration
            decrease further as families express   ilies are traveling shorter distances,   seat offer, the percentage of families   has also committed new funding to
            interest  in  the  additional  3-K  seats   more children are receiving offers   receiving placements at programs not   strengthen  agency  staffing  and  pro-
            added by the City, including more   to  their  top-choice  programs,  and   listed on their application decreased   vide more comprehensive support
            than  700  new  seats  announced  yes-  fewer parents are being forced to   from  15%  to  12%,  helping  ensure   for families and providers.
            terday that will be available through   choose between  unaffordable pri-  more families received offers they   In April, the Mayor joined New
            the waitlist process.             vate care and leaving the city they   could realistically accept.   York City public school students to
                “Every child deserves a strong   love. This is what government excel-  Last  year,  720  families  received   open seven previously vacant child
            start, and every parent deserves to   lence looks like.”            3-K offers outside their home bor-  care sites, creating 240 new 3-K seats.
            know their child has a safe, high-qual-  “Our young children are the   ough, with most placements located   That announcement followed the ad-
            ity place to learn and grow,” said Gov-  future, and New York City’s fu-  more than three miles from home.   ministration’s addition of more than
            ernor Hochul. “Today’s announce-  ture just got brighter,” said Schools   This year, fewer than 200 families   1,000 new 3-K seats across 56 zip
            ment ensures more families are able   Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “I am   received out-of-borough offers, and   codes, now more than 2,000, as well
            to access the 3-K opportunities they   deeply grateful to Mayor Mamdani   all placements are within three miles   as the opening of a previously vacant
            want, and provides universal 3-K and   and Governor Hochul for their   from  home.  Many  of  those  families   child care center on the Upper East
            Pre-K to 100,000 families across New   leadership in this work, and the ded-  will also have an opportunity to re-  Side. Yesterday, Mayor Mamdani
            York City, giving more parents access   ication of our community partners   ceive an close-to-home placements   announced that the City had doubled
            to affordable child care in their own   who ensure our families are seen,   through the waitlist process following   those efforts, adding 2,000 3-K seats
            communities and setting up the next   supported, and served. Because of   the  more  than  700  newly  available   across all five boroughs and confirm-
            generation for success. I’m proud to   this collective effort we are putting   3-K seats.             ing that the City’s ninth new child
            partner with Mayor Mamdani to de-  nearly 100,000 children on a path to   These historic gains follow the   care center will open this fall in Co-
            liver for New Yorkers across all five   success close to home.”     administration’s first steps to rebuild   lumbia Waterfront.

                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 |