WHEREAS, a large body of research shows that full-day, high-quality prekindergarten helps to put children on track for success in school and life; and

WHEREAS, children who attend high-quality programs are more likely to graduate from high school, less likely to be held back a grade and less likely to need intervention services or special education; they also have higher earnings as adults and are less likely to need public assistance or to become involved with the criminal justice system; and 

WHEREAS, Mayor Bill de Blasio is proposing to expand prekindergarten in New York City so that all children have access to high-quality, full-day prekindergarten; and

WHEREAS, Governor Andrew Cuomo is similarly calling for universal prekindergarten throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, the mayor has proposed to pay for an expansion of prekindergarten in the city through an increase in the city income tax on households with incomes above $500,000; and

WHEREAS, New York State has made significant funding commitments to prekindergarten, including sending New York City about $225 million in annual pre-K funds since 1997, but the city has in many years had to return money to the state because the funds were restricted to half-day programs; and

WHEREAS, with both a new mayor and the governor promoting an expansion of prekindergarten and with public support strong for such an initiative, the time is ripe for New York City to move toward universal prekindergarten to give all children, regardless of income, a good start in life;

WHEREAS, the UFT will support an all day pre-k program that is developmentally appropriate that is in the interest of all of the children in NYC; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the United Federation of Teachers will work to win state approval for a city tax increase to expand prekindergarten to tens of thousands more children in the city.