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Q&A
Discussion on early childhood education funding cuts
3:09:31
ยท
105 sec
Council Member Restler expresses concern about potential cuts to early childhood education, particularly 3-K and pre-K programs. OMB Director Jiha maintains that there are no cuts, explaining that the program was funded for one year and they are working on a plan going forward.
- Restler cites $112 million in potential cuts to 3-K and nearly $50 million to pre-K
- Jiha insists there are no cuts, stating the program was funded for one year and they're developing a future plan
- Restler highlights a decrease in pre-K enrollment from 70,000 to 40,000 children in recent years
Lincoln Restler
3:09:31
Shifting gears to early childhood education.
Justin Brannan
3:09:33
Mhmm.
Lincoln Restler
3:09:34
I was particularly concerned that we're back at facing another round of cuts to early childhood education in this budget.
3:09:40
Hundred and $13,000,000, hundred and 12 million dollars to three k.
3:09:44
I believe another nearly $50,000,000 in cuts to pre k.
3:09:47
These are significant cuts.
3:09:49
Can you speak to the number of seat reduction that these cuts represent by cutting a hundred and $12,000,000 from three k?
3:09:54
How many fewer seats are available to New York families?
Jacques Jiha
3:09:57
There's no cut to three k's.
3:09:59
There's no no cut at all.
3:10:01
The hundred and $12,000,000.
3:10:02
The program was funded for one year, and we're working right now on a plan going forward.
Lincoln Restler
3:10:07
So there's a hundred and 12,000,000 fewer dollars available this year.
3:10:10
How many fewer seats are available?
3:10:11
No.
Jacques Jiha
3:10:11
What I'm saying to you is we're working on a plan, okay, to ensure that this program is not cut.
3:10:18
Okay?
3:10:18
And as part of the executive budget, you know, we're waiting to see what's gonna happen with the state's budget.
3:10:23
As part of the executive budget, we're working on a plan to make sure that doesn't happen.
3:10:26
The program was funded one year at a time.
3:10:29
Was funded last year was a joint program with the city council.
3:10:33
And as every any other typical joint project with the council, they were typically funded one year at a time.
3:10:39
So there was no cut.
Lincoln Restler
3:10:41
And the administration chose not to continue to fund it in the preliminary budget.
3:10:44
So if there is no further action and we do not fund this program, then we face a hundred and $12,000,000 cut year over year to three k.
3:10:51
Now just a few years ago, we had 70,000 kids enrolled in pre k.
3:10:54
This year, I think we have 40,000 in three k.
3:10:57
We are leaving tens of thousands of families who desperately need the help in the cold, unable to access the affordable the free, high quality early childhood education they need.
3:11:07
I'm just disappointed that we can't get a crisp number, cause these these cuts have a huge impact on the accessibility of early childhood for working families, and and we're getting stonewalled.