Hundreds of families citywide have been wrongfully denied access to the New York City Public Pre-K System due to a computer error. The Department of Education stipulated that priority for placement be given (in order) to siblings of in-zone children, siblings of out-of-zone children, in-zone and finally out-of-zone children. This was not done. There are numerous families left without anywhere to educate their child. At PS10 in Brooklyn 20 families with sibling priorities were denied seats out of the 72 spots. Meanwhile, the spots that were meant for these children have been erroneously given to others who were either without siblings, out-of-zone or even out of the district. It is far too late in the year to apply to the already full and expensive private schools. Many families cannot afford to pay for private schools. The Department of Education has failed to make a public statement regarding their enormous error. They have also used public funds to outsource to a private company in Pennsylvania the entire application process. Borough President Marty Markowitz, Councilmembers Bill DeBlasio, Letitia James and David Weprin as well as Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum have all called for a stop to the pre-k registrations until the problems are solved. They have been ignored. The families and their children have been ignored. It is essential that children with siblings already attending public schools be allowed to join their brothers and sisters. It is unacceptable that so many children will be left behind because of a computer error that is neither being fixed nor addressed. The Department of Education must be held accountable for their mistake and they must do everything they can to ensure the rightful placement of Pre-K students as was stipulated by their own admissions policies. We demand the Department of Education do what is right, honorable and in effect - follow its own rules.

Sponsor

Links