Picking up the cost of Summer Rising as federal COVID-19 funds expire and reversing previously announced cuts to community schools are positive steps that will allow students to get much-needed support, but the City must go further.

The Mayor is still proposing to cut more than $500 million in city funding from New York City Public Schools.

On top of those cuts to city funding, we are deeply concerned about the looming expiration of federal COVID-19 stimulus funds, which are supporting many critical education initiatives that will still be just as needed when federal dollars run dry this year. While we are pleased that the City will continue funding Summer Rising, there is a slew of additional education programs and supports funded with these expiring dollars that need sustained funding—ranging from school social workers and psychologists to 3-K and preschool special education programs to shelter-based coordinators to bilingual programming to literacy initiatives to community schools.

More than 160 organizations have issued a call-to-action about the importance of sustaining these education programs, noting: “We are at a critical juncture. Our elected leaders must choose between allowing these programs to end on their watch—dealing a massive setback to public education—or taking action to identify new funding sources so students can continue receiving critical supports and services. We are counting on our elected leaders to sustain essential education programs and build on the progress made, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of students for years to come.”

This is no time to be complacent. Unless elected leaders act, these programs will be rolled back or eliminated. We need the City and State to make a substantial investment in education to continue important programs – especially those programs serving students with the greatest needs – as federal stimulus funding expires.