A number of Brooklyn lawmakers yesterday hailed Mayor Bill de Blasio announced 3-K for All plan to provide universal, free, full-day, high-quality early childhood education for every three-year-old child regardless of family income.
The roll out fo the initiative is slated for the fall of this year, where in the first year of a two-year expansion of universal Pre-K it will create hundreds of new, free, full-day, high-quality seats in District 23 in Brownsville as well as in the South Bronx.
De Blasio said by fall of 2018, there will be a seat for every three-year-old living in those districts that wants one, projected to serve about 1,800 children.
“The research is clear – investment in early childhood education reaps benefits for students, families and communities for years to come. Using the successful model we developed for Pre-K for All, we are doubling down with free, full-day, high-quality 3-K for All for our three-year-olds. This extra year of education will provide our children with a level of academic and social development that they cannot get later on, while at the same time, alleviating some of the strain New York City’s working families face today,” said de Blasio.
Like Pre-K for All, 3-K for All will be a unified system of DOE district schools and NYC Early Education Centers – community-based organizations experienced in providing high-quality early childhood education and care.
De Blasio unrolled the initiative pointing to research showing the transformative value of free, full-day, high-quality 3-K, including:
- Several studies have found that students who attend two years of preschool compared to one are better prepared for kindergarten, and that they perform significantly higher on academic and social outcome measures.
- A study of the two-year Abbott Preschool Program in New Jersey found persistent gains in language arts and literacy, mathematics, and science through 4th and 5th grade, with larger test score gains for children who participated in two years of preschool. In addition, Abbott Preschool Program participation was linked to lower grade retention rates and fewer children needing special education.
- A study of Head Start found that families of children who attended for two years were more likely to engage in recreational activities together that supported child development, and were likely to spend more hours reading together at home.
- A Chicago study found that children who attended two years of public preschool were significantly less likely to receive special education services, to be abused or neglected, or to commit crimes in adulthood.
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer applauded the initiative. “The ’3-K for All’ program is innovative, groundbreaking and a smart investment that will maintain America’s promise of a brighter future for our students. I applaud Mayor de Blasio’s efforts to enhance our education system by making it more accessible and affordable to all New York families.”
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams called 3-K for All a game-changer to end the tale of two cities, we need to start at the very beginning.
“The critical first moments of life are where the lasting rifts between the haves and the have nots already begin. A report that I released earlier this year with State Senator [Daniel] Squadron affirmed the need for expanded investment in early childhood education, laying out the statistical and anecdotal evidence for seizing on this critical period for brain development. For our Early Childhood Development Task Force, this is a moment for celebration,” he said.
State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, Assemblymember Latrice Walker and City Councilmember Rafael Espinal Jr., all of whom represents part of School District 23 that pulls students from Ocean Hill/Brownsville/East New York, all praised the initiative.
“We are excited about the expansion of universal pre-K extending to 3 year olds in District 23 which is in located in Brownsville. This will give our kids an opportunity to get a jumpstart in early childhood education. My office looks forward to partnering with the administration and District 23 to make sure this opportunity will succeed,” said Walker.
“Universal Pre-K has been proven to be essential to the development of our children and a success here in NY; I applaud Mayor de Blasio for continuing to make educating our youngest New Yorkers a top priority of his administration. It is time that District 23, which serves Ocean Hill, Brownsville and East New York finally get the focus and resources it deserves so that our students– who are among the most economically disadvantaged– have every opportunity for success,” said Espinal.
Other Brooklyn lawmakers praising the initiative includes Assembly members Joe Lentol and Pamela Harris; and City Council Members Carlos Menchaca, Laurie A. Cumbo, Jumaane D. Williams, Steve Levin, Inez Barron and Vincent Gentile.
