Majority Whip Hanks questions OMB on DOE immigrant family communication funding

So over 40% of New York City public school families speak a language other than English at home.

The DOE's Immigrant Family Communication and Outreach Initiative is a $4 million program that helps immigrant families get important information about their child's education through strategies such as sending paper notices, calling, texting families, and collaborating with immigrant

facing CBOs.

Does the executive plan, pardon me, does not...

Include this funding in the fiscal 2027 or in the out years.

Can you speak to how this funding will be used this school year?

We will definitely be discussing that over the next few weeks with you and the council and also with the Department of Education to see how we can support these services.

And what would the programmatic results be if this $4 million in funding is not restored in FY27?

Well, it is an important service.

We have to see how we can talk about it in the next few weeks in terms of the adopted budget.

Having language access is critically important, and so we'll work with our team on New York City Public Schools.

To see how that goes forward.

But Liz, I don't know if you have anything to add on that piece.

No, I can just say we'll continue to look towards this for adoption, and we're happy to continue conversations with you.

Okay, so one more.

So if the DOE, they supported this program, have you given...

any indication why this funding wasn't included in the executive plan?

I think it's just a question of the overall funding envelope.

We made a lot of investments in DOE.

We also know that there was foundation aid that was supported by the state that also funded ELL programs, et cetera, in terms of the weights.

So from our perspective, this is the fact that

We need to have a public school system that can communicate.

That's important.

And so we have to talk about that in the next few weeks on how the funding envelope can support that.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, Councilmember Brooks-Powers, followed by Jay Sanchez.