Hochul allocates $3M for after-school programs in New York City after funding crisis • Brooklyn Paper

Brooklyn parents let out a sign of relief last week, after weeks of worrying where their children would go after school lets out.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday that she would provide New York City with a one-time, $3 million investment for after-school providers — which will allow some programs that had been canceled outright to start back up again.

“We’re committed to protecting and expanding access to affordable, high-quality afterschool programming for families across New York,” a spokesperson for Hochul said. “In addition to increasing overall funding for afterschool seats this year, we’re ensuring that thousands of kids and families can continue utilizing the local afterschool programs they rely on.”

Earlier this year, the state’s Office of Children and Family Services started a new initiative: the Learning and Enrichment After-School Program Supports, which altered the funding criteria for after-school programs provided by schools and community-based organizations. 

Under LEAP, some CBOs did not receive state funding this year, despite having been in operation for years and even being approved by LEAPs; the latter meant those CBOs would only receive funding if additional resources became available.

That meant several schools in districts 20 and 21 in southern Brooklyn wouldn’t have any after-school programs for the new school year, raising questions about what to do with the children whose parents were working full-time.

But with the investment from Hochul, from a discretionary fund, came some answers.

“This is great news,” said John Ricottone, vice president of Community Education Council 20. “I’m glad we fought the good fight. I’m proud of working with each and everyone. Our children need to be safe at all times and with after-school care assisting the children with homework, recreation and having children socialize is the best way.”

Assembly Members William Colton and Michael Tannoussis, both of whom have been active in finding a solution to this matter, also voiced relief.

“I appreciate the response of Governor Hochul to find a solution to the serious negative impacts from the defunding of after school programs in District 20 and District 21,” Colton said. “ Many parents then found themselves unable to find critical after school spaces for their children. I communicated these negative impacts upon families and I thank Governor Hochul for responding by adding $3 million to rectify these concerns. I appreciate the Governor’s true concern for our families upon such issues being brought to her attention.”

Annette Velez, executive director of NIA Community Services — one of the organizations that had not originally received funding for its after-school programs — said she was excited, but wondered if the funds would be distributed to schools or to CBOs themselves. 

The city’s Department of Education will apply the $3 million to programs in Brooklyn and the Bronx that used to be supported by the Empire State Afterschool Program, LEAP’s predecessor, a department spokesperson explained. 

“We are dedicated to ensuring that our youth and families have enriching after school programs, which is why we have worked to ensure there are nearly 213,000 slots this year. ” the spokesperson said. “After changes made by New York State to the ‘LEAPS Program,’ we’re glad to have this additional investment, and we’ll be working with our partners to evaluate need over the course of the year to help ensure students and families get the programming they deserve.”

Despite the good news, some questioned how the funding shortfall had come to be in the first place — and how to prevent it from happening again. State Sen. John Liu, Chairman of New York City Education Committee, said the investment was not a “sustainable long-term solution.”

“Going forward, we need a contracting process that is clear, fair and timely so families and the community-based organizations supporting their children aren’t left in a lurch with last-minute childcare crises in the future,” Liu said. 

The senator did not elaborate on what that process would look like. 

Both Ricottone and CEC 20 President Stephen Stowe said action must be taken to ensure the situation does not happen again. 

Stowe believes more lobbying may be needed, while Ricottone said he is looking toward fundraising for CBOs and parent-teacher associations in the event another funding issue arises.

“If you revamp afterschool funding and a program then you truly need to have enough funds just in case [they] aren’t funded,” he said. “I am also waiting for my FOIL request as to why these typical schools weren’t funded. They were accepted in the high 80’s and 90’s but truly need to know if any CBO’s scored less and were funded or scored the same amount and were funded.”

The OCFS did not reply to requests for comment.