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Advocacy for baseline funding of crucial education programs in NYC
0:36:25
ยท
114 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph emphasizes the importance of baseline funding for crucial education programs in NYC, including those previously covered by federal stimulus dollars. The discussion highlights the council's priority to secure funding for these programs in the fiscal year 2026 budget and beyond.
- Programs mentioned include arts education, restorative justice, ECE funding for 3K, preschool special education seats, and community schools
- The council expresses a desire to see these programs baselined to allow for improvements and expansions
- DOE officials agree on the importance of advocating for baseline funding to ensure sustainable support for these programs
- The discussion underscores the need to move away from year-to-year funding negotiations for essential programs
Rita Joseph
0:36:25
Thank you, first deputy chancellor.
0:36:26
So the Department of Education fiscal twenty twenty five budget includes many important programs that are not currently part of the fiscal twenty twenty six budget.
0:36:35
These include crucial programs formally covered by federal stimulus dollars such as arts education, restorative justice, the core of ECE funding for three k's preschool special education seats, marketing outreach, and vital programs that have been funded one year at a time like community schools, health continuum.
0:36:53
Getting these programs funded in 2026 and baseline moving forward is a key priority for this council.
0:37:00
Can you speak to the logistical difference in administering programs at a baseline as opposed to the one that are not do not have funding in the out years and how does that affect hiring and staff?
Seritta Scott
0:37:13
Yep, so a part essentially a part of our negotiations with OMB is to ensure that we advocate for those dollars to be baselined in our budget so that we can have sustainable funding to support headcount and other OTPS funds that are crucial for those programs, so all of the things that you listed are all of the things that are always a part of our conversations, extremely important and want to ensure that we are able to continue to provide those resources to our students.
Rita Joseph
0:37:42
Because the council would love to see these things baseline so we can do improvements in other areas and stop doing the budget dance every year, we're doing this two step, we want to stop the two step, we want to make sure these programs are baseline and we could look in areas where we need improvement and where we can also expand.
Seritta Scott
0:37:59
Totally agree with you, we would love to see a baseline as well.
Rita Joseph
0:38:03
So I'm not alone in this.
0:38:05
Alright.
0:38:06
So I'm gonna be a different chair and I'm gonna start and allow my colleagues to start asking questions.
0:38:13
First member, council member Schulman, And I'd like to acknowledge council member Krishna.