Mayor Adams Restores Early Childhood Education Funding
Mayor Eric Adams announced on Wednesday that he would restore $167 million in early childhood education funding in his upcoming Executive Budget, which had been left out of his preliminary spending plan. This move comes after the City Council called for $197 million in funding for these programs.
Breakdown of Funding
The $167 million commitment breaks down into $112 million for expanding the city’s universal preschool program for 3-year-olds, known as 3-K, and $55 million for universal pre-K special education classes. According to the mayor’s office, those programs will receive the same level of funding going forward, which is known as baselining.
Announcement and Reaction
Hizzoner announced the move alongside the programs’ creator, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, during an April 16 news conference at the Department of Education’s Tweed Courthouse headquarters in lower Manhattan. “For the first time ever, we will baseline the funding, investing almost $170 million annually to support popular and critical programs like pre-K special education [and the] expansion of citywide 3-K,” Adams said.
City Council Response
However, the mayor’s funding restorations still fall short of the $197 million commitment City Council leaders pushed for in their budget response on April 3. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Finance Chair Justin Brannan, and Education Chair Rita Joseph, in a joint statement, said the mayor’s restorations still exclude funding for extending child care days and hours, vouchers, and outreach for the programs.
Ongoing Contention
The mayor’s cuts and restorations to 3-K and pre-K have been an ongoing point of contention between the two sides of City Hall over the past few budget cycles. The council has consistently pushed for expanding the programs year after year, while Adams has argued funding cuts were necessary to rightsize programs that were not being fully utilized.
Praise for De Blasio
Adams has attributed many of the issues his administration has faced to what he has characterized as de Blasio’s mismanagement of the programs. Yet, on Wednesday, the mayor lavished his predecessor with praise for launching 3-K and universal pre-K, despite his past comments. “The most important thing is, one can have differences on applications implementations, but we don’t differ on the foundation,” Adams said.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mayor Adams has restored $167 million in early childhood education funding, which is a significant step towards supporting these critical programs. However, the funding still falls short of the City Council’s request, and the issue remains a point of contention between the two sides of City Hall.
FAQs
Q: How much funding did Mayor Adams restore for early childhood education?
A: Mayor Adams restored $167 million in early childhood education funding.
Q: What programs will receive funding?
A: The funding will go towards expanding the city’s universal preschool program for 3-year-olds (3-K) and universal pre-K special education classes.
Q: Why did the City Council request more funding?
A: The City Council requested $197 million in funding, which includes additional funds for extending child care days and hours, vouchers, and outreach for the programs.
Q: What is baselining funding?
A: Baselining funding means that the programs will receive the same level of funding going forward, making it a permanent part of the budget.
Q: How did former Mayor Bill de Blasio respond to the announcement?
A: De Blasio sidestepped questions about Adams’ previous criticisms, saying “I’m not sweating the past,” while giving him credit for establishing baseline funding for the programs.
