Critical Childhood Ed Funding, Sergeants Benevolent Contract, Nightclub Tragedy,NYC Reads/ NYC Solves Expansion
Critical Childhood Ed Funding, Sergeants Benevolent Contract, Surveys Site Of Jet Set Nightclub Tragedy, Honoring Victims of The Tragedy, NYC Reads, NYC Solves Expansions Across NYC (to jump to the section in the headline here, please click on the name of the announcement)
Editor’s note: Last week’s Mayor’s Office rundown included the helicopter crash and subsequent early investigation, NYPD Quality of Life division, 3,700 new teachers to be hired, and the celebration of 2 million meals to local NYC veterans. Senator Gillibrand is also a champion of education at all levels of the school experience, all the way to creating a better college education landscape. She has also pushed for increased access to Pell Grants, along with higher award amounts so that students need student loans less. You can also find the Mayor’s statement on Pope Francis’ passing here, and he also attended the memorial services at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City where he met Cardinal Dolan, who readers may remember from his visit to Staten Island in 2023 at Eger Nursing Home.
MAYOR ADAMS MAKES HISTORIC $167 MILLION LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO FUND CRITICAL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMMING
Adams Administration Baselines Funding for 3-K Citywide Expansion and Special Education Pre-K
Adams Administration to Strategically Realign Head Start Program to Prioritize Services for Children Who Need Them Most, Expand Early Head Start for Younger Children
Builds on Adams Administration’s Commitment to Making New York City Best Place to Raise a Family by Investing in Critical Programs Year-After-Year
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced new investments in his upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Executive Budget totaling $167 million to support young children and their families and strengthen funding to preserve and protect critical early childhood education programing benefiting the most vulnerable children across the five boroughs. These investments include committing — for the first time — to annual funding for a citywide 3-K expansion and for pre-K students with disabilities to ensure continuity. Additionally, New York City Public Schools will be conducting a strategic realignment of the federally funded Head Start program to expand Early Head Start for younger children.
“To truly make New York City the best place to raise a family, we know we must invest in our children’s future, and today, we’re making bold investments in early childhood education — to ensure our youngest students have the tools they need to succeed, and so parents don’t have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their children,” said Mayor Adams. “For the first time ever, we’re baselining nearly $170 million annually to support critical programs like pre-K special education and expand citywide 3-K, and ensuring this funding becomes a permanent part of our city’s budget so that the programs can and will be maintained for years to come. We’re also working strategically to promote equity and high-impact outcomes for our youngest learners by planning ahead to buffer anticipated changes in federal Head Start funding, and we’ll be working closely with families to make sure they’re informed about Head Start and all the early childhood education options available to them. Our administration understands what families need, as well as the courage and conviction to do what’s right to continue delivering for working-class New Yorkers, every day, everywhere.”
“As a working mom, I know firsthand how hard it can be to balance a career and raising a family in New York City. That’s why investing in early childhood education isn’t just policy — it’s personal,” said Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “For the first time, our administration is committing nearly $170 million every year to essential programs like pre-K special education and expanding 3-K access across the city. These bold investments ensure our kids have the foundation they need to succeed. Our Head Start program is vital, particularly for our most vulnerable New Yorkers, and I understand firsthand the importance of finding programs that meet our families’ needs in their own neighborhoods. We are thrilled to announce that our administration is committing to securing funding for these programs, ensuring that every family can feel confident knowing their child has access to a quality program in their community.”
Over the FY 2025 budget cycle, Mayor Adams protected more than $600 million in key, long-term education programs that had been previously funded with expiring stimulus dollars by making investments in Summer Rising, a citywide 3-K expansion, special education pre-K, community schools, social workers, and arts education. This investment included one-time funding of $92 million to support a citywide 3-K expansion. Additionally, the Adams administration invested $20 million to ensure that every student on a 3-K waitlist was offered a seat, and $55 million to provide more than 700 new seats for three- and four-year-olds with special needs. In his upcoming FY 2026 Executive Budget, Mayor Adams will baseline funding for these crucial programs for the first time ever in city history to support children and families and keep the promise that every child who wants an early childhood seat will have access to one, now and in the future.
Mayor Adams is also committed to ensuring that all children receive high-quality educational services, with a focus on providing the highest level of support to the city’s most vulnerable children and families. Head Start is a critical lifeline for thousands of New York’s children under the age of five. To extend federal funding for the program, and in response to historic utilization rates, New York City Public Schools reapplied for Head Start this year with the Administration for Children & Families — located within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services — to prioritize an expansion of Early Head Start, which serves infants and toddlers under the age of three. As Mayor Adams has repeatedly said, every child who needs an Early Childhood Education seat should be offered a seat, and the transition to a new mix of seats for older and younger children will be carefully managed to minimize disruptions, with clear guidance and alternative placements for affected families. Accordingly, New York City Public Schools will help families explore the available Early Head Start, Head Start, 3-K, and pre-K options, and is engaging with providers, elected officials, and families to ensure transparency and support throughout the process. The fiscal implications to the city will be determined after the federal government responds to the grant application.
A thriving early childhood education system is crucial to making New York City more affordable, particularly for women and families. The Adams administration’s child care blueprint found that almost 375,000 parents left or downshifted their jobs because of COVID-19 and a lack of access to quality child care. For mothers, the decision to leave the workforce to care for a child can cost up to $145,000 in foregone earnings across their lifetime. That is why the Adams administration has prioritized developing an early childhood program that works for the long-term and has seen results in terms of access and affordability.
Mayor Adams’ commitment to investing in education for New York City children is also reflected in the FY 2026 Preliminary Budget that was released in January 2025, with:
- Continuing support for the Summer Rising academic and enrichment programming, which includes a savings restoration of $20 million for extended hours and Friday services to about 30,000 middle school participants ($100 million), as well as Learning to Work, which helps re-engage students who have fallen behind earn a high school diploma and prepare for college and careers ($31 million).
- Expanding the Pathways program to provide career readiness opportunities for students at New York City Public Schools ($17.5 million).
- Supporting programs that help young New Yorkers learn academic, work, and independent living skills, including Fair Future expansion, College Choice expansion, Career Choice/Workforce Ready, Girls JustUs expansion, and Assertive Community Engagement & Success citywide expansion — all announced as part of Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City Address ($15 million).
- Opening an additional 11 schoolyards to be used as public playgrounds after school, on weekends, and during the summer as part of the Schoolyards to Playgrounds initiative, announced as part of Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City Address ($770,000).
Last year, Mayor Adams and leadership of the New York City Council announced a historic joint effort to strengthen early childhood education across the five boroughs and address longstanding systemic issues, while boosting enrollment and connecting families with more Pre-K and 3-K seats. The strategic plan — developed by an unprecedented joint Adams administration-City Council working group — was anchored by $100 million in new city investment allocated in the FY 2025 Adopted Budget to implement an action-oriented roadmap for outreach and seat allocation across the city. With the new $100 million investment, the total investment in the FY 2025 city budget for early childhood education is $3 billion, comprised of $2 billion for early childhood education programming for children aged zero to five and approximately $1 billion for preschool special education.
Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the city has also made significant investments and enacted policies to support working-class families and put money back into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers by reducing the per child co-payment or out-of-pocket cost of subsidized child care for a family earning $55,000 a year from $55 a week in 2022 to just $4.80 a week today — more than 10 times less. The city has also reduced the co-payments all families pay for subsidized care, bringing the average co-payment per child to less than $220 per year, down from $1,500 annually in 2022.
“I was proud to launch the most ambitious and expansive Universal Pre-K and 3-K program in our country’s history,” said former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With it, we were able to demonstrate the importance of early childhood education. By making these investments in early childhood education permanent, Mayor Adams is doubling-down on ensuring our youngest New Yorkers have the resources they need to thrive, and making a commitment to the working families who rely on this program that New York City will always have their back.”
“As the product of Head Start, I understand deeply how impactful this program is for our young children and families,” said Tiffany Rodriguez, chair, New York City Public Schools Head Start Policy Council. “I commend the Adams administration for stepping up to ensure continuity of this vital program and their work to expand access to high-quality early childhood education for New York City families.”
“To have a thriving economy that encourages young families to live and work in New York, our city needs accessible, high-quality child care for children under five. Families, employers and all New Yorkers have made this clear, and the administration’s announcement today shows that they are listening,” said Grace Rauh, executive director, the 5BORO Institute. “We applaud the administration for baselining these critical early care and education funds and we will continue to push for even greater access to affordable, high-quality care for New York City families.”
“We thank Mayor Adams for baselining the funding for 3-K and preschool special education classes that was set to run out in June,” said Kim Sweet, executive director, Advocates for Children of New York. “This funding has provided early childhood programs for thousands of children, including seats for hundreds of children with disabilities who otherwise would have been sitting at home, and we are relieved that these new classes will be sustained next year and beyond. While today’s announcement is an important step forward, there is still much work left to do to address the needs of preschoolers with disabilities who are currently waiting for seats in preschool special education classes and for services like speech therapy and counseling. We look forward to seeing additional investments to ensure all preschoolers receive the special education services they need and have the legal right to receive.”
“Child care is a powerful one-two punch that families facing economic uncertainty and rising poverty need now more than ever,” said Dr. Kelly Escobar, managing director of early childhood, Robin Hood. “By strengthening New York City’s early child care system, we give children the early learning experiences they need to grow into healthy, successful adults, and we help their parents earn vital income with peace of mind, knowing their little ones are safe. More seats mean more opportunities for more families – addressing New York’s affordability crisis and creating a city that works for everyone.”
“We applaud Mayor Adams’ continued funding for and baselining of free 3-K and special education Pre-K classrooms,” said Susan Stamler, executive director, United Neighborhood Houses. “These programs provide important early childhood education and give working families access to stable quality care for their children. In these turbulent times, parents should have one less thing to worry about. Affordable child care should never be at risk.”
“EdTrust–New York applauds New York City for committing baseline funding to 3K and preschool special education—essential programs that deliver high-quality learning environments and unlock the full potential of thousands of young children,” said Arlen Benjamin-Gomez, executive director, EdTrust—New York. “This investment does more than support early learning; it empowers working parents to pursue jobs and education that strengthen family income and long-term economic stability. We’re ready to work closely with city leaders to ensure that every seat is filled—and that families in the communities with the greatest need can access and benefit from these vital programs.”
“We commend the Adams administration for dedicating $170 million in annual funding to 3K expansion and Preschool Special Education preschool seats,” said The Better Childcare NYC Coalition. “When we invest in working families and their childcare, we’re investing in brighter futures for our children, stronger communities, and a more resilient city for generations to come.”
“Access to affordable, high-quality early education is crucial to supporting the social-emotional development and school readiness of young children while ensuring caregivers can provide for their families by participating in the workforce,” said Raysa S. Rodriguez, executive director, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York. “We applaud Mayor Adams and his administration for baselining funding for 3-K and preschool special education, which is key to achieving stability for programs and ensuring families can access the early care services they need. We look forward to partnering with city leaders to build on these investments so that no child in need of early care or special education services is left behind.”
“Child care access and affordability challenges continue to burden families across New York City, hindering parents’ ability to work and support their families. The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) applauds Mayor Adams’ critical commitment to long-term investments in early childhood education in the City’s Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget,” said Sage Schaftel, assistant executive director, ECEC. “Ensuring baseline investments of $170 million annually to support vital programs including 3-K, Pre-K and special education Pre-K will go a long way towards addressing the growing need facing families across the city. As child care costs continue to rise and staffing shortages continue to plague providers, these permanent investments will ensure these programs are sustained for years to come, and lay the groundwork for future expansions to help achieve our shared goal of ensuring access to high-quality child care for all families, regardless of income.”

Mayor Eric Adams announces new investments in his upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Executive Budget totaling $167 million to support young children and their families and strengthen funding to preserve and protect critical early childhood education programing benefiting the most vulnerable children across the five boroughs. Tweed Courthouse, Manhattan. Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Image Credit – Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
MAYOR ADAMS, OLR COMMISSIONER CAMPION ANNOUNCE TENTATIVE CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH SERGEANTS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION
Agreement Provides Substantial Wage Increases to Members, Invests in Leadership of NYPD
Adams Administration Has Negotiated Contracts with 98.56 Percent of Full City Workforce,100 Percent of Uniformed City Workforce
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion today announced a tentative five-year unit agreement with the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), covering approximately 4,400 New York City Police Department (NYPD) sergeants. The SBA was part of the Uniformed Officers Coalition — a coalition of uniformed unions representing more than 32,000 employees — which reached a contract agreement with the city in June 2023. Pursuant to that agreement, each union would bargain separately on issues unique to their union, and today’s announcement fulfills that commitment.
Pursuant to the Uniformed Officer Coalition’s agreement, today’s tentative agreement is retroactive — beginning on December 10, 2021 — and expires on December 9, 2026. The agreement includes wage increases of 3.25 percent for both of the first two years of the contract, 3.5 percent for the third and fourth years, and a 4 percent increase on December 10, 2025. Sergeants who earned below top pay as of December 10, 2024, will be brought to the top pay of $134,819, effective that date — ensuring that all sergeants will be earning more than the police officers they supervise.
“Our police sergeants keep our city safe each and every day. They must be able to work with dignity and care for their families, and today’s tentative agreement with the Sergeants Benevolent Association will do just that,” said Mayor Adams. “This agreement will secure well-earned and long overdue wage increases for our police sergeants, while helping us retain the talented men and women who serve New York City so bravely. Over the last two years, our administration has successfully negotiated contracts with unions representing over 98.5 percent of our city’s workforce, and 100 percent of the city’s uniformed workforce. Our agreement with the Sergeants Benevolent Association is yet another step toward making sure all city workers are fairly compensated in a safer, more affordable city.”
“I am pleased to have worked with the SBA and the NYPD to conclude this round of bargaining for police sergeants” said OLR Commissioner Campion. “Thank you to SBA President Vincent Vallelong and his team for working with us to reach this agreement.”
“NYPD sergeants have played a critical role in maintaining public safety in the largest city in America during some of the most tumultuous chapters in our city’s history, including a worldwide pandemic,” said SBA President VincentVallelong. “Through it all, NYPD sergeants continue to risk their lives to keep all New Yorkers safe and secure, and they deserve to be compensated for their tremendous sacrifices and numerous responsibilities. I’m very pleased to announce that the SBA has reached a tentative agreement that ensures our frontline supervisors earn more than the police officers they supervise, which is consistent with most police agencies in the nation. From day one, the SBA advocated to ensure all NYPD sergeants were brought up to top pay, which is essential in retaining our veteran sergeants to stay in this job and in bolstering the future leadership of our department. I thank Mayor Eric Adams for his steadfast commitment and dedication to investing in our workforce and public safety. I also thank Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and OLR Commissioner Renee Campion for their efforts to reach this unprecedented agreement.”
“Our sergeants are the front-line supervisors of the NYPD, managing officers in the field, solving problems in real time, and setting the standard for performance across the department,” said NYPDCommissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “This agreement reflects the seriousness of that responsibility and ensures our sergeants are recognized and supported in the work they do to keep this city safe. With this contract, every union in the NYPD now has a current agreement — a milestone that strengthens morale, supports recruitment, and shows respect for the people who serve. I want to thank Mayor Adams, OLR Commissioner Renee Campion, and SBA President Vincent Vallelong for their partnership in reaching this deal.”
The tentative agreement must be ratified by SBA’s membership.
The total cost of the tentative agreement, through Fiscal Year 2029, will be $1.02 billion, which is fully funded in the city’s financial plan.
SBA members will receive the following compounded wage increases:
- December 10, 2021: 3.25 percent
- December 10, 2022: 3.25 percent
- December 10, 2023: 3.50 percent
- December 10, 2024: 3.50 percent
- December 10, 2025: 4.00 percent
In the last two years, Mayor Adams has successfully negotiated contracts with unions representing 98.56 percent of the city’s workforce, and 100 percent of the city’s uniformed workforce. These agreements with District Council 37, the Communications Workers of America Local 1180, the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, the Uniformed Sanitation Workers’ Union Local 831, the United Federation of Teachers, the Police Benevolent Association, the Uniformed Officers Coalition, the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, Teamsters Local 237, the United Probation Officers’ Association, and dozens of other unions have all included wage increases, including retroactive wage increases for employees that had not received a raise in years. Additionally, many of these contracts included dedicated funding to address retention and recruitment challenges and other important benefits.

Mayor Eric Adams and Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion announce a tentative five-year unit agreement with the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA). City Hall. Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Image Credit – Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR ADAMS SURVEYS SITE OF JET SET NIGHTCLUB TRAGEDY AND ADDRESSES MEDIA
Mayor Eric Adams: One thing to read about a tragedy, it’s one thing to see it on the news, but the impact of being here, and seeing the faces of the people we lost is something that I had to do. I had to come here to a country that has given us your children to make America what it is.
When you look at Deputy Mayor Almanzar, the first Dominican deputy mayor, or in Ydanis Rodriguez, the first Dominican commissioner of DOT, they represent the strength of government, but then you have the business leaders like my brother [Fernando Radhamés] Rodriguez who represents the large bodega association. When I see the faces there along the canals, I see the Almanzars we lost, I see the Ydanises we lost, I see the Rodriguezes that we lost.
I see my family who represents what’s best about not only this country but our country. We have a million Dominicans in New York. They believe in family. They believe in faith. They believe in public safety. They believe in children.
And so when the consul general allowed us to come and mourn with him, it meant more for me than it does for you. My heart is shattered. And I will never forget the images that I saw here. And I’ve learned [] to trust God, not to question God. In God I trust. There are things that we don’t understand. But we must turn this pain into purpose. And I’m going to offer my assistance as the mayor to do everything possible to prevent something like this from happening again. We owe that to those we lost.
So I’m leaving this wreath here as a symbol not only of my love, but of the love that this country [and] New York, has for you. I’ll say it over and over again. I’m not just the mayor of the city. I’m your brother. And your brother mourns with you. We pray for the families, and we pray for all those that are impacted. In New York, mi casa es su casa.
Translation: Una cosa es leer sobre una tragedia y otra verla en las noticias, pero el impacto de estar aquí y ver los rostros de las personas que perdimos es algo que tenía que hacer. Tenía que venir a un país que nos dio a sus hijos para hacer de los Estados Unidos lo que es.
Cuando ves a la vicealcalde Almanzar, la primera vicealcalde Dominicana, o a Ydanis Rodríguez, el primer comisionado Dominicano del Departamento de Transporte, ellos representan la fuerza del gobierno. Pero también están los líderes empresariales como mi hermano [Fernando Radhamés] Rodríguez, quien representa a la gran asociación de bodegas. Cuando veo las caras a lo largo de los canales, veo a los Almanzar que perdimos, veo a los Ydanis que perdimos, veo a los Rodríguez que perdimos.
Veo a mi familia, que representa no solo lo mejor de este país, sino de nuestro país. Tenemos un millón de Dominicanos en Nueva York. Ellos creen en la familia. Creen en la fe. Creen en la seguridad pública. Creen en los niños.
Así que, cuando el cónsul general nos permitió venir a unidos sentir la perdida de sus seres queridos, significó más para mí que para ustedes. Mi corazón está destrozado. Nunca olvidaré las imágenes que vi aquí. He aprendido a confiar en Dios, a no cuestionarlo. En Dios confío. Hay cosas que no entendemos pero debemos convertir este dolor en un propósito. Como alcalde, les ofrezco mi ayuda para hacer todo lo posible por evitar que algo así vuelva a suceder. Se lo debemos a quienes perdimos.
Dejo esta corona como símbolo no solo de mi amor, sino del amor que este país [y] Nueva York siente por ustedes. Lo diré una y otra vez. No soy solo el alcalde de la ciudad, soy su hermano. Y su hermano lamenta con ustedes. Oramos por las familias y por todos los afectados. En Nueva York, mi casa es su casa.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams visits the site of the Jet Set nightclub tragedy as he stand in solidarity with the Dominican community following the devastating roof collapse at a popular nightclub last Tuesday that has already claimed the lives of at least 226 individuals and left over 150 more injured, on Monday, April 14, 2025. Image Credit – Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
TRANSCRIPT FROM MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025: MAYOR ADAMS DELIVERS REMARKS AT MASS HONORING VICTIMS OF JET SET ACCIDENT IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Mayor Eric Adams: In 2021, my mother transitioned from the physical to the spiritual. My entire life was shattered; she was everything to me. She raised six children. She loved them all, but she adored me. And all day, while preparing for her funeral, I kept hearing this word, energy, energy, energy. And it compelled me to sit down and read about energy. And what I learned was that energy can never be destroyed or created, it can only be transformed. And I learned that we are made up of energy.
So mommy did not leave me, she transformed. And just as if you were to burn a piece of paper, the heat you feel from that paper is the transformation. If you try to find the paper in its original form, you will miss it, but if you feel the warmth, you will feel the transformation. And I say to you today, my Bible tells me absent from the body is present in the spirit.
The physical transformation of over 200 people we lost is still with us. Feel their warmth. Feel what they are still representing. Brother Perez’s music is still alive and well. Each time you hear his song, you are feeling his spirit. Each one of the individuals that we saw in their photos are still with us.
Their energy may be a drawer in the kitchen, a dress, a food, an item. And during my darkest moment, I hear mommy say “Baby, you got this.” And I’m saying to you, people of the Dominican Republic, during Resurrection Sunday, lean on your faith. God is real, and I’ve learned not to question God. On the dollar bills in America, we say “In God We Trust.” And in my heart, I believe in God we trust.
New York City has the largest Dominican population outside of the Dominican Republic. We honored Brother Perez at Gracie Mansion a few years ago. So I want to share with you. I’m not just a mayor of the largest city in New York. I’m your brother in Christ. And I’m honored with you, and I pray for you. God be with you. God be with your families. Praise God. Thank you.
Translation: En el 2021, mi madre pasó de lo físico a lo espiritual. Mi vida quedó destrozada. Ella lo era todo para mí. Crió a seis hijos. Los amaba a todos, pero a mí me adoraba. A lo largo del día, mientras preparaba su funeral, escuché esta palabra: energía, energía, energía. Y me impulsó a sentarme a leer sobre la energía. Y aprendí que la energía nunca se destruye ni se crea, solo se transforma. Y aprendí que estamos hechos de energía.
Así que mamá nunca me abandonó, se transformó. Es como si quemaras un papel, el calor que sientes de ese papel es la transformación. Si intentas encontrar el papel en su forma original, lo perderás. Pero si sientes el calor, sentirás la transformación. Y les digo hoy: mi Biblia me dice que lo que esté ausente del cuerpo, está presente en el espíritu.
La transformación física de más de 200 personas que perdimos sigue con nosotros. Siente su calor. Siente lo que aún representan. La música de mi hermano Pérez sigue viva y vigente. Cada vez que escuchas su canción, sientes su espíritu. Cada una de las personas que vimos en las fotos sigue con nosotros.
Su energía puede ser un cajón de la cocina, un vestido, una comida, un objeto. Y en mi momento más oscuro, escucho a mamá decir: “Cariño, tú puedes”. Y les digo a ustedes, Dominicanos, durante el Domingo de Resurrección: sigan creyendo en su fe. Dios es real, y he aprendido a no cuestionarlo. En los billetes del dólar Estadounidense, decimos: “En Dios confiamos”. Y en mi corazón, creo en Dios. En Dios confiamos.
La ciudad de Nueva York tiene la mayor población Dominicana fuera de la República Dominicana. Honramos a mi hermano Pérez en la Mansión Gracie hace unos años. Así que quiero compartir esto con ustedes. No soy solo el alcalde de la ciudad más grande de Nueva York. Soy su hermano en Cristo. Y me siento agradecido por ustedes. Y oro por ustedes. Que Dios los acompañe. Que Dios esté con su familias. Alabado sea Dios. Gracias.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends mass with Archbishop, Monsignor Francisco Ozoria, impacted families, community members, and other New York-area leaders at San Antonio de Padua Church as he stands in solidarity with the Dominican community following the devastating roof collapse at a popular nightclub last Tuesday that has already claimed the lives of at least 226 individuals and left over 150 more injured, on Monday, April 14, 2025. Image Credit – Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
MAYOR ADAMS, CHANCELLOR AVILES-RAMOS EXPAND SIGNATURE INITIATIVES NYC READS AND NYC SOLVES, CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN LITERACY AND MATH INSTRUCTION IN NEW YORK CITY
With This Expansion, Over 490,000 Students Will Benefit From NYC Reads and NYC Solves By 2025-2026 School Year
NYC Reads Will Be Implemented in Middle Schools for First Time
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos today expanded NYC Reads and NYC Solves to 186 additional schools across 14 districts, expanding high-quality, evidence-based foundational reading and math curricula to middle school students across the five boroughs. With this expansion, over 490,000 students will benefit from NYC Reads and NYC Solves by the 2025-2026 school year. NYC Reads — already implemented at all K-5 schools and early childhood education programs — will be expanded, for the first time, to middle schools, starting with 102 middle schools in eight school districts, and supporting nearly 26,000 students. NYC Solves will also expand to an additional six middle school districts, supporting 84 additional schools and 32,000 additional students. Additionally, Mayor Adams announced that NYC Reads and NYC Solves will be fully implemented in middle schools across all districts by the 2027-2028 school year.
“As mayor and a proud product of New York City public schools, I know firsthand the impact of not receiving the vital foundational support needed to thrive. As a student, I prayed my teacher wouldn’t call on me because our public school system didn’t provide the opportunities needed to improve educational outcomes for students at every level. But through the implementation of NYC Reads and NYC Solves, we have brought evidence-based curricula to our public schools as we zero in on what’s needed to teach our students how to read and do math,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we are expanding these opportunities to now support a total of nearly 500,000 students across the city to make an impact that will last a lifetime. By broadening these initiatives to reach more students, we are continuing our track record of improving math and English language arts scores in New York City and helping ensure kids don’t have to worry about being called on in class going forward.”
“Literacy and math skills form the foundation for bold futures, but for too long, our Black and Brown students were left behind,” said Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos. “We launched NYC Reads and NYC Solves — grounded in high-quality, evidence-based instructional materials and strategies — to support all of our students as they build these critical, foundational skills. We are thrilled to be able to expand these transformative initiatives to reach even more students in even more grade bands.”
NYC Reads focuses classroom instruction on proven, research-based curricula, supported by intensive coaching and professional learning for educators aligned with those specific curricula, in order to ensure all public school students, in every neighborhood, regardless of their background or identity, are experiencing rigorous, relevant, engaging reading instruction that works. Early signs of progress in NYC Reads include a 1.8-point increase in K-2 screener data. Schools in Districts 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, and 13 will be using middle school curriculum from EL Education, while schools in District 19 will use middle school curriculum from Wit & Wisdom.
NYC Solves is expanding to middle schools in districts 5, 6, 8, 17, 25, and 31, and schools will have the option to choose between Illustrative Mathematics, Amplify Desmos, and IReady Mathematics curricula. Districts that are already participating in NYC Solves will continue to use Illustrative Mathematics. Currently, all public high schools and 101 middle schools use high-quality curriculum for math instruction, as announced under the first phase of NYC Solves.
Beginning this spring, teachers will begin professional development for NYC Reads and NYC Solves. As in prior phases for both initiatives, there will be 12 days of job-embedded coaching in the fall, with the opportunity for additional training as requested. The Adams administration has long prioritized literacy and mathematics instruction, championing the standardized use of high-quality, research-backed curricula options across districts. NYC Reads and NYC Solves are the largest and most ambitious districtwide efforts in the country, ensuring that all students are benefiting from high-quality curricula.
Through both initiatives, educators are receiving an unprecedented level of intensive training and coaching, and visits to over 9,000 classrooms reveal that the curricula are being consistently used. Additionally, surveys have shown that more than 75 percent of leaders and teachers believe the support they’re receiving is effective. As part of NYC Reads, over 1,200 families have signed on as NYC Reads Ambassadors to support readers in their community, giving away over 10,000 books to 1,600 families. Over 57 percent of families have also reported an immediate positive impact in their child’s reading. Twenty-one literacy hubs were also established in nine districts, adding books and other learning materials to public spaces, community centers, and small businesses across New York City.
“Our latest survey of educators is clear: confidence in NYC Reads and Solves is rising, and the momentum is real,” said Marielys Divanne, executive director, Educators for Excellence – New York. “This expansion reflects what educators have been calling for — and it’s a powerful sign that city leadership is listening. Now we must get implementation right by investing in high-quality professional learning, inclusive of peer-led training that helps educators meet the needs of all learners.”

Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos expand NYC Reads and NYC Solves to 186 additional schools across 14 districts, expanding high-quality, evidence-based foundational reading and math curricula to middle school students across the five boroughs. Dock Street School for STEAM Studies, Brooklyn. Monday, April 21, 2025. Image Credit – Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and pay his respects following the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Image Credit – Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
Banner Image: New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and pay his respects following the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Image Credit – Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
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