Parents, educators beg NYC to allow shorter days for tots starting 3-K, pre-K: ‘Cruel and abusive’

A rule that bans shortened days and staggered schedules for tots starting 3-K and pre-K and forces them to be in school six hours a day is “cruel and abusive,” according to some parents and educators.

Notices from the city Department of Education this month informed administrators that little ones — some of whom are not even 3 years old — must take part in full school days beginning with the first day of classes, which start Sept. 5.

“Please ensure that the year begins with full days of school (no staggered schedules) to support working families and others,” the Aug. 13 notice to principals read.

If families request a “staggered” or “transition schedule,” it can be implemented, but not for more than three weeks, the notice continued.

But educators at early-childhood education centers said they were told at a recent “refresher series” that staggered schedules are no longer an option.

“It is cruel and abusive to have 3- and 4-year-old children — some of whom do not speak English, may be new to this city, have not been in school or daycare before — dropped off for 6.5 hours, kicking and screaming, and forced to stay the entire day,” said one Bronx pre-K director.

“They will learn to hate school or be afraid,” she added.

The policy especially affects kids with special needs, directors said. As of 2022, the city had 30,000 3-and 4-year-olds with disabilities.

“Phasing in gradually does help with the process,” said Angelie Capestany, a mom of two from the Bronx. “As a parent who does have a child with special needs, I do understand that . . . and I know that you have to start at home too.”

The policy is an “extreme” change from prior years that “negates everything about a trauma-informed approach,” one early childhood educational director in Queens told The Post.

“We feel we are much better able to be responsive to each individual child’s needs via a slow introduction,” the director added.

An early childhood education advocacy group urged Simone Hawkins, the city DOE’s new deputy chancellor for early childhood education, to get input from the centers and reconsider the policy. Hawkins replaced the embattled Kara Ahmed, who stepped down in July.

“The trauma and emotional damage these negative experiences can inflict upon these young children –some who are as young as two-and-a-half-years-old in early September — will impact the rest of their lives,” the group wrote in an email.

Research suggests a gradual phase-in with high family or caregiver involvement reduces stress and eases the transition for young children, the group argued.

While some community-based organizations are ignoring the policy, others have been told by higher-ups that they would be reported and could have budgets slashed if they didn’t comply, sources said. Others didn’t even know about the policy change.

“We generally offer parents the option to have their children phase-in (stay half a day, eat lunch, etc.) for 2 days,” the Bronx pre-K director wrote in an email to Hawkins. “I am kindly asking permission to do that.”

It’s unrealistic for each parent to speak individually with their provider, and provide a documented medical or developmental reason if they need a shortened schedule for longer than three weeks, she told The Post.

Hawkins said the policy, which was implemented at the beginning of the last school year, ensures that families do not need to find additional child care for shortened school days.

“All ECE programs have been given the flexibility to allow a phase-in schedule based on family need for up to three weeks,” a DOE spokeswoman told The Post. “Our central divisional staff will continue to support leaders with the second-year implementation of this policy.”