Council Member Stephen Levin and the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg hosted a meeting with yeshiva leaders throughout Williamsburg this afternoon to discuss New York City’s new universal pre-kindergarten program. At the meeting, yeshiva leaders engaged representatives from the office of Mayor de Blasio, the Department of Education, and special guest Council Member Chaim Deutsch, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Non-Public Schools, on various aspects of the program. The deadline to apply to operate universal pre-kindergarten programming is drawing closer and today’s meeting was an opportunity for yeshivas interested in applying to receive important information and ask questions.

“Universal pre-kindergarten is critical in ensuring the long-term education and development of all of our children,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “It is crucial that our communities have access to Mayor de Blasio’s universal pre-kindergarten program and today’s meeting was an important opportunity to provide information about this new program with the yeshiva leaders throughout Williamsburg. I want to thank Council Member Chaim Deutsch, Avi Fink from the Mayor’s Office, the universal pre-kindergarten operations manager Chris McKay, and leaders from our local yeshivas for an informative discussion on how we can best provide access to universal pre-kindergarten for all the children of Williamsburg.”

Rabbi David Niederman, President of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, said, “It is well-documented that universal pre-kindergarten creates opportunity for our children that will last them a lifetime. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City is now implementing this game-changing program for all of our children. Our community is looking forward to the introduction of universal pre-kindergarten and our meeting today provided important information that will greatly help local yeshivas apply for this program. Today’s meeting featured leaders throughout government, including Council Members Stephen Levin and Chaim Deutsch, Avi Fink from Mayor de Blasio’s office, and Chris McKay, the operations manager for the universal pre-kindergarten program, and I want to thank each of them for attending today’s meeting and providing our community critical information.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)