Mayor Eric Adams announced an $80 million investment under the Best Budget Ever to aid working families and enhance access to early childhood education. Skyrocketing childcare costs are impacting family budgets and pushing families out of New York City. The funding includes $70 million for special education students who require additional services, and $10 million for a pilot program offering free childcare for children aged two and under. Ensuring affordable childcare helps families remain in the city and allows parents to continue working, balancing child needs and financial stability.
Affordable childcare means that families can stay in the city and that parents can continue to work. We know that when mothers leave the workforce to care for a child, they forgo, on average, $145,000 in earnings throughout their lifetime.
For too long, universal pre-K wasn't fully universal since it left out students with disabilities. But we are changing that. As part of our Best Budget Ever, we are investing another $70 million to support pre-K special education students who require occupational therapy, speech therapy, and other related services.
We're investing $10 million in a groundbreaking pilot program to provide free childcare for children aged two and under. If successful, this program could put New York City on the path to universal childcare for low-income families.
Making our city more affordable for working-class families is the best way to make the American Dream a reality for all New Yorkers.
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