It’s the start of another school year, and you can feel the energy across New York City. Kindergarteners are zipping up their backpacks for the very first time. High schoolers are checking their class schedules and comparing notes with friends. Teachers are putting the final touches on their classroom setups. Our schools are buzzing with activity, the air electric with all the promise a new school year brings.
But it’s important to remember: this school year could have looked very different. This was the year the remainder of our $7 billion of federal stimulus funding was set to expire, and the loss of those dollars would have been felt deeply in every one of our schools. As a public-school graduate, I know how a high-quality education can unlock opportunities for decades to come and how important a child’s education is to working families who rely on our schools to educate and care for their children year-round.
