NYC Public Schools Enhance 3,000 Special Education Seats Across 65 Early Childhood Providers, Adding 400 New Seats
Additional Expansion Expected to Open Enough Preschool Seats This Spring to Serve All Children Living with Disabilities
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David C. Banks today announced an expansion of early childhood education special-education seats across the five boroughs, in partnership with community-based providers, that will provide an early childhood education special-education seat for every child living with a disability by the spring of 2023. Previously, the early childhood education system did not have a strategic or intentional focus on serving young children living with disabilities and their families. Through a citywide contract enhancement process, New York City public schools is addressing this historic inequity by expanding the number of seats reserved for students living with disabilities across early childhood education and increasing pay for educators and providers.
“I know from personal experience what it’s like not to have had the supports I needed to learn and thrive as child. For far too long, our young students living with disabilities have struggled in a system that hasn’t been fully able to meet them where they are,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we’re changing that. This expansion ensures not only that our youngest are provided the resources they need to succeed, but that the educators and caretakers who serve them are paid fairly and at a rate worthy of the life shaping the work they do. This investment is long overdue, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has worked tirelessly to make this a reality.”
“For far too long, children with disabilities and their families have been overlooked by a system that was not built with them in mind. Our vision for early childhood education sees all children,” said DOE Chancellor Banks. “My team has particularly been focused on young children living with disabilities. We are deeply committed to establishing early childhood education that works for all New York City families — a truly accessible, high-quality, and sustainable program that equitably serves our children living with disabilities. Bright starts begin at birth, and I am proud that Deputy Chancellor Dr. Ahmed and the Division of Early Childhood Education are dedicated to creating a truly inclusive early childhood system that will set our children up for success for generations to come. Thank you to Mayor Adams, our partners in the City Council, our PEP members, and our devoted community providers for prioritizing our children living with disabilities and building a system that not only meets, but also understands and prioritizes their needs.”
“In an equitable society, a high-quality early childhood experience must include all children,” said Deputy Chancellor Dr. Kara H. Ahmed. “Our team envisions a comprehensive system that serves all children from birth to five, inclusive of children living with disabilities We have already begun the work necessary to provide a seat for every young child with a disability based on their individual strengths and learning needs, and we will not stop until that goal is actualized.”
Previously, early childhood seats for children living with disabilities were few and limited, and their educators were paid less than their general education peers. As part of Chancellor Banks' long-term vision to reimagine early childhood education and special-education programming in New York City public schools, it is vital that all children have access to educators and resources that meet their unique needs as soon as they enter the classroom. To ensure that early childhood education programs are prepared to meet the needs of the city’s most vulnerable children, the first set of special education contract enhancements will be implemented across 65 provider contracts. As part of this process, approximately 3,000 seats across the sector will benefit, including 400 new seats to meet needs. By this spring, an additional 400 new seats will be added for a total of 800 new seats, and additional seats will be stabilized by the contract enhancement process.
Additionally, special education contract enhancements will:
- Earmark $130 million for early childhood education special education providers over two years;
- Align early childhood education special education programs with the city’s 3-K and pre-K general education programs by extending the school day from five hours to six hours and 20 minutes and providing extended care and learning for children and support for working families;
- Extend general early childhood education site supports such as professional development opportunities to early childhood education special education providers;
- Increase access to services in the least restrictive environment by enabling providers to offer special class in an Integrated Setting (SCIS) classrooms;
- Establish funding to help programs recruit, train, and retain staff to support special education seats across the early childhood education landscape;
- Allocate funds for teacher and staff salaries in accordance with new services and lengthened school days; and
- Bring increased pay and pay parity to teaching staff in special education programs to match that of their peers in general education in 3-K and pre-K.
NYC Public Schools is committed to strengthening and stabilizing the early childhood education landscape in close partnership with providers, educators, community members, and families. Part of this essential work is permanently incorporating preschool special education programs into the fabric of New York City communities to ensure they are exceptional and accessible for all New York families, in response to community need. This announcement comes on the heels of Chancellor Banks’s renewed vision for special education programs in New York City public schools, which celebrates and expands successful programs, provides new professional learning opportunities to students, and empowers family and community members as partners in this work.
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