New York City’s Struggles with Preschools: Millions Spent, Buildings Vacant
New York City has used almost $100 million in taxpayer money to lease over 20 buildings for preschools, but six months later, none of them are operational, according to reports.
Currently, the city is still covering rent and utility costs for 28 facilities—an investment that some label as the result of “terrible execution” of former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan for universal preschool.
A former official from the city’s Department of Education mentioned to the Post that the issue isn’t due to corruption or sheer incompetence.
During de Blasio’s term, there was a frantic push to establish 47 “initiative projects” related to his “3-K For All” program, designed to provide free all-day care for three-year-olds. However, many of these preschools still remain empty nearly five years after de Blasio’s departure from office.
Another official, who preferred to stay anonymous, expressed disappointment, noting that the decisions made were rushed and overlooked whether the chosen locations actually needed the services.
The de Blasio administration had earmarked $400 million to either build new facilities or renovate existing ones, aiming to create about 3,800 seats over 28 sites by 2025. Yet some of these buildings have been repurposed for temporary housing for charter schools or the DOE’s “Welcome Center,” while the majority remain vacant.
Strange outcomes have emerged from this rush, such as an unopened center on Union Turnpike in Queens, which costs an estimated $10.8 million. It’s situated in an area where existing early childhood slots are hard to fill.
“They realized afterward that it wasn’t a good choice. If there wasn’t any demand, what prompted them to pick that site?” remarked the unnamed source, adding that the city still spends $500,000 annually on rent for that location.
Reports indicate the site is in an area predominantly occupied by an Orthodox Jewish community, making a public preschool less appealing for parents who may favor religious settings.
De Blasio has placed some blame on his successor, Mayor Eric Adams, for the ongoing issues, stating that his administration never encountered problems filling K-12 or high school seats, given their parental support strategies. He claims the current administration has regressed in early childhood education.
Adams, on the other hand, stated he inherited a system with thousands of empty seats and prioritized stabilizing providers over mere expansion of capacity.
Recently, Mayor Mamdani announced that seven 3-K locations, including six that had long been vacant, are slated to open this fall as his team strives to extend universal childcare services.
A local business owner, Larry Mottola, shared his frustration about the unfinished Union Turnpike facility, highlighting its well-designed classrooms and playground—an unfortunate waste after years of waiting.
In fact, some facilities were chosen despite their proximity to existing centers. For instance, a center on Union Turnpike is mere blocks from another 3-K that has 30 available slots. A different location is within a short distance of four 3-K centers in Rego Park.
Following the discovery of these vacant buildings, an internal investigation began, although the Department of Education declined to comment on its status.
Frustrations are boiling among parents, especially in areas where demand for free preschool education is surging, with waiting lists containing over 100 children in certain neighborhoods.
Jessica Seton expressed her discontent at the inefficiency, stating that the unused space is a major failure. Brooklyn parents have been advocating for the opening of another planned center along the Columbia Street waterfront, highlighting the gap between the demand for services and the unutilized facilities.
Mamdani—the current mayor—has acknowledged de Blasio’s previous intentions but is now urged to correct past mistakes as pressure mounts to open more preschools, given the increased competition from private childcare options.
Parents are emphasizing that the city should prioritize the opening of these facilities, with many lamenting how they have to resort to private care, costing them considerable amounts of money.
In the case of one empty site on Broadway that cost taxpayers approximately $6.8 million, it has just recently opened for a small number of special needs students, while the intended 3-K program remains vacant.
Moreover, other unopened locations continue to have high application numbers for a limited number of spots, showing a clear disconnect between availability and need.
A DOE spokesperson indicated that they are continually evaluating vacant sites based on community needs and will make future plans public when they can. Yet many parents remain incredulous at the inconsistency of available services in light of significant demand.
Seton encapsulated the sentiment of many when she remarked that as a taxpayer and parent, the situation is incredibly frustrating. “Let’s open the school that we’re already paying for,” she urged.
