08/20/2026
This is what “high-quality early childhood education” looks like behind the scenes — and families deserve to know.
For years, NYCEEC programs have received an advance payment from the DOE to help us prepare to open our doors in September.
This year? No advance payment and they have no idea when we will be getting any payment. 
Why? Because our contracts have not yet been registered.
We received very little notice that the funding we rely on to prepare for the school year would not be coming. Yet somehow, we are still expected to open our doors on time and provide the same high-quality care and education our children deserve.
We still have to pay our teachers and staff.
We still have rent, insurance and utilities.
We still need food, classroom supplies, cleaning supplies and everything else it takes to safely welcome children in September.
And remember — we cannot ask our 3-K and Pre-K families for a single dollar to help cover these costs.
The solution being offered? Bridge loans.
So programs are now expected to borrow money to operate a program we are contracted by the City to provide — and we’re being told those applications may not even be reviewed until the end of August.
How are providers supposed to plan?
How are we supposed to purchase supplies, prepare classrooms and meet payroll?
We are educators, employers and small business owners. We should not have to become lenders to the City of New York.
NYCEECs have stepped up year after year. We have stretched budgets, absorbed rising costs and continued showing up for NYC’s children and families.
But partnership cannot work only one way.
If New York City expects us to open our doors in September, then New York City needs to provide the funding necessary to open them.
Our children deserve high-quality early childhood education.
Our teachers deserve stability.
And the programs providing that education deserve better.
Fund us on time. Register our contracts. Let us do the job you are counting on us to do.
