In order for families to remain in New York City and benefit from all the great things New York City has to offer, they must be able to rely on early childhood education programs that support them and their children. But a major affordability crisis collides with growing uncertainty about 3-K and Pre-K availability, threatening the ability of middle- and working-class New Yorkers to raise families in the city they love. I am.
The high costs of housing and childcare are increasing the pressure to move to more affordable locations. Our city government can and must prevent the exodus of families from our city by protecting and strengthening our early childhood education programs. Because ultimately it is our economies, our communities, and our education systems that suffer.
But instead of investing in these programs, Mayor Adams' administration cut funding for them. The mayor's proposed budget includes an additional $170 million in cuts to 3K and Pre-K., This could eliminate up to 15,000 seats available.
Cutting these programs, which provide quality educational options for our youngest New Yorkers, jeopardizes their futures and poses serious challenges to family stability and New York's economic strength.
This is the wrong approach for New York City.
The City Council's recently announced preliminary budget response prioritizes 3-K and Pre-K, emphasizing that the City has the financial resources to support these important investments. The bill seeks to restore $170 million in cuts and strengthen the Council's efforts to convert more 3-K slots into full-day/year-round slots that better serve the needs of working families. It is proposing an additional $45 million. The council also proposed an additional $10 million to help families be aware of their options for enrolling their children, reviving previous outreach initiatives that promoted enrollment but were disbanded by the current administration. There is. When a family clearly needs early childhood education and is unable to provide it despite availability, this reflects a bureaucratic failure in the management of the system.
3-K and Pre-K are more than social and educational initiatives. They represent sound, proven economic strategies that will deliver lasting benefits to the city's workforce. According to the Citizens Committee for Children, 80% of New Yorkers cannot afford child care, and families spend 43% of their income on center-based child care alone. This would divert $6 billion in family disposable income. Access to free programs available to everyone eases this affordability burden and increases household income, spending capacity, and employee productivity.
By providing reliable and affordable programs, we help parents, especially mothers, fully participate in the workforce. According to the National Women's Law Center, access to child care increases women's labor force participation, an especially important outcome given that New York state's labor force participation rate remains at 55.9 percent. In New York City, the Robin Hood Foundation highlighted that mothers in school districts with 3K access are more likely to enter the workforce and be employed full-time.
Currently, our city is losing a staggering $2.2 billion in tax revenue annually because its workforce cannot afford reliable child care.
Increasing public investment in early childhood education has proven to have immediate economic benefits. We can strengthen our economy by introducing inclusive and affordable early childhood education that provides a seat for every child who needs it.
Early childhood education is not only an immediate economic benefit, but also an investment in our city's future generations. Research consistently shows that high-quality programs lead to higher academic performance, higher graduation rates, and a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market. Prioritizing early childhood education builds our city's foundation for a highly educated and competitive workforce and maintains our ability to attract companies seeking a highly educated talent pool.
The short-term and long-term return on investment far exceeds the initial financial commitment. We must view this funding not as a financial burden, but as a strategic investment to prevent economically diverse families from fleeing our city. This can prevent a deadly spiral of declining student enrollment and loss of school funding.
Rather than cut these critical programs, the City should quickly refocus the Department of Education on early childhood education, increase outreach efforts to improve access and increase utilization, and increase full-day/year-round enrollment. We need to expand and invest in education sustainability. High quality program.
At a time when we need to strengthen family stability to maintain population levels, prioritize improving affordability, and revitalize the local economy, cutting funding to proven programs will leave the city Just set it back. Our city prioritizes funding for early childhood education in order to retain our talented workforce, support middle-class and working-class families, and preserve everything that makes New York great. Now more than ever, it is vitally important.
