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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Edward Sanchez, Political Science Student at CUNY Baruch College
8:26:45
ยท
135 sec
Edward Sanchez, a CUNY Baruch College political science student and youth leader, testifies on behalf of the Coalition for Equitable Education Funding. He expresses concern about the potential expiration of funding for various education programs in the fiscal year 2026 budget and calls for long-term funding commitments.
- Highlights several at-risk programs, including 3K slots, preschool special education, community schools, and mental health services
- Provides specific funding amounts for each program at risk, totaling over $280 million
- Urges the city to ensure long-term funding for these programs and make additional investments to support students with the greatest needs
Edward S.
8:26:45
Thank you for your time.
8:26:47
My name is Edward Sanchez.
8:26:48
I am a CUNY political science student at Baruch College, a recent graduate for New York of New York City Public Schools, and a youth leader at Citizens Committee for Children of New York and the Coalition of Equitable Education Funding.
8:26:59
I am testifying today on behalf of Coalition for Equitable Education Funding, a group of more than 120 organizations advocating for the resources needed to ensure every student receives a high quality education with a focus on those who need the most support.
8:27:14
While we appreciate that the administration and the city council made significant investments in the fiscal year twenty twenty five budget to continue essential education programs that had been at risk of ending due to expiring funds, we are concerned that a number of these programs are currently funded for one year only, meaning the funding will expire at the June unless city leaders extend the funding in the fiscal year twenty twenty six budget.
8:27:36
Unless the city acts, here are some of the important education programs and services at risk of funding cuts.
8:27:42
Three k slots for thousands of young children, a hundred 12,000,000.
8:27:45
Preschool special education classes for hundreds of young children with autism and other disabilities, fifty five million.
8:27:51
Extended day three k and pre k seats, 25,000,000, outreach efforts to help ensure families are aware of early childhood programs, 5,000,000, more than 50 community schools to provide wraparound support to students, fourteen million, restorative justice programs to help students stay in school and resolve conflicts instead of being suspended, 12,000,000, the mental health continuum to provide mental health care to students at 50 high need schools, 5,000,000, immigrant family outreach to help ensure families receive information about their child's school in a language and mode they can access, 4,000,000.
8:28:23
Student success centers to help students at more than 30 high school prepare for college, 3,300,000.
8:28:29
Arts programming for students, forty one million.
8:28:32
High impact tutoring to help students get support in reading and math, four million.
8:28:36
And lastly, teacher recruitment, 10,000,000.
8:28:38
We call on the city to provide long term funding for these programs in the fiscal year twenty twenty six budget so that students, families, educators, and providers will know that they can they can continue relying on these programs for in future years and to make additional investments that are needed to support students, especially those who have the greatest needs.
8:28:57
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
8:28:59
I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.