Today, representatives from the Alliance for Quality Education, Citizen Action of New York, Winning Beginning New York, the Westchester PTA, Cohoes School district, among other organizations and concerned citizens, met in the LOB at the State Capitol to release a new report, entitled “Early Childhood Education: Frozen Funding Leads to Cracks in the Foundation.” This report details drastic reductions to the Universal Pre-Kindergarten grant since 2007, despite proof that investment in early childhood education programs have significant economic and social benefits, and that funds are available to make this investment.
The report calls on the legislature to reprogram $53 million from the competitive grants proposed in the Executive Budget to Universal Pre-Kindergarten, allowing for up to 14,000 more children to have access to the program. The report also calls on the Legislature to adopt the $93 million included in the Executive Budget for child care funding, to ensure that children of low-income working parents are able to receive subsidies.
Below you’ll find some quotes from speakers at the press event:
“I’m very worried about my 3-year-old granddaughter’s future,” said Amparo Sadler, a grandmother from Central Islip. “Because my district is cutting back a lot of funding, there’s a chance that Pre-K is on the table to be cut. We need to do all we can to ensure our kids have every opportunity for success.”
“Increased investments in early education ensure that more of New York State’s youngest children will enter school ready for learning and ready for life, meeting New York State’s goal of making this a right for every child,” said Nancy Kolben, Executive Director of the Center for Children’s Initiatives.
“With so much evidence showing the economic and societal benefits of providing quality Pre-K, how can we continue to deprive so many kids of their chance at success?” said Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York. “Our leaders in Albany need to act right now to reverse course, expanding access to quality early learning programs by investing in Universal Pre-K.”
Here’s a list of press from the event (updated as more come in):