The Mayor and Chancellor also announced the addition of 4,000 new full-day pre-kindergarten seats for the 2013-14 school year, accommodating more of the City’s youngest learners in high need areas. Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Walcott made the announcement at the Education Nation Summit held in the New York Public Library and were joined by Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner Ronald E. Richter and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn.
“By opening our first Educare school and expanding full-day pre-kindergarten, we’re investing in programs that will prepare our youngest students for a lifetime of success,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “More and more research points to the importance of early education in closing the achievement gap and helping children of all backgrounds achieve academically, and we are prioritizing the services that will help our students reach their full potential.”
“The time we spend with children in their earliest years, when science shows learning begins, presents a tremendous opportunity to influence their short and long-term paths,” said Chancellor Walcott. “These two major initiatives are designed to seize that unique opportunity in a child’s development, and to ensure that our youngest students are on course for success in school and beyond — no matter what ZIP code they hail from.”
Read the full release here.
