United Federation of Teachers rallies against cutbacks to city’s early childhood program

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Several hundred social workers, educators, and parents joined the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) for a rally and press conference Friday outside Tweed Courthouse demanding that the Department of Education save early childhood programs and reinstate nearly 400 instructional coordinators (ICs) and social workers who were “excessed” in September. 

The UFT is concerned about what they view as the dismantling of early childhood education, one of former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s signature policy achievements, and is also calling for a vote of no confidence in the Deputy Chancellor of Early Childhood Education, Dr. Kara Ahmed.