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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kate Connolly, Senior Policy Analyst at United Neighborhood Houses
5:12:25
ยท
146 sec
Kate Connolly, representing United Neighborhood Houses, testified on three key issues: after-school program funding, the Summarizing program's effectiveness, and payment delays to nonprofit organizations. She emphasized the urgent need for increased funding for after-school programs and highlighted concerns about the Summarizing program's impact on middle school students.
- Over 2,300 signatures were delivered to the mayor's office calling for additional investments in after-school programs
- UNH is requesting funding increases for elementary and middle school after-school programs, with rates of $6,600 and $5,500 per participant respectively
- Payment delays to nonprofit organizations, including millions owed for FY '24, '25, and Summarizing programming in 2024, are threatening the stability of these organizations
Kate Connolly
5:12:25
Hello and thank you for the opportunity to testify.
5:12:27
My name is Kate Connolly.
5:12:28
I'm a senior policy analyst for United Neighborhood Houses, an umbrella organization that represents settlement houses across New York State.
5:12:35
I'd like to highlight three issues today.
5:12:37
First, after school.
5:12:38
This morning we delivered over 2,300 signatures, largely from parents, but also including after school participants and DOE teachers to the mayor's office, calling for a commitment to additional investments in this year's budget.
5:12:50
As DYCD said earlier today, the last five years have been eventful, and after school providers have provided childcare, academic support, mentorship, career development, mental health support, and more without fail during these eventful years.
5:13:02
However, not only has after school been cut in recent years, as with the Compass Explore program, but they're also operating on budgets negotiated in 2011 and 2015.
5:13:10
During this time, there have been no increases to the after school base rates.
5:13:13
This has created a crisis in our system.
5:13:15
Staff recruitment and retention have struggled from stagnated wages, rising OTPS costs have put programs in an impossible position, and it's threatening the stability of after school programs across the city.
5:13:25
And for the record, the COLA is not meant to be a substitute for increased rates.
5:13:29
In November 2023, UNH released the true cost of after school report with model budgets that reflected the real amount of funding needed to run after school programs.
5:13:37
We're asking the city to commit to funding elementary school programs at a rate of 6,600 per participant and Sonic programs at a rate of 5,500 per participant, with a down payment of half this year.
5:13:48
Number two, summarizing, I appreciate the question from Chair Stephen and Joseph during today, and last week's education hearing.
5:13:55
Last week, during the hearing DOE released a review of the academic impact of the summarizing program.
5:14:00
It showed that even for middle school participants who attended summarizing programming for twenty plus days, there was no statistically significant impact on math scores and they actually fared worse in reading scores than students who did not attend summarizing.
5:14:12
DOE's data supports our recent report based on middle school focus groups in a survey of families and providers that summarizing is not an appropriate model for all middle school youth.
5:14:20
We urge the city to offer choice by providing alternative summer programming options for middle school young people.
5:14:25
And third, payment delays.
5:14:27
Real quick.
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Earlier we heard from council member Viles about the millions of dollars owed to Center for Family Life.
5:14:32
I wish I could say that this was a unique experience.
5:14:34
We've heard from many of our members that they're owed millions of dollars for FY '24 '20 '5, and no provider that I've talked to has been paid out for summarizing programming in 2024.
5:14:44
This should not be treated as a side problem, but a critical issue threatening the nonprofits in our city.
5:14:48
And I look forward to your hearing in April.
5:14:50
Thank you.