(The Center Square) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is touting a more than $560 million expansion of pre-kindergarten programs as part of broader efforts to boost early education.
Hochul announced Wednesday that as the new school year gets underway, more than 400 New York school districts are offering thousands of new pre-kindergarten seats as part of the state's multi-year expansion of the programs. The governor cited a landmark $1.7 billion funding in the state budget — a $563 million increase over the previous fiscal year — to expand child care and pre-kindergarten services statewide, which boosted the state's early childhood spending to $4.5 billion in the next fiscal year. She vowed to make the programs universal statewide by the next school year. "As New York’s first mom Governor, putting us on the path to statewide universal Pre-K was personal for me — and I’m ensuring that we will deliver on that promise," Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement. Hochul's office has provided a regional breakdown of school districts that will be able to offer additional pre-kindergarten seats. The Mid-Hudson region, Long Island and the western New York region are among the largest beneficiaries of the 402 districts benefiting from the expansion, according to the Hochul administration. Earlier this year, Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced plans to expand free childcare for 2-year-olds in “high-need areas” across the city. The state will fund the program for the first two years, under the agreement, and after that the Legislature would be required to provide funding to keep it going. Overall, the lack of child care and pre-kindergarten options in New York is costing working families, some of whom are spending 20% to 40% of their annual income on programs.The average cost of child care is $15,394 a year in New York, the sixth-most expensive state in the nation, according to a recent report by the Economic Policy Institute. A typical family in New York would have to spend 39.8% of its income on child care for an infant and a 4-year-old, according to the report. Child care costs in New York City are even higher. Meanwhile, advocates say low compensation and the rising costs of caring for children are putting some providers out of business. Early education providers are struggling to retain workers in an industry where the pay is traditionally low, recent studies have suggested. Last year, Hochul clashed with fellow Democrats and child care advocates over a proposal floated by lawmakers during budget negotiations, which called for spending $5 billion for a universal child care system for all New York families, regardless of income or immigration status. New York Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said the "historic" expansion will "help more young learners build the academic, social, and emotional skills they need to thrive, while providing critical support to families across New York." "High-quality prekindergarten instruction gives children a strong foundation for success in school and beyond, while helping ensure that every child, regardless of zip code or family income, has access to meaningful early learning opportunities," she said in a statement.
