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Q&A
Council Member Rita C. Joseph questions OMB Director on education funding
2:08:20
·
5 min
Council Member Rita C. Joseph engages in a Q&A session with Jacques Jiha, Director of NYC Mayor's Office of Management and Budget, regarding funding for various educational programs. The discussion covers Head Start, special education services, LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum, and services for autistic learners.
- Joseph expresses concern about the uncertainty of Head Start funding and the potential impact on current providers.
- Questions are raised about the provision of mandated services for students with IEPs and the funding for preschool special education.
- The council member inquires about the commitment to fully fund the LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum and increase seats for autistic learners.
Rita C. Joseph
2:08:20
Thank you chairs.
2:08:21
Good to see you commissioner always.
2:08:24
So in our in our we understand that New York City Public Schools application for head start is pending approval at the federal level, so we'd like to clarify the changing head start landscape in fiscal twenty twenty six.
2:08:36
Given the uncertainty and the timing of the approval, what is ONB's plan to ensure continuation of care in head start?
2:08:44
And if New York City public schools only receive partial federal funding or does not receive the grant, what is OMB's commitment to stabilizing the Head Start system, and how will that impact the current Head Start's providers?
2:08:56
I'm gonna ask all my questions at once because I know my time is limited.
2:08:59
So when is the latest OMB can recognize federal funding for Head Start in fiscal twenty twenty six without any operational issues?
2:09:08
Regardless of funding changes in Head Start for fiscal twenty twenty six, can you also explain why ONB is certain that every eligible child that wants a head start seat of any age zero to four will get one in 2026?
2:09:21
And of course, special education.
2:09:25
New York City Public School also told us about 7,000 students with IEPs were not being provided with one or more of their mandated services while you baseline $55,000,000 for preschool special education classrooms in the executive plan.
2:09:39
So what's the conversation with OMB about DOE's new needs submission for additional funding for preschool special education?
2:09:48
How much are they requesting, and what's the head count, and why OMB hasn't added any additional funding for preschool special education services.
Jacques Jiha
2:09:59
Regarding Head Start, the mayor made a commitment
Diana I. Ayala
2:10:04
that
Jacques Jiha
2:10:06
the services are so critical for New Yorkers that even in the absence of federal funding, the city would step in.
2:10:18
He made that announcement about, I think, a month ago.
2:10:20
Yeah.
2:10:21
So he made that commitment.
2:10:23
So right now, I can't tell you whether or not we're gonna get partial funding or whatever we're gonna get, but the deal is he made the commitment that
Rita C. Joseph
2:10:32
But you've also applied for fewer seats.
Jacques Jiha
2:10:34
Yep, he applies for you know.
2:10:36
So his goal is to make sure that if we seats, who need the seats, get a seat.
2:10:42
So again, as I said, that's a commitment that they already made.
2:10:46
So therefore it's not going to back away from that commitment.
2:10:53
Special education, we added an additional $55,000,000 like we stated in the plan.
2:11:01
And we will continue, again as I said, have some discussion.
2:11:08
I believe I'm meeting with the next week to discuss her priorities.
2:11:15
Okay?
2:11:15
And as we discuss her priorities, would listen to her and see what she brings to us.
Rita C. Joseph
2:11:20
But what about the students who have not received none of their services?
2:11:24
So we were asking for 70,000,000 in the budget for that.
2:11:27
We didn't see that.
Jacques Jiha
2:11:29
That is
Rita C. Joseph
2:11:30
50,000,000 for related services.
2:11:32
You still have about 7,000 students that have not received their mandated services, and you know what that leads to, our cases that we constantly fight against and push against.
2:11:41
So that's why I'm asking.
Jacques Jiha
2:11:43
Okay.
2:11:44
As I said, we are meeting with the chancellor next week, and we'll have a discussion about her needs, what her priorities are.
Rita C. Joseph
2:11:50
But in the head start, you applied for 3,500 fewer head start seats for three year olds and four year olds while you age down.
2:11:57
So does that result in a decrease for capacity for three and four year We
Jacques Jiha
2:12:01
will backfill.
Rita C. Joseph
2:12:03
You're gonna backfill?
Jacques Jiha
2:12:03
May I make that commitment?
Rita C. Joseph
2:12:06
Cheers.
2:12:07
LGBTQ plus IA inclusive curriculum.
2:12:11
We noticed in the executive plan there was an additional 2,480,000.00 to fund the LGBTQ plus IA curriculum.
2:12:19
This covers the DOE contract CBO and initiative, but the additional $3.15 to to DYCD was not funded in the executive.
2:12:29
Why wasn't the funding added to the DYCD budget in the executive plan, and does ONB commit to fully funding the LGBTQ plus IA curriculum in 2026?
Jacques Jiha
2:12:40
Again, we will discuss it as part of adoption process, and we'll see where we learn.
2:12:48
Again,
Rita C. Joseph
2:12:48
I'm glad you're our aims and horizon seats, and that's for our autistic learners.
2:12:53
Oh, I'm gonna get it all in.
2:12:55
You know I'm here for the kids, so I have to find out because we know that will also reduce our having our horizons nests, that will also reduce our CARTA cases that are ballooning.
Jacques Jiha
2:13:05
Sure.
Rita C. Joseph
2:13:07
Is that a commitment on the record that that we will be funding these programs?
Jacques Jiha
2:13:12
I say is we'll continue we'll have discussion with the council as we approach adoption, and if resources are available, we'll discuss the needs.
Rita C. Joseph
2:13:21
More AIM seats, more nest seats, and more horizon.
Jacques Jiha
2:13:23
Got it.
2:13:24
Thank you.
Rita C. Joseph
2:13:25
Thank you, cheers.