The city wants at least 6 hours and twenty minutes AVERAGE per day every week. So to account for shorter Fridays, Yeshivos must have a much longer day than others, additionally so if you factor in more time needed for Davening etc. which is not allowed during those hours (nor can you figure transportation). We’re talking about 4 year olds here so cramming is not beneficial to them, which was the idea of the program (to benefit kids academically).
Mayor de Blasio made UPK a major campaign issue, Orthodox included, so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t benefit from a program he wooed us with.
As mentioned in other threads NYC is becoming unaffordable “real estate-wise” so help with tuition may be a key to our staying power here.
I wish we’d all be rich but until then I won’t feel bad for a city that’s providing free PS to my neighbors and begrudges us preschool tuition assistance; while raking in billions in booming real estate taxes.
If only 11% of our Yeshivos enrolled they’re most likely having yeshiva on Sundays, which is not a good option for most.
The OU is saying they should make only a 5 hour day mandatory, which is what NYS asks for. I don’t call this special treatment, just fairness.