We appreciate that the Executive Budget provides much-needed increased funding for preschool special education and extends funding for important programs such as Learning to Work. However, funding for other essential education programs is still set to expire in June. Unless funding is restored, students will lose access to the Mental Health Continuum, Sensory Exploration, Education, & Discovery (SEED) programs, restorative justice, immigrant family outreach, and Student Success Centers. We appreciate that the City Council’s Preliminary Budget Response calls for continued funding for these programs and urge you to ensure the adopted budget restores and baselines this funding.

The City also has more work to do to ensure students with disabilities receive the programs and services they need in our public schools and to address the urgent needs we see daily in our work with families. We urge the City to add:

• $100M to address the shortage of service providers for students with disabilities across grade levels; mandated services are not optional.
• $20M to expand effective reading intervention for middle and high school students; families should not have to sue for private tutoring so their children can learn to read.
• $8M to hire behavioral specialists; schools should be able to call upon professionals with the expertise to support students’ behavioral and mental health needs.
• $8M to hire English Language Learner (ELL) instructional specialists; schools with high numbers of ELLs should have a dedicated professional ensuring these students receive appropriate academic instruction and support.
• $3M for interim transportation for students in foster care awaiting school bus service; students placed in the City’s custody should be able to get to school.
• $2M to expand travel training; students with disabilities should get the training needed to navigate public transportation independently, increasing access to jobs and internships while reducing reliance on yellow bus service.
• $450M in capital funding over five years to make more schools accessible; no one should be turned away from a school because they cannot enter the building.

دی Coalition for Equitable Education Funding (CEEF), which is co-coordinated by AFC, is also testifying at the hearing, calling on the City to provide long-term funding for key programs at risk of funding cuts.