U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer says New York will receive a nearly $25 million federal grant for preschool programs in the state.
The New York Democrat says the Department of Education funding supports building or improving infrastructure and expanding preschool programs in targeted communities.
They're intended as models for expanding preschool to all 4-year-olds from low- and moderate-income families.
Schumer says better preparing children for kindergarten and the grades beyond is a key to their academic futures.
A measure proposed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for a tax hike on the city's wealthiest individuals to fund full-day pre-kindergarten was rejected by the Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The state budget they approved added $340 million for pre-kindergarten, mainly for New York City.
