After City Council members grilled him, Superintendent David Banks expressed “great confidence” that some of the recent budget cuts that have put early childhood education programs at risk can be reversed.
The bank's statement was made during the City Council's 2025 preliminary budget hearing on March 18. Recent things Education budget cuts to city-funded programs that many parents and working families rely on.including city-funded preschool services and 3K services.
Recently, hundreds of millions in funding for early childhood education have been cut. Pre-K, 3K, and other programs were partially supported by federal pandemic relief funds and were intended for immediate relief efforts such as school reopenings, rather than long-term programs such as early childhood education services. .
Early childhood education budget cuts: banks have 'great confidence' in funding recovery
After facing a series of questions from the City Council, led by Brooklyn City Council Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph, Banks said during the hearing that she had “great confidence” in saving money for early childhood education programs.
“Cuts that affect early childhood are extremely detrimental to the early childhood business as a whole,” Banks said. “We want you to know that we share everyone's concerns in the early years. This is a top priority for us.”
Despite the glimmer of hope from the banks, the Independent Budget Office, which provides budget information to cities and the public, estimates cuts to the pre-K and 3K budget will reach $283 million in 2024 and $399 in 2024. I discovered what I did. 2025.
But during intense questioning from the council, Mr Banks made a point of reassuring the council that there would be “really good news” about these programs.
“I am fighting tooth and nail to make sure these cuts are restored and I have great confidence that we will get some really good news on early childhood in the coming weeks.”
Preschool special education budget cuts
Joseph said hundreds of preschool special education students are waiting for seats. However, the city has “not committed to increasing the average annual investment of $96 million” made over the past two years.
“There are approximately 600 students waiting for a seat and we are doing everything we can to arrange service while they wait for a seat, understanding that all students need to have a seat. “There are,” DOE officials said at the hearing.
The timeline for placing children in special education seats at preschool was not clear at the hearing. But DOE officials said they “hope” all children will be given a seat.
Pre-K and 3K cuts have been a point of contention for many working families in the city this year. on sunday, Parents and children collected signatures From fellow New Yorkers protesting the cuts.
Rebecca Bailin, Executive Director New Yorkers unite to raise children, led the effort. She appreciates Banks' remarks at the hearing, but remains skeptical about the program's future.
“Chancellor Banks' announcement shows the anger of New York City parents and would-be parents at work, but we will believe in Chancellor Banks as we see every dollar recover.” she said. “Since his inauguration, Mayor Adams has made it clear that rolling out truly universal 3-K is not a priority, and he has made $400 million in pre-K and 3-K cuts. ”
He added that Adams is “gambling” the livelihoods of families who rely on city funding programs and echoed Banks' desire to restore the cuts.
“New York families and would-be families will 'fight tooth and nail' until the mayor guarantees that 3K and Pre-K seats will be available to all families who need them,” she said. “The reason there are empty seats today is not because there is no demand. Families are saying they need care. We should do everything we can.”