Hello New York families,
If you have a young child navigating the early intervention or preschool special education system, there is some great news out of New York City this month.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels have announced a $67.5 million investment to expand specialized Pre-K education programs across all five boroughs. This expansion will begin rolling out for the 2026-2027 school year.
What is changing?
The city is integrating highly sought-after specialized programs directly into local Pre-K classrooms. This includes programs like Nest, Horizon, and AIMS, which are specifically designed to support young children with autism and developmental delays.
The goal is to provide high-quality, specialized instruction closer to home, so families do not have to travel as far for the right support. This initiative is also aimed at reducing evaluation wait times and strengthening the support families receive while navigating the often stressful IEP process.
We know early intervention is critical, and making these programs more accessible is a huge win for our community.
Warmly,
The Autism Pathways Team