Mayor Proposes Year-Round School in First Campaign Issue in His Likely Run for Governor

By Yehudit Garmaise

Mayor Bill de Blasio wants longer school days and a free, all-day summer school option for public schools, in what is likely the first issue he is pushing in his yet-to-be-announced run for governor of New York.

After successfully creating universal Pre-K and 3-K in New York City during his 8-years as mayor, Bill de Blasio is now advocating not only universal extended programming for all of New York’s public schools, but also all-day, free academic, arts, sports, and other programs throughout the summer, says billdeblasio.com.

“I want that longer school day not just for middle school, but for elementary school, high school students, and the city doesn't have those resources,” the mayor said on Thursday. “What we need is a state initiative to fund all of this on a sustainable basis. That's what I'm going to fight for.” 

The mayor has not officially announced his candidacy, however, when asked about his ideas to expand educational opportunities for all New Yorkers, he sounds like a candidate.

“I have a track record of making changes like this happen,” the mayor said.

Although kids in New York may not love the idea of going to school in the summertime, they don’t vote, unlike the parents who have reported that they don’t know what to do with their children after the school day and year ends and have responded positively to the mayor’s previous educational innovations.

In fact, education is likely Mayor de Blasio’s first issue on which to launch his gubernatorial campaign because throughout the most recent rancorous election season, even some of his greatest critics relented that his Universal 3-K and Pre-K programs were successful.

“The school day, the school year doesn’t fit the reality of families, and therefore middle- class people, working class people struggle to find a way,” the mayor said. “How do you have a school day that ends at 2:30pm or 3pm, when parents don’t get out of work till 5pm? 

“How do you have a school year that ends in June when, in fact, kids need options all summer long?”

“We want to see kids who want summer opportunities to have it. If they want year-long, all-day education, they should get it for free.”

What Mayor de Blasio is proposing for the state was first initiated this summer when 200,000 children attended New York City’s free “Summer Rising” program last summer that offered classes and recreation to all New York City families. 

The mayor has also significantly expanded the number of seats in free afterschool programs.

“So, we've built the foundation here in New York City,” the mayor said. We've proved the point, but what I'm going to do is fight for this to become the larger reality for the entire state.”

The mayor also said that although no city or state has yet implemented year-round education, the idea has been discussed “in this country for years and years."

“[Year-round school] has to be done if we're really going to keep up with the 21st century,” the mayor said.