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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Aaron Michael Sanders, Deputy Director of Government and Community Relations at Grand Street Settlement
7:40:34
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138 sec
Aaron Michael Sanders from Grand Street Settlement commends the city for proposing to restore and baseline $192 million in funding for early childhood education, while urging for commitment to these restorations. He emphasizes the importance of early childhood and youth education programs, highlighting the potential negative impacts of budget cuts on working families and youth development.
- Expresses concern about the challenges in the childcare sector, including limited slots, workforce retention, and high costs
- Advocates for the restoration of $14 million in funding for community schools to continue providing key services for youth development
- Supports baselining $31 million for the Learning to Work program to provide workforce development opportunities for adolescents and young adults
Aaron Michael Sanders
7:40:34
is Aaron Michael Sanders, and I'm the deputy director government and community relations at Grand Street Settlement.
7:40:39
Today, we commend the city for proposing to restore and baseline $192,000,000 in funding for early childhood education.
7:40:47
However, we encourage the city to commit to these restorations.
7:40:51
Expenditure reductions to the city's early education programs would negatively negatively impact children and families.
7:40:58
City funding supports our network of center based early childhood education programs throughout South Manhattan, Brooklyn, and now The Bronx.
7:41:06
Grand Street's early childhood education programs serve working families and their children, many of whom live in NYCHA housing and face multiple obstacles in respect to education, health, and economic prosperity.
7:41:21
Our network of childcare and educational programs provide families with the opportunities that they need to thrive and survive.
7:41:29
Budget reductions for the city's early childhood education program would be catastrophic for working families.
7:41:35
According to a report from the New York City Controller's Office earlier this year, the childcare sector faces its ongoing challenges post pandemic, including a dearth of childcare slots, retention in its workforce, and soaring childcare costs.
7:41:49
As cited in the report, from 02/2018 to 02/2023, New York's average annual childcare prices were higher than every other state with the exception of Massachusetts.
7:42:00
Early childhood education programs are not our only concern.
7:42:04
We're also concerned about youth education programs at Grand Treat Settlement.
7:42:08
A restoration of funding for community schools is an important resource for the youth we serve.
7:42:13
By restoring the $14,000,000 in funding in the budget, we can continue to provide youth with key services that are correlated with youth development and long term success.
7:42:22
Cuts to youth programs will have a chilling effect on the families and the next generations of leaders we hear from today.
7:42:29
Baselining $31,000,000 in funding for the Learning to Work program will provide substantive workforce development opportunities for adolescents and young adults alike, and this program is vitally important to the maturation of children and youth.
7:42:43
In closing, we urge the city council to restore funding for these quality programs ranging from birth through high school graduation, and thank you for your support.