Bill de Blasio pushes for universal pre-K
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio toured early childhood facilities this morning to call attention to his plan for universal pre-kindergarten, as well as afterschool programming.
De Blasio visited P.S. 50 and the East Harlem Center, both run by the Children’s Aid Society.
The mayoral hopeful is calling for universal pre-kindergarten for all four-year-olds, a program he said would be the first in the city’s history.
According to de Blasio, there are currently 48,000 children who receive only part-time pre-kindergarten or none at all.
De Blasio’s plan would also establish after-school programming for middle schoolers from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every weekday.
De Blasio proposed the plan be funded by a five-year income tax increase on New Yorkers earning $500,000 or more.
Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat
