Happy Friday everyone! This week, there is an extensive amount of media attention focused on New York’s final state budget – expected to be complete on Wednesday, April 1st. As stated by Benjamin Franklin, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” The articles below cover our top picks for the most important reads for this week. Enjoy!

-New Pre-K Classes Will Share Building With Downtown Drug Abuse Center – DNAinfo

The city is building a new, 108-seat pre-K center inside a Lower Manhattan building that's also home to a substance abuse treatment center.

–Bill de Blasio Teams Up with Rudy Giuliani in Push to Grant Mayor Full Control over New York City School System – Daily News

In an unlikely alliance, Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani have teamed up on the issue of school governance, writing a letter to Gov. Cuomo and state lawmakers urging them to extend mayoral control while taking a "veiled shot" at Cuomo's plan to take over low-performing schools.

–Two Major Business Groups Side with de Blasio on Permanent Mayoral Control of Schools – Daily News

Two influential business groups also backed de Blasio's call to make mayoral control permanent, citing his administration's handling of its universal prekindergarten program and "ambitious" school turnaround plan.

–Bill de Blasio Claims Andrew Cuomo is not Investing Enough in State's Ailing Education System – Daily News

De Blasio took a swipe at Cuomo — although not by name — this weekend when he criticized the "failing" label given to low-performing schools in public education.

–My Agenda for NY Opportunity: Boosting Access to Good Schools – New York Post

Cuomo writes in an op-ed that he wants to pass the DREAM act — which Republicans oppose — and another law that provides private school scholarships for middle and lower-income students — which teachers unions oppose — as part of a broader agenda to improve access to higher quality education.

–Daily News 'Fight for their Future' Education Series on How to Fix City's Schools Hits a Nerve with Teachers and Parents – Daily News

Parents and teachers continued to weigh in on the problems facing New York City schools with little agreement.

–EXCLUSIVE: 37,000 Families Sign Up for City's Pre-K in First Week — More than Half of de Blasio's Goal – Daily News

More than 37,000 four-year-olds have signed up for prekindergarten so far, more than halfway toward the city's goal of 70,000 before a deadline next month.

–School Tells Parents They're Required to Contribute, Violating DOE Rules – DNAinfo

A Manhattan elementary school is telling prospective parents that a "minimum" of six hours of volunteer fund-raising for the school is expected of them during the school year, violating city rules.

–The City’s Grab for Pre-K Space Irks Some Parent Leaders – wNYC

The city's decision to add pre-K programs to some school buildings next year without going through a space-planning process involving the Panel for Educational Policy is raising eyebrows among some parent leaders.