Flush With Federal Cash, NYC Promises Preschool For 3-Year-Olds In Every School District

New York City NY

24 March, 2021

1:29 PM

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By Christina Veiga, Chalkbeat New York March 24, 2021 New York City will tap a massive infusion of federal pandemic recovery funds to make free preschool for 3-year-olds available in every school district, officials announced Wednesday. With an expected $4.5 billion in stimulus money headed for the nation's largest school district, Mayor Bill de Blasio can now build on what has been the most popular and arguably most successful policy of his administration: universal pre-K. De Blasio started in 2014 with 4-year-olds, quickly ramping up to enroll more than 60,000 just two years into his tenure. In 2017, he took a more gradual approach in launching the program for even younger students, promising to make space for all of the city's 3-year-olds by 2021. That goal was derailed by COVID-19, which wiped out more than $700 from the city's education budget and put the expansion of 3-K on hold. The price tag for the full roll out of preschool for the city's 3-year-olds was originally projected to run nearly $400 million in city funds, with an additional $700 million from state and federal coffers. Flush with stimulus cash, the city will now expand 3-K to serve another 16,500 children in the 2021-22 school year, the New York Daily News reported, bringing enrollment in the program up to 40,000. Officials did not immediately say how much the expansion would cost, and what portion of the funds would come from city, state, or federal sources. Leaning on one-time federal funds for such a massive expansion raises questions about how — and whether — the city will be able to sustain the program. But de Blasio seems to be counting on its popularity with parents to bet that future city, state, and federal officials will find a way to continue paying for it. Bi-partisan support for early childhood education has only grown in recent years. President Joe Biden is reportedly eyeing another spending package that calls for universal pre-K. For some in the early childhood sector, the decision to double-down on universal pre-K raises questions about whether the expansion will come at the expense of seats for infants and toddlers in the city. Programs for the youngest children are the most expensive to run, and without enrollment of older students to offset costs, seats for babies can become unaffordable for programs to maintain. Others believe the city would be better off funding extended care in existing preschool programs, beyond the school day and year, for needy families. Lack of childcare has become a major burden for families while the health crisis drags on, forcing many women out of the workforce. Having toddlers doing school on screens — whether families opted for fully remote or hybrid schedules —and the uncertainty for in-person learning because of frequent coronavirus-related building closures have also hurt working families. Pre-K enrollment was down more than other other grades this year, with 13% fewer students, according to city data. This story was originally published by Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization covering public education. Sign up for their newsletters here.