When it comes to our kids’ education, I think we can all agree that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. That’s why early special education programs – like the one offered at the Main Street School in North Syracuse – are so important. They offer a full range of programs and services for students with disabilities, helping prepare kids for the future alongside their non-disabled peers. Most notably, these programs address developmental disabilities early on to give our kids a head start and save money on special education later on in life. Earlier this week, I was fortunate enough to visit the Main Street School with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to help him understand its mission and witness firsthand the important work accomplished at these facilities each day.

The Main Street School is part of the North Syracuse Central School District, but it has a special function: It’s the only public 4410 school left in Central New York. Under state education law, 4410 schools are designed to help preschool children with disabilities thrive by providing a number of essential special education and therapy services. And while there are some similar county-run programs, the Main Street School’s safe, integrated environment and comprehensive approach to early childhood education have helped them deliver outstanding results for over three decades.

Serving students from across Onondaga County and beyond, the Main Street School has undoubtedly had a positive impact on our community by helping its students graduate with improved test scores and giving them the tools they need to succeed. But unfortunately, 4410 schools and other facilities that cater to children with disabilities have continuously faced statewide budget cuts. In fact, vital reimbursement funding for the Main Street School has remained static for seven years, despite rising costs of operation. This means fewer early intervention classrooms, fewer specialized teaching assistants and fewer of the essential resources our kids need.

Allowing any early education facility to fail is not an option. It’s vital to the success of our community that we take every step we can to help as many children as possible – including those with disabilities. That’s why I fought to secure $200,000 in additional state aid to ensure the Main Street School can continue to offer critical programs and resources for our kids.

While this funding is a step in the right direction, there’s still more work to be done. My visit to the Main Street School made one thing clear: To many parents, teachers and students, the specialized services offered by 4410 schools are simply invaluable. For this reason, I remain committed to supporting adequate early education for all students and will continue to fight for measures that help ensure a brighter future for our kids and our community.

As always, should you have questions about this or any other community issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me at StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling 452-1115.