Q&A
Funding and expansion of preschool special education seats
2:19:09
·
44 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph inquires about funding for additional preschool special education seats beyond the current 284 planned. John Hammer from the DOE explains that there is no current funding to expand beyond the $55 million allocated, but they are working with OMB and City Hall on addressing the need for additional seats and services.
- The DOE is focusing on getting the $55 million baselined to sustain the seats opened this school year.
- There is ongoing work with City Hall and OMB to secure resources for special education services.
- The department acknowledges the need for related service providers and evaluators across the special education process.
Rita Joseph
2:19:09
Does New York City public school have funding to open preschool special educations beyond the two eighty four that they're currently planning to open?
2:19:15
If not have you put in new needs requests through OMB?
John Hammer
2:19:25
So we we do not currently have funding to expand preschool special classes beyond the the 55,000,000.
2:19:31
We're working closely with OMB and and city hall on on need for additional seats and services.
Rita Joseph
2:19:38
Did you put in for new needs?
John Hammer
2:19:40
We're regularly working alongside our partners.
2:19:43
I know one of the things that we're very focused on right now is the 55,000,000 being baseline to ensure
Simone Hawkins
2:19:49
that
John Hammer
2:19:49
we can continue to sustain these seats we've opened this school year and that's that's a major priority for us.