0:00:07 4 sec
Procedure
Staff calls hearing to order
Council staff calls the room to order and reminds attendees to silence devices and not approach the dais.
New York City Council
Committee on Education
Executive Budget Hearings - Education
Jun 8, 2026 · 12:00 PM · 6 hr 37 min
Hearing
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and jump into the video at the segment start.
0:00:11 23 sec
Procedure
Staff introduces joint budget hearing
Council staff introduces the joint executive budget hearing of the Committees on Finance, Higher Education, and Education.
0:00:33 37 sec
Remarks
Chair Lee welcomes attendees to FY27 CUNY budget hearing
Chair Linda Lee welcomes attendees to the ninth day of FY27 Executive Budget Hearings, introducing the CUNY portion and co-chair Rita Joseph, and noting council members in attendance.
0:01:10 53 sec
Remarks
Chair Lee outlines CUNY FY27 executive budget
Lee presents CUNY's proposed FY27 budget of $1.57 billion, noting the $21.1 million increase from the preliminary plan and the $15 million in restored operating support.
0:02:04 1 min 5 sec
Remarks
Chair Lee urges baselining of CUNY ACE, ASAP, and Reconnect
Lee calls on the Mayor to add and baseline $22.5 million for CUNY retention programs including ACE, ASAP, and Reconnect, expressing disappointment these were not included in the executive plan.
0:03:09 46 sec
Remarks
Chair Joseph opens CUNY budget hearing
Chair Rita Joseph delivers opening remarks welcoming attendees to the CUNY FY27 executive budget hearing and outlining the budget totals including personal service and OTPS spending.
0:03:55 1 min 4 sec
Remarks
Chair Joseph on CUNY savings and missing program restorations
Joseph discusses the $21.5 million in one-time savings from community college supply reductions and the $15 million in baseline funding for academic advisement and wellness programs, expressing disappointment that ACE, ASAP, and Reconnect were not restored.
0:04:59 28 sec
Remarks
Chair Joseph on student barriers and graduation pathways
Joseph emphasizes the barriers students face including food and housing insecurity, childcare, and transportation costs, and calls for investment in programs that increase graduation rates and address disparities between campuses.
0:05:27 33 sec
Remarks
Chair Joseph on CUNY community college capital repairs
Joseph raises concerns about CUNY building maintenance including leaking roofs and non-working elevators, and asks about plans to address critical capital repairs at community colleges with the additional $50 million in FY27.
0:06:00 50 sec
Remarks
Chair Joseph on CUNY response timeline for budget inquiries
Joseph criticizes CUNY's internal process for responding to committee budget follow-up questions, noting staff waited over three weeks for answers and demanding improved timelines.
0:06:50 30 sec
Remarks
Chair Lee announces public testimony date
Lee announces that public testimonies for all hearings will be held on one day, Wednesday June 10th at 9:30 AM, and encourages sign-ups.
0:07:19 37 sec
Procedure
Swearing in of CUNY witnesses
Committee counsel Brian Sarfo swears in Chancellor Matos Rodriguez and Vice Chancellors Alvaro, Batista, and Gardner before testimony begins.
0:07:56 1 min 47 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor Matos Rodriguez on CUNY enrollment growth and affordability
Chancellor Matos Rodriguez delivers opening testimony, thanking the Council and highlighting that 72% of CUNY students attend tuition-free and 77% graduate without debt, with enrollment growing nearly 4% in the fall.
0:09:43 57 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on community college enrollment and recruitment strategies
The Chancellor details community college enrollment rebounding 18% over three years with 9,500 additional students, driven by TAP expansion and the Reconnect initiative, along with personalized recruitment letters to graduating seniors.
0:10:41 49 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on CUNY Beyond career readiness program
The Chancellor describes CUNY Beyond, a career readiness program aiming to triple paid internships and increase employer recruitment by 20%, currently at four campuses with plans to expand to five more.
0:11:29 1 min 36 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on teacher pipeline and early childhood education
The Chancellor highlights CUNY's role as New York's primary talent engine, preparing one-third of new NYC public school teachers with a 17% higher five-year retention rate, and its early childhood education pipeline with 3,600 students across 50 programs.
0:13:05 39 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on CUNY research and climate initiatives
The Chancellor discusses CUNY research impacts including an AI model for breast cancer detection at City College, the NYC Urban Heat Portal at Hunter, and the FloodNet flood monitoring partnership with NYU.
0:13:45 54 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on Constructive Dialogue Institute and inclusion efforts
The Chancellor describes the Constructive Dialogue Institute collaboration funded by the City Council, the largest deployment of CDI's model at any university system, and the Center for Inclusivity and Equal Opportunity.
0:14:38 1 min 18 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on student success programs and food security
The Chancellor highlights ACE program outcomes doubling three-year completion rates, CUNY Accommodate increasing disability services enrollment 25% to 13,800 students, and CUNY CARES in the Bronx helping over 1,000 students enroll in SNAP.
0:15:57 1 min 13 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on capital projects and FY27 executive budget
The Chancellor reports 42 capital projects completed and $555 million spent on completed and ongoing projects, then turns to the FY27 executive budget thanking the Mayor for fully funding the PSC-CUNY labor contract and baseline funding $50 million.
0:17:10 1 min 23 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on community college capital needs and conclusion
The Chancellor details the $1.7 billion capital request including $384 million for community colleges, asks for Council support for the remaining $100 million in community college capital funds, and concludes that CUNY's success is NYC's success.
0:18:32 1 min 35 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee questions $15M restoration campus allocation
Lee begins Q&A asking how the $15 million in restored operating support was allocated across community college campuses in FY26 and whether the same split will apply in FY27. COO Batista provides the breakdown by campus.
0:20:07 56 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on baselining benefits for CUNY planning
Lee asks how baselining the $15 million allows CUNY to expand programs and free up funding. The Chancellor explains baselining provides predictability for personnel investments and procurement contracts beyond one year.
0:21:03 1 min 15 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on city governance fellowship program
Lee asks about the $3.4 million for the city governance program with the Campaign Finance Board, including how many fellows will be selected and the selection process. The Chancellor says they will follow up with numbers.
0:22:18 1 min 31 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on tuition adjustment and enrollment trends
Lee asks about the $25 million tuition adjustment reduction and CUNY's projected vs actual enrollment for FY25 and FY26. Batista reports enrollment trending upward with 179,000 FTE and 239,000 total enrollment in FY26.
0:23:49 1 min 13 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on schools struggling with enrollment
Lee asks whether any particular CUNY schools are struggling more with recruitment and enrollment. The Chancellor notes all schools experienced growth except Queens College, which has developed a new enrollment strategy.
0:25:02 1 min 51 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on $21.5M savings plan reductions
Lee asks about the $21.5 million one-time reduction for revenue re-estimate and whether it was part of the chief savings officer exercise. Batista confirms it was designed to not impact campuses and was offset by additional state resources.
0:26:53 2 min 16 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on ACE and ASAP enrollment and retention
Lee asks about current enrollment in CUNY ASAP and ACE and retention rates. Provost Alvero reports 39,299 students with a 65.6% one-year retention rate, approximately twice as high as non-ASAP students.
0:29:09 1 min 24 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on CUNY Beyond funding levels
Lee asks about CUNY Beyond funding levels and sources. Batista reports $2.2 million in FY26 and $12.5 million in FY27, combining state, city, and philanthropic funding following the ASAP model.
0:30:32 2 min 8 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on CUNY Beyond expansion schools and student counts
Lee asks which schools are included in CUNY Beyond and how many students are impacted. The Chancellor lists the first four schools and five expansion schools, providing student projection numbers for each campus.
0:32:40 1 min 31 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on CUNY headcount and vacancy rates
Lee asks about vacancy rates by college and how enrollment changes have impacted headcount. The Chancellor says the most immediate impact is on full-time faculty and adjunct hiring, and promises to provide specific vacancy data by campus.
0:34:11 51 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on tuition adjustment vs enrollment growth
Joseph asks why there is a $25 million tuition adjustment reduction if enrollment is increasing. CFO Gardner explains it is to match actuals to budget levels.
0:35:02 3 min 35 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on $50M community college repair allocation
Joseph asks about the $50 million for community college state of good repair, how CUNY assessed campuses needing repairs, and which colleges will receive funding. COO Batista explains the prioritization process including facility assessments and distribution across schools.
0:38:37 1 min 46 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on elevator repairs and campus accessibility
Joseph raises concerns about elevator repairs and accessibility at CUNY campuses, asking how CUNY ensures accessibility in older buildings and historic landmarks. The Chancellor says accessibility is prioritized and campuses work around limitations through class scheduling.
0:40:23 1 min 26 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on adaptive technology for accessibility
Joseph asks how CUNY leverages adaptive technology for accessibility. Provost Alvero describes glasses with interpreters, VR headsets, and the CUNY Accommodate system meeting accommodation requests within two weeks.
0:41:49 28 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on building accessibility rating system
Joseph asks if CUNY has a building accessibility rating system similar to NYC Public Schools. The Chancellor says CUNY does not but would be interested in learning about the DOE model.
0:42:17 2 min 28 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on early childhood apprenticeship program
Joseph asks about the early childhood apprenticeship program budget, enrollment, and outreach. The Chancellor reports 30 apprentices currently enrolled, with recruitment through the statewide network, campus students, and child care centers.
0:44:44 3 min 54 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on CDA bilingual program costs and outcomes
Joseph asks about the CDA credit-bearing program cost per student and whether funds allow free certification. Provost Alvero reports $9,000 per student including tuition, fees, and career advisement, with 105 students enrolled and 110 graduates last year.
0:48:38 2 min 18 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on ACE program funding and cost per student
Joseph asks about ACE program funding, cost per student, and whether the $10.1 million supports all eligible students. Provost Alvero reports 5,603 students in AY24-25, and the Chancellor later provides the cost per student of $3,440 for both ASAP and ACE.
0:50:56 1 min 27 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on ASAP funding and restoration impact
Joseph asks about ASAP funding levels for FY26 and FY27 and the impact of not restoring $4.6 million. Provost Alvero reports the additional funding allowed 2,000 more students to enroll, utilizing 98% of the allocation.
0:52:23 49 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on OMB rationale for not baselining programs
Joseph asks whether CUNY has emphasized the importance of evidence-based programs to OMB and whether there is a rationale for not baselining them. The Chancellor says CUNY does not know the rationale and that ASAP has been replicated in nine states.
0:53:12 1 min 5 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on CUNY Reconnect enrollment and graduates
Joseph asks about CUNY Reconnect enrollment and outcomes. Provost Alvero reports 25,342 students in 25-26, with 14,597 graduates since inception and $1.2 million used for debt forgiveness.
0:54:18 2 min 14 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on College Discovery and SEEK programs
Joseph asks about College Discovery and SEEK budgets and enrollment. The Chancellor reports 1,537 students in College Discovery and 6,141 in SEEK for fall 2025, with SEEK receiving additional state funding.
0:56:32 2 min 18 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on OmniCard pilot for student transportation
Joseph raises the Student Senate's request for $1.4 million for a free OmniCard pilot program serving 3,000 students. Provost Alvero lists programs currently providing OmniCards (ASAP, ACE, CHAMPS, SEEK) and the Chancellor emphasizes transportation costs also barrier internships.
0:58:50 1 min 29 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on state Reconnect foster scholar program
Joseph asks about the state's Reconnect for foster scholar program funding and eligibility. Provost Alvero reports $250,000 allocated, with active conversations with the state on program details.
1:00:19 12 sec
Procedure
Chair Lee passes to council member Q&A round
Lee passes questioning to council members, noting new arrivals including Council Members Aviles, Dinowitz, Maloney, and Narcisse.
1:00:30 4 min 52 sec
Q&A
CM Wong on Hunter College Brookdale campus infrastructure
Council Member Wong asks about infrastructure problems at Hunter College's main campus including water main and sewer line ruptures, and about the Brookdale campus renovation. COO Batista explains the demolition phase and nursing school relocation to 40 Breck Street.
1:05:22 5 min 4 sec
Q&A
CM Lewis on baseline outcomes, federal research cuts, and Reconnect
Council Member Lewis asks three questions: outcomes from the $15M baseline investment, impact of federal research cuts on graduate education, and how CUNY Reconnect opens opportunities for prospective students. The Chancellor responds addressing each in reverse order.
1:10:26 2 min 43 sec
Q&A
CM Morano on metrics for judging CUNY outcomes
Council Member Morano asks what three metrics taxpayers should use to judge CUNY in three years. The Chancellor identifies enrollment growth, career readiness through CUNY Beyond, and capital investment as key metrics.
1:13:10 57 sec
Q&A
CM Morano on AI impact and employment outcomes by program
Morano asks which degree programs produce the strongest employment outcomes and which struggle in the AI era. The Chancellor says this is prospective and offers to provide existing data on employment outcomes by program.
1:14:07 3 min 51 sec
Q&A
CM Brewer on John Jay North Building and mental health staffing
Council Member Brewer asks about the John Jay North Building for affordable housing and mental health services. COO Batista cites active litigation preventing discussion on North Building. Provost Alvero reports 120 mental health FTEs with a request for 14 more.
1:17:57 3 min 52 sec
Q&A
CM Epstein on OmniCards, dropout reasons, and housing insecurity
Council Member Epstein asks about OmniCard funding, top reasons students leave school, and housing insecurity support. The Chancellor identifies medical emergencies, employment conflicts, food insecurity, and housing insecurity as main reasons, and describes the CUNY CARES navigator model.
1:21:50 5 min 28 sec
Q&A
CM Wilson on graduate framework, federal cuts, and Hunter vacant property
Council Member Wilson asks about the NYC Public Schools portrait of graduate framework and CUNY readiness, federal research cuts, and the vacant Hunter College building at 450 West 41st Street. The Chancellor describes CUNY's collaboration on the framework and COO Batista discusses the property.
1:27:17 2 min 51 sec
Q&A
CM Aviles on Constructive Dialogue Institute funding
Council Member Aviles asks about the Constructive Dialogue Institute's funding, duration, and expansion needs. The Chancellor reports CDI began 18 months ago, is requesting $750,000, and is the only university system doing this work system-wide.
1:30:08 2 min 53 sec
Q&A
CM Dinowitz on CUNY Citizenship Now and immigrant student safety
Council Member Dinowitz asks about CUNY Citizenship Now and immigrant student safety. The Chancellor describes legal triage services funded by the Petrie Foundation for students intercepted by ICE, and the central office supporting campus efforts.
1:33:01 3 min 34 sec
Q&A
CM Maloney on CUNY Beyond and AI workforce alignment
Council Member Maloney asks about CUNY Beyond's AI Innovation Fund and how it meets workforce needs. The Chancellor describes CUNY Beyond's five pillars including career-oriented curriculum and AI integration, and offers to provide job placement data.
1:36:35 1 min 42 sec
Q&A
CM Maloney on AI tools in education and AI literacy
Maloney asks how AI tools are being used in classrooms and how CUNY prepares AI literacy. Provost Alvero describes the $3.2 million AI innovation fund across four areas: education and literacy, student support, ethical implications, and an upcoming AI 101 course.
1:38:17 1 min 35 sec
Q&A
CM Abreu on OmniCard pilot for students
Majority Leader Abreu asks about challenges students face with transportation and OmniCard discussions with the administration. The Chancellor reports the pilot would serve 3,100 students at a cost of $750,000.
1:39:52 3 min 25 sec
Q&A
CM Restler on CUNY pedagogical hiring and headcount decline
Council Member Restler asks about pedagogical hiring headcount, noting a 10% decline since pre-COVID. The Chancellor explains hiring takes about a year and the $50 million was not recurrent last year, so they were cautious, but expects improvement in FY27.
1:43:17 2 min 14 sec
Q&A
CM Restler on City Tech capital needs and state of good repair
Restler asks about City Tech capital conditions including mold and leaks, and the timeline to get 100% of vital building systems to state of good repair. The Chancellor references the $9.7 billion capital request and efforts to move quickly with DASNY.
1:45:31 1 min 18 sec
Q&A
Dep. Speaker Williams on York College investments
Deputy Speaker Williams asks about investments impacting York College. The Chancellor announces York is included in the second wave of CUNY Beyond expansion, which will benefit enrollment and employer partnerships.
1:46:49 1 min 54 sec
Q&A
Dep. Speaker Williams on York College groundwater flooding update
Williams asks for an update on the $30 million for York College groundwater flooding. Dr. Williams reports phase one grouting is complete, phase two mechanical design will be done by early 2027, and value engineering reduced the cost from $25 million to $10 million.
1:48:43 3 min 11 sec
Q&A
CM Hudson on CUNY CARES and food insecurity funding
Council Member Hudson asks about CUNY CARES funding for students experiencing homelessness and food insecurity at Medgar Evers. The Chancellor describes philanthropic funding for food pantries and the CUNY CARES model, with a $2.5 million request for food insecurity in the green sheet.
1:51:54 2 min 53 sec
Q&A
CM Dinowitz on IEP data sharing with DOE
Council Member Dinowitz asks about the IEP data sharing agreement between DOE and CUNY under Local 18 of 2023. Provost Alvero confirms the agreement details are worked out and IT departments met last week, on track for summer completion with proactive student outreach planned.
1:54:47 2 min 7 sec
Q&A
CM Dinowitz on personalized CUNY recruitment letters
Dinowitz asks about the personalized recruitment letters sent to graduating seniors. The Chancellor explains letters now include College Now credits earned and projected savings, with plans to add major recommendations based on coursework data.
1:56:54 29 sec
Q&A
CM Dinowitz on CUNY vacancy data request
Dinowitz asks for vacancy data by campus and position. The Chancellor commits to providing the data before the budget is passed.
1:57:23 4 min
Remarks
Chair Lee wraps up CUNY hearing portion
Lee wraps up the CUNY portion of the hearing, thanking the Chancellor and team, and noting follow-up questions will be sent.
2:01:24 9 min 1 sec
Procedure
Staff announces transition to DOE hearing
Council staff announces the transition to the Department of Education portion of the hearing and asks attendees to find seats. Off-mic conversations occur during the break.
2:10:24 1 min 18 sec
Remarks
Chair Lee opens DOE FY27 executive budget hearing
Chair Lee opens the DOE FY27 Executive Budget Hearing, introducing Education Chair Eric Dinowitz and listing council members in attendance, and welcoming Chancellor Kamar Samuels and his team.
2:11:43 52 sec
Remarks
Chair Lee outlines DOE FY27 budget and savings plan
Lee presents DOE's proposed FY27 budget of $37.9 billion, noting the $105.8 million decrease from the preliminary plan due to a $922.2 million savings plan offset by restorations and expansions.
2:12:35 1 min 14 sec
Remarks
Chair Lee on mental health continuum funding
Lee urges the administration to invest in the $5 million mental health continuum serving 50 high-needs schools, noting the program has been funded one year at a time despite its positive impact.
2:13:49 1 min 4 sec
Remarks
Speaker Menin on DOE executive budget investments and concerns
Speaker Menin delivers opening remarks noting investments in early childhood education, special education, and Learning to Work, while raising concerns about the $922.2 million savings plan and lack of transparency in DOE contracting.
2:14:53 29 sec
Remarks
Speaker Menin on ECE pay parity concerns
Menin highlights that the executive plan's ECE rate increases do not provide pay parity for the ECE workforce, whose wages vary greatly across sites, and calls for improved recruitment and retention of ECE educators.
2:15:21 2 min 25 sec
Remarks
Speaker Menin on DOE contract transparency failures
Menin criticizes the lack of transparency in DOE's $12.8 billion contract budget, noting the Council's preliminary budget follow-up received only a generic response weeks after the request, and calls for detailed contract information.
2:17:46 1 min 42 sec
Remarks
Chair Dinowitz on DOE accountability and budget gaps
Education Chair Dinowitz delivers opening remarks emphasizing accountability and transparency for the largest school system in the country, noting the executive plan includes major investments but also significant gaps in council priorities.
2:19:29 38 sec
Remarks
Chair Dinowitz on unfunded council priorities
Dinowitz highlights unfunded priorities including restorative justice at half its current budget, mental health continuum gaps, student success centers, and missing immigrant family engagement funding.
2:20:07 2 min 25 sec
Remarks
Chair Dinowitz on special education investment gaps
Dinowitz discusses the $137.5 million for pre-K special education and $86 million for IESP, but notes no expansion of K-12 special education programs like Horizon, AIMS, and NEST despite thousands of applications for few hundred seats.
2:22:32 1 min 6 sec
Remarks
Chair Dinowitz on school safety and restorative justice cuts
Dinowitz raises concerns about cuts to both school safety agents (264 vacancy reduction) and restorative justice programming ($6 million cut), noting both are complementary investments that must be fully funded.
2:23:38 3 min 26 sec
Remarks
Chair Dinowitz on class size compliance and teacher retention
Dinowitz discusses the class size compliance extension, urging DOE to reach 100% compliance equitably without prioritizing non-compliant schools at the expense of schools that meet the mandate but have other needs.
2:27:04 37 sec
Procedure
Swearing in of DOE witnesses
Committee counsel swears in Chancellor Samuels, First Deputy Chancellor Gentes, CFO Scott, and Deputy Chancellors Hawkins, Foti, Puello-Perdomo, and Moran before testimony begins.
2:27:41 2 min 6 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor Samuels on vision and community engagement
Chancellor Samuels delivers opening testimony describing his community engagement through a 10-stop chancellor conversation tour and visits to all 45 superintendent districts, shaping a vision focused on safety, academic rigor, and family empowerment.
2:29:47 1 min 6 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on 2K launch, new schools, and student rights initiatives
Samuels announces the launch of 2K and expansion of 3K, five new schools in the Bronx and Queens, the first-ever bus vendor scorecard, and a Know Your Rights comic book for immigrant students.
2:30:53 49 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on investments for vulnerable students
Samuels details executive budget investments including $7.2 million growing to $10 million for Every Child and Family is Known to support students in temporary housing with attendance, safety, and belonging.
2:31:42 46 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on early childhood and special education investments
Samuels highlights the $81 million annual early childhood investment and $67.5 million growing to $82 million for special education pre-K expansion, giving students with disabilities a strong start.
2:32:28 42 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on NYC Reads/Solves and cultural curriculum
Samuels describes the $17.3 million investment in NYC Reads and Solves expanding to 104,000 additional reading students and 102,000 math students, including $6 million for culturally responsive practices building on the Black Studies and Latinidad curricula.
2:33:10 1 min 31 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on Learning to Work, hold harmless, and operational funding
Samuels announces $31 million in baseline funding for Learning to Work, confirms schools will continue to be held harmless in initial budgets, and describes $390 million in baseline funding for IT, cleaning, leases, and facilities.
2:34:41 1 min 6 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on savings plan and state budget impacts
Samuels describes the nearly $1 billion FY27 savings strategy including cost containment for class size and due process cases, and discusses state budget impacts including foundation aid increases and class size timeline extension.
2:35:47 2 min 22 sec
Agency Testimony
Chancellor on class size plan, teacher recruitment, and family empowerment
Samuels discusses the multi-year class size reduction plan with SCA, $17 million for teacher recruitment including NYC Teaching Fellows, and $3.2 million for family empowerment initiatives, thanking the Council for partnership.
2:38:09 5 min 41 sec
Q&A
Speaker Menin on DOE contract transparency delays
Menin questions why it has taken months for the Council to receive DOE contract data requested in March, noting the limited response was short on detail. CFO Scott explains the challenge of pulling 600-plus contracts from a secure system.
2:43:50 3 min 21 sec
Q&A
Speaker Menin on non-competitive contract spending discrepancy
Menin raises a discrepancy between the Council's Checkbook analysis showing 40% of contract spending is non-competitively bid versus DOE's reported 12%. Scott clarifies the 12% refers to number of contracts, not spending, and agrees to provide the contract spend breakdown.
2:47:11 2 min 24 sec
Q&A
Speaker Menin on New Visions portal contract cut
Menin asks about the $8.9 million savings from cutting the New Visions data portal contract. Chancellor Samuels confirms it was the cost savings team's recommendation but says conversations are ongoing with New Visions and agency partners to avoid service disruption.
2:49:35 3 min 4 sec
Q&A
Speaker Menin on ECE pay parity data collection
Menin asks for average salary and working hours for ECE workers by setting. Deputy Chancellor Hawkins explains the data does not live with NYCPS but the Mayor's Office of Child Care is leading the effort to collect it, and expresses support for compensation parity beyond pay.
2:52:39 1 min 17 sec
Q&A
Speaker Menin on NYC Kids Rise account activation
Menin asks what DOE can do to support NYC Kids Rise account activation. Chancellor Samuels reports the last five months saw the largest increase in activation on record and commits to continuing the program.
2:53:56 9 min 42 sec
Q&A
Speaker Menin on procurement protocols and Mariela Graham incident
Menin raises the Mariela Graham contract splitting incident and asks about DOE procurement protocols above and below $25,000. Scott explains the procurement thresholds and processes, and the Chancellor acknowledges the need to strengthen purchasing practices.
3:03:39 6 min 34 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on procurement reform and provider feedback
Lee asks about procurement reform feedback from providers and the timeline for PEP contract review. Scott says they are in preliminary stages of reform, looking at centralization and technology upgrades, and that PEP briefings occur one week before votes.
3:10:13 2 min 13 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on mental health continuum funding
Lee asks about the importance of extending mental health continuum funding. Deputy Chancellor Puello-Perdomo describes the program serving 50 schools in the South Bronx and Brownsville with 2,330 clinical services provided this year.
3:12:26 3 min 19 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on school-based mental health clinics
Lee asks about school-based mental health clinic services. Puello-Perdomo reports 250 clinics serving approximately 400 schools and 180,000 students, with 16 Article 31 clinics embedded through the continuum.
3:15:45 4 min 31 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on central headcount reductions in savings plan
Lee asks about the 97 filled central pedagogical positions affected by the $2 million savings and which divisions are impacted. Michael Cheatham says they are working with program teams to identify unfilled positions to prioritize, with no disruption to schools.
3:20:16 1 min 13 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on school support vacancy reductions
Lee asks about the $17.8 million vacancy reduction in school support associated with 197 civilian positions. Cheatham confirms these are unfilled positions being prioritized and that no school-based social workers or guidance counselors are affected.
3:21:29 4 min 14 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on transportation route efficiencies
Lee asks how DOE plans to optimize transportation routes without disrupting service. Deputy Chancellor Moran describes the Strides modernization program, GPS tracking, ridership tracking, and new routing algorithms to reduce travel time for students with IEPs.
3:25:43 6 min 19 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on Black Studies, Latinidad, and AAPI curriculum expansion
Lee asks about DOE's plan to expand the Black Studies curriculum and how many schools will use it next year. First Deputy Chancellor Gentes describes pilot districts, professional learning, and integration with NYC Reads implementation checklists.
3:32:02 6 min
Q&A
CM Dinowitz on procurement accountability and SCI investigations
Dinowitz presses on procurement accountability, citing SCI reports of $386 million in sub-$25,000 contracts and multiple examples of principals circumventing procurement rules. General Counsel Vladek cites active investigation concerns but acknowledges systemic issues need addressing.
3:38:02 6 min 31 sec
Q&A
CM Dinowitz on Mariela Graham personnel decision
Dinowitz asks about the decision to keep Mariela Graham on and promote her despite SCI's recommendation for immediate termination. Vladek cites active speculation about reopened investigations and declines to comment, but confirms he personally signed off on the disciplinary decision.
3:44:34 7 min 39 sec
Q&A
CM Dinowitz on SCI procurement reform recommendations
Dinowitz asks about SCI's recommendations for procurement reform including required training for principals, increased oversight of non-contracted vendors, and stronger safeguards for sole source procurements. The Chancellor commits to required training pending union negotiations and centralizing procurement.
3:52:12 5 min 44 sec
Q&A
CM Dinowitz on $6M restorative justice cut impact
Dinowitz asks about the $6 million cut to restorative justice. Chief Rampersant confirms approximately 250 of 960 schools would lose access to the program, representing over 25% of schools served, and that it would prevent expansion to additional schools.
3:57:57 3 min 36 sec
Q&A
CM Schulman on New Visions portal and school air conditioning
Council Member Schulman asks about New Visions portal support from principals and air conditioning in communal spaces. Deputy Chancellor Moran reports 60% of public assembly spaces lack AC, with schools using ResoA grants to fund installations.
4:01:32 3 min 29 sec
Q&A
Dep. Speaker Williams on DOE racial equity plan
Deputy Speaker Williams asks about the Mayor's Office racial equity plan submitted by NYC Public Schools. Karina Pollan outlines priorities including early childhood equity, pathways, inclusive access, MWBE supplier diversity, and instructional equity.
4:05:01 1 min 39 sec
Q&A
Dep. Speaker Williams on fair student funding formula
Williams asks about the fair student funding formula and its limitations. CFO Scott notes new weights were added three years ago for students in temporary housing and high-need concentration, with ongoing analysis and willingness to reconvene the working group.
4:06:40 3 min 7 sec
Q&A
Dep. Speaker Williams on class size funding equity
Williams asks how class size funding distribution affects equity, noting significant funding goes to low-need schools. Erin Jahant explains last year's opt-in approach and this year's plan to prioritize higher ENI schools while also considering absolute numbers of students in need.
4:09:47 2 min 8 sec
Q&A
Dep. Speaker Williams on PTA disparities, teacher diversity, and due process equity
Williams raises PTA funding disparities, teacher workforce diversity with 53% white educators in a majority non-white student body, and demographic disparities in due process cases. She also asks about STEAM center investments and geographic distribution.
4:11:55 4 min 40 sec
Q&A
Dep. Speaker Williams on STEAM center expansion and Queens aviation
Williams asks about STEAM centers in Southeast Queens near the airport. Deputy Chancellor Gentes describes the Brooklyn STEAM Center, the new Bronx STEAM Center with Montefiore, and feasibility work for a Queens aviation-focused STEAM center.
4:16:34 2 min 57 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on 2K special education coordination with agencies
Joseph asks how NYC Public Schools coordinates with ACS, DOHMH, and other agencies for 2K students with disabilities. Deputy Chancellor Hawkins describes the intentional accommodations process and referral partnerships with early intervention and school health.
4:19:31 6 min 10 sec
Q&A
Chair Joseph on students in temporary housing attendance
Joseph asks about the 63% chronic absenteeism rate for students in temporary housing and how DOE is working with DSS and ACS. Deputy Chancellor Puello-Perdomo describes 32 attendance teachers conducting 4,327 home visits, $125 million in Title I funding for shelters, and a 9% reduction in chronic absenteeism for shelter students.
4:25:41 3 min 56 sec
Q&A
CM Wong on lithium battery storage near schools
Council Member Wong asks about a proposed lithium battery energy storage facility directly across from PSIS 128 in Middle Village and whether DOE has protocols to notify school communities. Deputy Chancellor Moran says schools do not get involved in land acquisition but acknowledges safety concerns.
4:29:37 3 min 26 sec
Q&A
CM Lewis on District 75 services and family welcome centers
Council Member Lewis asks about District 75 students not receiving IEP services and family welcome center staffing. Deputy Chancellor Foti reports 468 providers hired this year, 92% compliance, and 15,000 students served in SEED weekend academies. The Chancellor promises follow-up on welcome center data.
4:33:03 6 min 1 sec
Q&A
CM Brewer on menstrual products, playgrounds, arts, and class size
Council Member Brewer asks about menstrual product availability (56% of schools report products almost never available), playground opening requirements, arts education (16% of schools lack certified arts teachers), affinity school funding, and class size progress data.
4:39:04 8 min 6 sec
Q&A
CM Narcisse on school nurses, preschool special ed, and after-school contracts
Council Member Narcisse asks about school nurse baselining, preschool special education seats in Brooklyn, community school closures, and after-school program contract disruptions. Officials confirm nurses are shared, 146 community schools remain in Brooklyn, and DYCD added 20,000 after-school seats.
4:47:10 7 min 20 sec
Q&A
CM Epstein on after-school access, literacy, and District 75 internships
Council Member Epstein raises racial and economic segregation in after-school access with only 184,000 slots for 250,000 Title I students, literacy intervention needs, and District 75 internship denials. Deputy Chancellor Gentes describes MTSS and NYC Reads expansion, and Foti commits to investigating internship denials.
4:54:30 4 min 35 sec
Q&A
CM Restler on Spanish teachers, hold harmless, 3K seats, and librarians
Council Member Restler asks about Spanish language teacher shortages, hold harmless confirmation for initial budgets, 3K seat additions in Greenpoint, and the overdue school librarian report. The Chancellor confirms hold harmless for initial budgets and the librarian report was submitted today.
4:59:05 5 min 8 sec
Q&A
CM Aviles on restorative justice, guidance counselors, and charter funding
Council Member Aviles asks about declining restorative justice cohorts (from 30 to 8), guidance counselor ratios (1:259 overall, 1:160 combined with social workers), and charter school rental assistance ($340 million) with DOE having no negotiating power over leases.
5:04:13 6 min 3 sec
Q&A
CM Krishnan on SCA coordination and immigrant family services funding
Council Member Krishnan raises SCA construction coordination issues at a school in his district and the $4 million immigrant family communication initiative not included in the FY27 executive plan. Deputy Chancellor Foti describes the Hello app, interpretation services, and 16 CBO partnerships that would be limited without restoration.
5:10:16 4 min 21 sec
Q&A
CM Gutierrez on class size working group and screen time in schools
Council Member Gutierrez asks about the class size working group recommendations and concerns about screen time in elementary schools. The Chancellor confirms DOE is considering working group recommendations and is surveying principals about ed-tech tools, with more details to come.
5:14:37 8 min 14 sec
Q&A
CM Gutierrez on ECE pay parity and 3K/pre-K utilization data
Gutierrez asks about ECE pay parity, 3K utilization (85% of 52,000 seats), pre-K utilization (80% of 69,000 seats), and 3K/pre-K offer data. Deputy Chancellor Hawkins reports 70% of families received their top choice, 84% received a top-three choice, and 100% of applicants received an offer.
5:22:51 5 min 54 sec
Q&A
CM Gutierrez on 2K pilot and home-based provider networks
Gutierrez asks about the 2K pilot including home-based providers, family child care network costs, and whether unaffiliated providers can serve as their own networks. Hawkins explains the RFI process allowing group family daycare organizations to serve as networks, a new model for 2K.
5:28:45 3 min 6 sec
Q&A
CM Gutierrez on birth-to-two pilot program funding
Gutierrez asks about the birth-to-two pilot, noting 160 seats are full and asking why the program isn't expanding to the original 240-seat target. Hawkins explains they focused on sustaining existing seats and converting some to 2K districts, with funding found through optimizing existing contracts.
5:31:51 4 min 3 sec
Q&A
CM Gutierrez on 2K accommodations for children with disabilities
Gutierrez asks about specific accommodations for 2K students with disabilities, noting families have trauma from past experiences. Hawkins commits to creating inclusive environments with specific supports like third teachers and sensory tools, and promises to update the website with details once finalized.
5:35:53 5 min
Q&A
CM Gutierrez on restorative justice funding clarification
Gutierrez asks about restorative justice funding, seeking clarification on whether there are cuts in the savings plan. Officials clarify the $6 million is not baselined and would need to be restored through the adopted budget process, with no specific savings cut to restorative justice.
5:40:53 4 min 30 sec
Q&A
CM Zhuang on state foundation aid and 3K budgeting
Council Member Zhuang asks about state foundation aid ($18.7 million left to be allocated), ELL weight increases, foster care transportation funding, and 3K under-budgeting. CFO Scott confirms the $170 million cut was reversed in the preliminary plan and $35 million supports new 3K seats.
5:45:24 5 min 24 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on K-12 special education program demand and outcomes
Lee asks about K-12 special education, noting the executive plan focuses on pre-K but does not expand AIMS, NEST, or Horizon. Deputy Chancellor Foti reports 80% offer acceptance rates, attendance 7 points above peers, and 9 out of 10 parent satisfaction, with 675 additional seats for FY27.
5:50:47 5 min 13 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on specialized program seat shortages and unmet demand
Lee asks how many students were rejected from specialized programs. Foti reveals 2,070 applicants for 510 AIMS seats and 1,410 applications for 560 NEST/Horizon kindergarten seats. Lee presses on why there isn't greater investment given the moral and fiscal imperative.
5:56:00 3 min 4 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on DOE request to OMB for special ed program expansion
Lee asks if DOE submitted a new needs request for specialized programs and how much was requested. Officials confirm the request was submitted to OMB but not included in the executive budget, with ongoing iterative conversations.
5:59:04 6 min 31 sec
Q&A
General Counsel Vladek on due process costs and Carter school accountability
General Counsel Vladek discusses the due process ecosystem, noting autism cases cost $145,000 per year, Carter schools lack accountability for outcomes, and the $1.5 billion in due process spending has no academic transparency. He calls it both a fiscal and moral crisis.
6:05:35 2 min 9 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on strategies to reduce due process cases
Lee asks about strategies used to reduce due process cases. Vladek describes standing up a tribunal at OATH reducing case time from over a year to under 70 days, strategic litigation, fraud controls, rate studies, and direct service provision, reducing cases from 26,000 to under 16,000.
6:07:44 1 min 32 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on New Visions portal interagency usage
Lee asks about other agencies using the New Visions portal. Officials confirm ACS, DYCD, DHS, CUNY, and community school CBOs use the tool, with 1,542 schools logged on, 18,500 monthly users, and 4,600 users relying on it multiple times per week.
6:09:16 6 min 28 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on rationale for New Visions portal cut consideration
Lee asks about the thought process behind potentially cutting the New Visions contract. The Chancellor explains the data exists elsewhere in DOE systems so it was viewed as duplicative, but acknowledges the portal's value as a one-stop shop and says conversations continue to avoid disruption.
6:15:44 1 min 17 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on including teachers in tool evaluation
Lee urges that cost savings discussions include teachers and principals who actually use the tools. The Chancellor agrees and Scott confirms the next step in procurement reform is engaging school leaders about quality and service levels.
6:17:01 1 min 53 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on NYC Reads and Solves funding levels
Lee asks about NYC Reads and Solves funding levels. Officials confirm a $53 million baseline budget plus $17.3 million for expansion, and that the programs were previously self-funded without a dedicated budget line.
6:18:54 1 min 46 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on Student Success Centers funding gap
Lee asks about Student Success Centers facing a $3.3 million funding gap. Deputy Chancellor Gentes confirms 7-11% increases in post-secondary enrollment at schools with centers and says the next coalition meeting is June 16th, but funding is needed to begin RFP conversations.
6:20:40 3 min 36 sec
Q&A
CM Wong on hold harmless policy and empty school funding
Council Member Wong questions why the hold harmless policy from COVID is still in place, asking about the cost and whether empty schools should be consolidated. The Chancellor says stability is important and removing hold harmless would cause whiplash, with the cost in the hundreds of millions.
6:24:16 3 min 10 sec
Q&A
CM Zhuang for Brooks-Powers on digital divide, charter IEP, and 2K expansion
Zhuang asks questions on behalf of Council Member Brooks-Powers about the digital divide report due January 2027, charter school IEP transfer rights, and 2K expansion plans. Officials confirm 10,000 additional 2K seats planned for next year and commit to walking parents through transfer rights.
6:27:26 4 min 9 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on class size exemption differentials
Lee asks about the class size exemption deal with the UFT providing up to $8,500 differentials. Officials explain the differential applies to space and hard-to-staff exemptions needed to reach 70% compliance, with pro-rating based on the number of over-cap classes taught.
6:31:35 1 min 46 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on SEED sensory program funding crisis
Lee asks about the SEED sensory program facing discontinuation without continued funding. Deputy Chancellor Foti reports 3,450 students currently enrolled, with 15,000 served over five years, and says DOE will pursue every avenue including the adopted budget process.
6:33:21 3 min 45 sec
Q&A
Chair Lee on JFK campus Student Success Center
Lee asks about the JFK campus Student Success Center at risk of losing funding, noting the campus experienced a student murder and the first ICE detention of a student. Gentes says principals opted out but DOE will extend for one more year, and funds can transfer to the Walton campus.
6:37:06 49 sec
Remarks
Closing remarks and thanks for DOE hearing
Lee and chairs thank the Chancellor and team for staying beyond schedule to answer all questions. The Chancellor thanks the Council for partnership and notes orange and blue skies outside.