NYC will offer free 3-K programs in all public school districts across the city starting this fall, increasing the number of slots for three-year-olds from about 25,000 to 40,000. At a press conference announcing the expansion on Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio estimated the total demand to be for around 60,000 seats, and said he hoped the Department of Education could expand to that level in the coming years.
“If you want to help a working family, give them a free early education,” de Blasio told reporters. “This is a game changer.”
“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” added Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. “As NYC turns a corner in the virus and we want to get our families back to work.”
The universal pre-K program has been one of the de Blasio administration’s signature achievements, serving approximately 70,000 four-year-olds citywide, according to the Department of Education.
The city launched a limited 3-K initiative several years ago, beginning with sites in the South Bronx and Brownsville. The program has been ramping up since then, but paused expansion last year because of the pandemic.
Listen to Jessica Gould's report on WNYC:
In an administration often criticized for falling short on its promise to end “the tale of two cities,” the investment in early childhood education has been a bright spot. Studies show that pre-school helps students prepare for kindergarten and leads to academic gains through elementary school. They also save parents money. Officials estimate that the free pre-k programs save parents an average of $10,000 per year.
Parents and experts have lauded the free pre-K programs for their quality and reach.
“If you get that foundation right all other things are possible,” de Blasio said.
But while de Blasio has called the programming universal, some education experts said the city has not yet reached all eligible students. The nonprofit Advocates for Children said there are not enough slots for students with disabilities, who require smaller classes with a special education teacher. They estimate a shortage of 1,000 to 2,000 seats for special education pre-school classes, plus hundreds more for bilingual special education pre-school classes.
“3-K and Pre-K will never be ‘for all’ while preschoolers with disabilities are sitting at home without the classes they need,” said Kim Sweet, AFC’s Executive Director. “Announcing a major expansion of 3-K with no plan to provide legally required classes to preschoolers with disabilities is a slap in the face to parents whose children need additional help—and is a violation of children’s civil rights.”
The city plans to use recently-passed federal stimulus funding to pay for the expansion, estimated to cost $300 million, but will have to find a revenue stream to pay for the new classes once the one-shot cash infusion from the federal government runs out. As with existing programs, the city will contract with community based organizations in addition to creating classrooms within schools.
Locations for the new programs will go online next month, and applications for 3-K and pre-K have been extended through May 28th.
The Department of Education said students will have priority to attend programs in their district, with seats being determined by lottery if demand exceeds the number of openings. The DOE has not said how much the expansion will cost the city.
