Q&A
Impact of budget cuts on early childhood education in NYC
0:28:28
ยท
110 sec
Council Member Mercedes Narcisse and Ingrid Matias Chungata discuss the potential consequences of budget cuts on early childhood education in New York City. They emphasize the critical role of early childhood education in addressing educational inequities and preparing children for academic success.
- Matias Chungata highlights the importance of investing in early years, noting that 90% of a child's brain develops from ages 0-5.
- They discuss the current academic performance issues in NYC public schools, with over 50% of children not reading or doing math at grade level by 3rd and 4th grade.
- The conversation underscores the commitment to providing quality education to children from diverse backgrounds, especially in underserved communities.
Mercedes Narcisse
0:28:28
So having said that, if that budget cut not reversed, what is our child early childhood look like in New York City?
0:28:41
Your thought.
Ingrid Matias Chungata
0:28:43
Well, we see the data.
0:28:45
We know when New York City's public school children are when the exams come out, state exam, we know that we're not doing what we need to do.
0:28:53
So we as the chairwoman said, we need to invest in early childhood.
0:28:57
We know that a child's brain develops from zero to five at 9090%.
0:29:03
So if we're not investing in those early years, then what is expected for those as they go on.
0:29:10
So this is the foundation.
0:29:11
So I I hate to use the word quality versus quantity, but I think that's what we're faced on and I think when we're looking in New York City and we're looking at the disproportion rate of our children lagging academically third and fourth grade where our children are not reading or doing math at a grade level and that we're more than 50% of our children are not, that is disheartening.
0:29:37
As a mother of four, that is disheartening that we're not investing in early childhood.
0:29:42
I come from the business where before I did early childhood.
0:29:47
I work to prove my children through quality early childhood program and I understand the benefits of that.
0:29:54
And that's why I'm so passionate about the work that I do and the commitment that I have done for Nueces Ros Ninos in the year and a half that I've been there.
0:30:02
And I'm committed to provide those children, those brown and black children with the best education that they can.
0:30:08
That is not gonna cost their parents $5,060,000 dollars, but that they could get it for free.
0:30:13
And if our city cannot do that, then I don't know what we're doing as citizens.