New York – Orthodox Union Criticizes Mayor’s Delay Re: Half Day Universal Pre-K

New York – OU Advocacy-Teach NYS, the nonpartisan public policy arm of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, says they are extremely disappointed in the nearly five-month delay of the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) by Mayor Bill de Blasio for the city’s half-day Universal Pre-K (UPK) program.

Many of New York City’s Jewish day schools and yeshivas have contracts that are expiring at the end of this school year. They will not be able to continue participation in the half-day program without the RFP.

De Blasio stated in Dec. 2014 and again in February of this year to release the RFP for the half-day program, but participants have yet to see anything.

“We are disappointed that the Mayor would treat this program, as well as the students and parents, in such a cavalier manner. We call on the administration to release the long-promised RFP for the half-day UPK program so that schools that rely on this program can begin to prepare for next year,” said Maury Litwack, director of state political affairs for the Orthodox Union.

“We urge all of New York City’s Jewish day schools and yeshivas to voice their frustration about the half-day UPK program directly with the Mayor’s office,” continued Litwack.

Advocacy-Teach NYS, along with the coalition of New York City Jewish day schools and yeshivas, has asked the de Blasio repeatedly to make the requirements of the full-day UPK program more flexible and to expand the openings available for the half-day UPK program, in order for the Mayor to realize his vision of universal pre-K education for every child in New York City.

“Our Jewish day schools and yeshivas that participate in the City’s half-day UPK program are now in a very precarious position. With no information as to whether or not they’ll have funding for the half-day UPK program next year, these schools are ‘out in the cold’ and cannot plan nor budget appropriately for the upcoming school year,” said Jake Adler, New York director of policy for the Orthodox Union.