After a wave of backlash, New York City education department tweaks new pre-K and childcare contracts
Facing growing alarm about an overhaul of how preschool and childcare providers are paid, the New York City education department is making significant changes to new contracts that operators must bid on to receive public money.
The changes increase the minimum amount of funding that the operators will receive regardless of their student enrollment, addressing a major concern voiced by providers. But many providers are likely to be disappointed that the contracts continue to leave wide gaps in the salaries paid to pre-K teachers in community-run programs and those in public schools — an issue that nearly led to a strike earlier this month.
Related: Excellence without equity: Community-based pre-Ks feel shortchanged by DOE