Beloved children’s YouTube star Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Accurso, has criticized New York City Mayor Eric Adam’s decision to cut $400 million from early childhood education programs. Accurso, a former preschool teacher-turned-influencer, believes that investing in high-quality early childhood education is crucial for children’s development and will benefit society as a whole in the long run. She highlighted the struggles that parents face in finding affordable and quality childcare, emphasizing the importance of access to early childhood education for all children.
Accurso pointed out that for every dollar invested in early childhood education, there is a return of four to sixteen dollars. She announced her plans to advocate for those impacted by the childcare cuts in Washington, DC and encouraged her viewers to sign a petition on the New Yorkers United for Child Care website. The cuts to the city’s free 3-K and pre-K programs have caused concern among local parents, who rely on these programs for childcare and early education. The current administration plans to cut an additional 14% of the budget in 2025.
Schools Chancellor David Banks has pledged to fight to preserve the programs from the cuts as COVID funding runs out. He emphasized the need to find a long-term funding source for the 3-K program to ensure its sustainability and provide a full range of early childhood programs to families. Despite the challenges, the administration has provided 46,000 3-K seats and filled 83% of them last school year. Moving forward, the focus is on reallocating seats among neighborhoods to meet the demand for programs where they are needed the most.
In response to Mayor Adam’s budget proposals, the City Council has called for the restoration of funding for early childhood education programs and an increase in the number of spots available in the city’s 3-K and pre-K programs. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams highlighted the importance of strengthening the early childhood education system, which has faced bureaucratic challenges and budget cuts. The council believes that early childhood education has become a top priority for working and middle class families and needs to be supported to ensure the well-being of children and the future of society.
