NY 1 | A coalition of more than 100 education organizations says proposals in the city and the state budgets could endanger the future of popular programs like 3-K and leave the city with less education funding.

As parents around the city prepare to finalize their applications for the 3-K program — hoping to get a coveted seat close to home — education advocates say the budget proposed by Mayor Eric Adams shortchanges the program by $112 million.

“This is not the entire budget for 3-K, but it is a significant portion, and losing this funding could mean that thousands of 3-year-olds who would have had the chance to attend three K next year would instead miss out,” Randi Levine, policy director of Advocates for Children, said.

“There are hundreds of children with disabilities waiting for those classes to open right now who have a legal right to be in those classes right now. And it is harder to open those classes right now when the D.O.E. doesn’t know if the funding will continue next year. It’s harder to convince a school to do the work needed to open a new class. It’s harder to find a teacher for that class when we don’t know if the funding is going to continue,” Levine said.

There are also concerns at the state level: the governor’s budget proposal includes changes to the formula that awards education funding to school districts like New York City. But it includes a change in how poverty is measured that could cost the city big bucks.

“New York City schools would get nearly $350 million less than they would without these changes,” Levine said.