We need to make sure our kids #StartStrong 

Early childhood education is foundational to students’ success. Our children deserve a strong start to their education — we need to act now to protect our 3-K and pre-K programs! 

What we need from the city: 

• 3-K and pre-K seats, available where families with young children are on waitlists. The availability of 3-K and pre-K seats must be flexible to respond to the needs of communities. 
• Increased marketing to communities to ensure that vacant 3-K and pre-K seats are all filled. Parents need to know where seats are available. 
• Enough 3-K and pre-K seats for students with disabilities. We have to ensure that our students with disabilities have a seat and receive the special education services they need. 
• Improvements to the DOE’s 3-K and pre-K enrollment process. Key changes can make the process easier and more efficient for families to enroll their children. 
• Timely payments to community-based organization providers of early childhood education. The DOE needs to respect all educators doing this important work and pay them on time. 

Alongside the City Council, parents and education advocates, the UFT already fought for and won: 

• A city budget that includes funding for additional seats and services for preschool children with disabilities as well as 4,000 seats for free or low-cost year-round child care, for up to 10 hours a day, for families who qualify. 
• Seats for 1,700 children who had been waitlisted for 3-K and pre-K.

Let's keep up the pressure!