Mayor de Blasio And Chancellor Fariña Announced The Expansion Of 3-K For All

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña today announced the expansion of 3-K for All to six more community school districts across all five boroughs. 3-K for All builds on the success of Pre-K for All, and will offer free, full-day, high-quality early childhood education for every New York City three-year-old. Currently, the City has introduced 3-K for All in District 7 (South Bronx) and District 23 (Brownsville).

Starting in the 2018-19 school year, the City will expand to two additional school districts each year. These districts include:

• 2018-19: District 4 (East Harlem) and District 27 (Broad Channel, Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Rockaways).
• 2019-20: District 9 (Grand Concourse, Highbridge, Morrisania) and District 31 (Staten Island).
• 2020-21: District 19 (East New York) and District 29 (Cambria Heights, Hollis, Laurelton, Queens Village, Springfield Gardens, St. Albans).

Each pair of districts will have a two-year expansion, offering universal access in the second year. In order to achieve the vision of 3-K for All citywide, the City will need additional support from partners in the State and federal government.

“3-K for All is making a powerful difference in the South Bronx and Central Brooklyn. These six new districts will give kids across the five boroughs the strongest possible start in life and ease the financial burden for their families. As a parent and your Mayor, there is no more worthwhile cause than expanding opportunity for all our kids,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Early education is essential to the success of our students and City, and today we’re taking another big step forward,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “Together with our other investments in early education – including Pre-K for All, Universal Literacy, and Algebra for All – this expansion is going to have a major impact for students and families across all five boroughs, and the future of their communities.”

“The research is crystal clear: as powerful as one year of Pre-K is, two years has an even greater impact. It also provides an added year of much-needed child care to families. The expansion of 3-K we’re announcing today is the next step in our plan to build a truly universal free, high-quality early childhood education system – and demonstrates our commitment to achieve equity and excellence for all New Yorkers,” said Richard Buery, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives.

3-K for All is part of the Mayor and Chancellor’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda. The Equity and Excellence for All agenda, now in its second full school year, is supporting progress across all schools so that, by 2026, 80 percent of students graduate high school on time, and two-thirds of graduates are college-ready. It builds on record-high graduation rates, record-high college enrollment rates, record-low dropout rates, and a high-quality pre-K seat for every New York City 4-year-old.

3-K for All is the nation’s most ambitious effort to provide universal, free, full-day, high-quality early childhood education for every three-year-old child. This is the first year of a two-year expansion to create hundreds of new, free, full-day, high-quality seats in School Districts 7 and 23 serving Brownsville, Ocean Hill, and East New York. Currently, over 1,500 three-year-olds are registered for seats in the program. The City is on track to provide a seat for every three-year-old living in Districts 7 and 23 that wants one by fall 2018. As part of its commitment to free, full-day, high-quality 3-K for All, the City has also begun providing additional support to the public early childhood center programs currently serving approximately 10,000 three-year-olds through EarlyLearn across the City.

With the addition of six new 3-K for All districts, the program will expand to all five boroughs. The new districts were selected with this goal, as well as community need and the ability to build on substantial Equity and Excellence for All educational investments in these communities.

3-K for All builds on the success of Pre-K for All – through which the City has more than tripled the number of four-year-olds enrolled in free, full-day, high-quality Pre-K – and is part of a broader effort to create a continuum of high-quality early care and education programs for New York City children from birth to five years old. Research has found every dollar invested in high-quality early education saves taxpayers as much as $13 long-term.

There is extensive research supporting the transformative value of free, full-day, high-quality3-K for All, including the following:

• 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.

As part of a larger effort to strengthen birth-to-five care and education across the City, Early Learn programs are shifting from ACS to management by DOE by early 2019. The planning process for this transition is being led by ACS and DOE, with engagement with other city agencies, such as the Human Resources Administration, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as well as providers, early childhood care and education experts, and state and federal regulators. This change will enable consistent, high-quality standards, greater curricular alignment from early childhood through second grade, a single contracting relationship for early childhood education providers, integrated data collection, and seamless connections between early childhood development and 3K-12 education. In addition to programs serving three- and four-year-olds, EarlyLearn programs serving children from six-weeks-old through three-years-old are also shifting to management by DOE, including center- and home-based programs.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said, “The expansion of 3-K for All into District 19 will help us close the inequality gap in East New York through the powerful force of early childhood education. There is more than enough evidence to show the impact that high-quality learning in the critical formative years has on future life outcomes. I am excited to see the early results of our City’s efforts in District 23, and the impact it will have on the children and families of Brownsville and Brooklyn as a whole.”

“Universal pre-K and now 3-K are some of the smartest investments we can make in children and families,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “The evidence continues to mount showing the benefits of preschool in closing achievement gaps, and easing the burden of childcare during these years is one of the best boosts we can give to working families trying to make ends meet.”

“Extensive studies have shown what we already know: a quality early education is crucial for the development of adolescents. More children in NYC will receive early education due to this expansion, which will yield benefits for years to come. I thank Mayor de Blasio for his efforts regarding education and send my gratitude to all the teachers who give children the opportunity to succeed in the classroom and in life,” said Representative Gregory W. Meeks.

“The foundation for educational success starts early and expanding the 3-K for All initiative puts more young minds on a path to future achievement in the classroom and beyond,” said Representative Adriano Espaillat. “New York City’s ambitious education plan showcases an invaluable commitment to our students and their families – regardless of economic status, background, race, or neighborhood. I commend Mayor de Blasio for championing the needs of our youngest New Yorkers and providing an opportunity today that will help better prepare them for a stronger future.”

State Senator José M. Serrano said, “The 3-K for All program is an excellent way to begin introducing young minds to basic communication, educational and social skills. By expanding the program into more schools across the city, we are giving every three-year-old the opportunity to jump start their learning experience, and challenge their minds, which will ultimately set them on a successful path. Many thanks to Mayor de Blasio for prioritizing the beginning stages of education for our children.”

“I commend Mayor de Blasio, the entire administration for his continued commitment to the next generation. This is great news; I am extremely pleased that the three year old in the district would benefit from 3-k for all. Parents do understand the importance of early childhood education; therefore, having access to this opportunity will lessen the burden of having families travel very far to acquire resources to enable their children to have a bright and sustainable future,” said State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud.

State Senator James Sanders Jr. said: “I am pleased that the Universal Pre-K program is expanding in my district and that more children will be able to benefit from this early boost to their education. Universal Pre-K has so many benefits including ensuring equal access to education for children of all backgrounds and creating potentially diverse classrooms. This expansion is also a positive step forward in spreading the notion that early education is important for the public good.”

Assemblymember Latrice Walker said, “This extra year of instruction provides our children with a level of academic and social development that they cannot get later on in life. As a parent I’m ecstatic to hear that 3-K For All program is expanding to six more community school districts to continue the path of providing universal, free, full-day, high-quality early childhood education for every three-year-old child.”

Assemblymember Michael Miller said, “I support 3-K for All. Bringing children together at an early age will give them additional support in developing their social and communication skills. 3-K for All will help put more kids on the path to a brighter future and invest in the future of our state.”

“The beginning years in a child’s life are critical for building the foundation necessary for success later in school and in life. Children arrive at pre-school with an array of experiences; some may come with certain elevated skills, and some may need more emotional adjustment than others. The bottom line is, we want to ensure that no child is left behind, and that all children reach their full academic potential,” said Assemblymember Michele Titus. “Kids who attend early pre-k are better equipped for kindergarten than kids who do not, but it is especially great for poor and disadvantaged children from low-income families who often struggle to make ends meet. 3-K for All is an excellent program and I’d like to commend Mayor Di Blasio, ACS and the DOE for bring this worthwhile initiative to fruition” concluded the Assemblywoman

Assemblymember Michael Cusick said, “The importance of “Pre-K for All” was offering an earlier start for young minds to be more prepared as they move forward in their education, creating significant long-term benefits. Through the future expansion of the program to “3-K for All” for three-year-olds, families will be afforded more access to quality education for their children at an earlier age.”

“It is clear that early childhood education will give kids a jump start to succeed throughout their academic and adult life. Beginning next school year, thousands of 3-year-olds in East Harlem will have access to quality 3K for All programming,” said Assemblymember Robert Rodriguez. “This investment will provide our City’s youngsters with valuable learning that will increase student achievement and improve our community.”

“I am proud to support the expansion of ‘3-K for All’ which will bring high-quality early education to some of our youngest New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi.

Assemblymember Michael Blake said, “Giving children, at every stage of development, access to the best education possible lays foundations that last a life time. Early stages often are the most critical. Having already seen the success of the 3 K program in school District 7 of the South Bronx, I am overjoyed to see this program expanding to District 9 which includes Grand Concourse, Highbridge, and Morrisania. Now, throughout the South Bronx, three-year olds can receive a free, full day, quality education. The 3 K Program and the New York City Department of Education are tangibly #BuildingABetterBronx and making sure #EVERYONESUCCEEDS.”

“I am proud to support the expansion of ‘3-K for All’ which will bring high-quality early education to some of our youngest New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi.

“This expansion will bring 3-K to thousands of additional children,” said NYC Council Education Committee Chairperson Daniel Dromm. “Now students in these traditionally under-served communities will have access to the education they need to thrive in elementary school. 3-K for All will also help boost high school graduation rates and college-readiness in our schools. I applaud the administration for moving this initiative forward and will continue to work alongside them to enhance early childhood education across the five boroughs.”

Councilmember Julissa Ferreras-Copeland said, “By expanding this important program, we are making sure that more 3-year-olds have access to high-quality early childhood education and providing parents much-needed relief from the high costs of childcare. I want to thank the Mayor for his commitment to ensuring that our City provides free education for all our kids from an early age.”

“Expanding 3-K for All to more communities around the City will help save even more parents crucial time and spending money that can be better spent on improving their family’s quality of life,” said Councilmember Donovan Richards. “As the parent of a one-year-old, I know all too well how taxing picking up and dropping off my son can be every day. This expansion is going to improve the lives of so many New Yorkers, who can now focus on lifting up their family rather than just holding down the fort. I’d like to thank Mayor de Blasio for his continued commitment to working families in our great city.”

Councilmember Vanessa Gibson said, “Early childhood education lays the foundation for a life time of success. I am thrilled by the 2019-2020 school year, students and families in School District 9 will benefit from the universal 3K program. Students who attend pre-K and 3K classes are more likely to enter kindergarten ready to learn and more likely to graduate from high school. By expanding 3K to School District 9, we will be giving our future stars and scholars the resources they need to soar. I commend Mayor de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina for this tremendous investment in early education and for their dedication to bringing the highest standards of educational excellence to our youngest scholars.”