Op-Ed: Two researchers applaud the city's pre-K expansion, but say its mix of funding sources and types of pre-K centers has "unintentionally reinforced barriers that keep rich and poor children apart, even in economically mixed neighborhoods."
The kindergarten waitlist drama at two Forest Hills schools has subsided after the city created more seats for nearby students by cutting some planned pre-kindergarten.
Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a bill into law Tuesday that will require the city to release more detailed information every year about the diversity of its schools, including demographic data related to individual grade levels and programs within schools.
At a Staten Island town hall meeting this week, Chancellor Carmen Fariña said real estate developers should be required to set aside community space that could be used for pre-K, and schools should combat their poor reputations by holding more open houses.
Advocates are calling on the city to more than double the number of seats planned for city schools in order to reduce overcrowding, and are pointing out that Mayor Bill de Blasio has set aside less money to do that than his predecessor.
