3-K Cannot Be “For All” While Preschoolers with Disabilities Go Without Needed Classes
Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) issued the following response to Mayor de Blasio’s announcement that New York City plans to use federal COVID-19 education relief funding to expand 3-K citywide.
While AFC has strongly supported this Administration’s commitment to expanding access to early childhood education, 3-K and Pre-K will not be universal until the City addresses the continuing shortage of seats in preschool special education classes—a shortage that has left young children with disabilities sitting at home or in settings that cannot provide the support they need, in violation of their legal rights.
Data released by the Department of Education (DOE) just last week confirmed what we have been seeing on the ground for months: even this spring—in a year when the pandemic has led to a steep decline in preschool special education enrollment—the City has a shortfall of hundreds of seats in 6- and 8-student classes, which serve preschoolers with the most significant needs. We have heard from families desperate for help because their children with autism or other complex disabilities were going without appropriate services because there were no available seats in the type of class they needed. Yet, the Mayor’s announcement today will do nothing to help these children.
“3세반과 유치원 보육 과정이 꼭 필요한 교육을 받지 못하고 집에만 있어야 하는 장애아동들이 있는 한 ‘모두를 위한’ 과정이 될 수는 없습니다.”라고 AFC의 김 스위트 사무국장은 말했다. “장애아동들에게 법적으로 보장된 수업을 제공할 계획 없이 3세반 확대 계획을 발표하는 것은 추가적인 도움이 필요한 자녀를 둔 부모들에게 모욕을 주는 것이며, 아동의 시민권을 침해하는 것입니다.”
The demand for preschool special education classes will likely only increase in the coming months, as children with disabilities who missed out on months of services during the pandemic are identified as needing more intensive intervention. Prior to the pandemic, the City had projected a shortage of 1,000-2,000 preschool special class seats with a disproportionate need in the Bronx.
“Failing to provide a preschool special education class seat for every child who needs one is shortsighted and discriminatory, in addition to illegal,” said Kim Sweet. “A child’s early years provide the greatest opportunity for intervention. We urge the City to address the shortage of special class seats and ensure that the Mayor’s legacy includes a seat for every preschooler in New York City, including those with disabilities.”
