Report: City on Track to Meet "Ready to Launch" Pre-K Expansion Goals for September 2014

February 25, 2014

CONTACT: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov, (212) 788-2958

Proposals from school principals and community-based organizations far exceed number of seats required for expansion

Mayor: 'We can change the lives of tens of thousands of children in a matter of months.'

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio today released a report clearly demonstrating New York City's capacity to rapidly expand high quality, full-day pre-kindergarten beginning in September 2014. The progress report on the administration's "Ready to Launch" roadmap for implementing universal pre-kindergarten proves that finding more classrooms with quality programming is within the city's grasp—and that securing sustainable and sufficient funding remains the chief obstacle to providing every child with the early education they need to succeed.

Since requesting proposals and applications from schools and community-based organizations able to offer full-day pre-K in the coming year, the Department of Education has received proposals for 29,000 seats—far more than the 21,000 required to meet its September targets. Those seats are distributed across the five boroughs, including in many high-needs neighborhoods.

CBOs submitted proposals for 650 sites, representing approximately 20,000 potential seats, with 280 public elementary schools putting forward applications for an additional 9,000 seats. Roughly 60 percent of schools applying are located in neighborhoods with a significant shortage of pre-K seats, and an equal proportion is in low-income communities.

"Make no mistake: we can change the lives of tens of thousands of children. We can do it in a matter of months. Hundreds of school principals and community leaders—the people who already do this work—have come forward with detailed plans to provide pre-K to more children in their neighborhoods. We can make that a reality, but we need the power to raise our own revenue from our own people to make it happen," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"We already know demand from families for high quality, full-day pre-K is exceptionally high – and these numbers confirm that we are ready to deliver. With high quality providers and schools across all five boroughs eager to deliver for our 4-year-olds, we know that our plan can be implemented on Day 1. Students need it, families are clamoring for it, and we have the capacity to provide it. We are ready, we just need the dollars to get it done," said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña.

As part of the application process, schools and community organizations must identify space for programming and put forth a comprehensive plan for ramping up for September, including how they will identify, train and support their teaching staff. All programs will be thoroughly reviewed to ensure they meet and sustain rigorous quality standards. Teams of DOE staff have begun reviewing written applications and sites to ensure any program serving 4-year-olds delivers high quality service.

The analysis confirms the feasibility of the roadmap assembled last month by the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Education, Administration for Children's Services, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to provide free, high quality, full-day pre-K to the 73,250 children eligible for it by the 2015-2016 school year, beginning with 53,604 in September 2014.

Read the full report: on.nyc.gov/1mF5s9a