NY Daily News | “With the city having allocated funding for new preschool special education classes back in April, it is inexcusable for classes not to be up and running for the first day of school,” said Randi Levine, policy director at Advocates for Children, a nonprofit that helps families navigate the preschool special education system. “Children with autism in the South Bronx should not have to sit at home in September, falling further behind, while other children get to start preschool.”

To expand a preschool special education in New York, local districts have to apply to the New York State Education Department, asking to modify their approved programs. But as the end of summer approaches, New York City has yet to submit the required documents, the advocacy group said.

After that, the state will review the application, while the city has to hire special education teachers and staff, and match families with appropriate preschools for their needs. Given the many steps involved, advocates are growing increasingly concerned the local Education Department has yet to launch the process.

“The city is far behind where it should be to have children in classes for the first day of school,” Levine said.