Good morning Chair Joseph and members of the committee and thank you for holding this hearing today. I am here today on behalf of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso to fight for critical and important programs across Brooklyn and New York City public schools.
The FY25 Preliminary Budgets for the Department of Education (DOE) and School Construction Authority (SCA) are concerning for a number of reasons. Crucial long-term initiatives such as 3-K and Pre-K, Community Schools, restorative justice, post-secondary readiness programs, and much more are threatened with cuts. With the expiration of federal COVID relief funding, our schools’ financial situation is dire. Yet new projections from the IBO expect billions more in available funding in FY25 than previously predicted. So while some cuts may be necessary, we should be using data and evidence to ensure that our education budget is serving our 915,000 students and families, with a priority for those with the most need.
Borough President Reynoso is particularly concerned about the following initiatives:
Early Childhood Education
Parents across Brooklyn are calling for expansion – not reduction – of early childcare programs, especially Pre-K and 3-K. In fact, the number of NYC families utilizing 3-K more than doubled between SY2019 (17,500 students) to SY2022 (35,700 students). The federal standard for affordable childcare is 7% of household income, yet according to the Citizens Committee for Children, childcare costs in Brooklyn could represent up to 63% of a family’s income. According to the same study, more than 80% of NYC families with children under age five are unable to afford childcare.
This is unsustainable and underscores that access to free and low-cost childcare can make the difference between a family staying in New York City or being forced to leave. It is essential that these programs remain available to every family, regardless of special needs or immigration status. Yet more than 150 Brooklyn 3-K classes could be on the chopping block, including many in our borough’s highest poverty districts, as well as 19 integrated classes for students with and without special needs, and 24 preschool special education programs. Borough President Reynoso is ready to fight alongside the Council to address the $263M funding gap for early childhood education, and to expand these programs to ensure free, high-quality childcare is available to all. We must also ensure that our childcare providers are receiving a livable wage and are paid on time.
Special Education
Historically, the DOE has failed to serve this population, and even as the agency seeks to meet its court ordered milestones to provide students with mandated services and address processing delays, there is still much room for improvement. The increase in 94 full-time staff for processing special education claims and expediting hearings represents progress and should help address the backlog in Carter Cases (now estimated at $200M for FY2025). Yet the need remains for support for other programs, such as SEED (discussed below) and filling the $96M funding gap in preschool special education.
School Climate & Culture
School-based support programs are critical for our youth, and it is disappointing that we have to fight for them seemingly every year. Borough President Reynoso stands with the Council in its calls to secure and baseline sustainable funding for the initiatives outlined below:
- Community Schools. Community Schools play a critical role in supporting 21st-Century learning. The over 100 community schools in Brooklyn transform communities and provide vital wraparound services to children and their families. The expansion of community schools from 266 in SY2020-2021 to more than 400 today is laudable, yet this is only sustainable with a consistent funding source. While the administration thankfully restored its FY2024 cuts, the program still faces uncertainty, with looming cuts to 48 community schools serving 18,000 students, 82% of whom are low-income. Community schools now face a $67M funding gap for FY2025 and outyears.
- Restorative Justice Programs. While DOE has seen an uptick in hate crimes and bullying, this administration is proposing cuts to initiatives that center empathy, healing, and accountability. Punitive measures alone have never made our schools safer. Yet this administration is leaving a $12M funding gap for restorative justice programs in underserved communities throughout the city, including 90+ schools in Brooklyn.
- Sensory Exploration, Education and Discovery (SEED). DOE recently published a report “Reimaging Special Education” in conjunction with a task force of over 45 parents, educators, and advocates. The recommendations note the growing population of students living with autism, and the need to increase capacity and programs for them. The Borough President supports this vision, but once again notes that these programs are only viable with sustainable funding. Yet this administration is proposing a record disinvestment of $22.5M from SEED
- Bilingual Programs, Translation, and Interpretation Services. New York City’s strength is in its diversity, and this is especially evident in Brooklyn, where over 150 languages are spoken on a given day. To serve these communities, and the growing population of migrant arrivals, we must support Dual Language and Bilingual education programs, as well as language translation and interpretation services for our schools and parents, including the Presidents Council, School Leadership Team (SLT), and Community Education Councils (CECs). Districts such as District 20, where 23% of students are English Language Learners, need these programs. Yet once again, the programs face a $17M gap.
Sustaining Capacity & Critical Staff
Budget cuts not only threaten our students, but they hit our support workers as well. Currently an estimated 625 staff such as school social workers, school psychologists, family workers, and shelter-based coordinators face layoffs. Borough President Reynoso has long been an advocate for equitable access to social workers in our schools, yet in Brooklyn, the proposed cuts would leave the underserved community of Bed-Stuy with no social workers at all, exacerbating inequities in an already inequitable system.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. Borough President Reynoso will continue to stand with the Council to demand investment in our youth and to ensure that every student can access quality education, dynamic programming, and needed support services.
