New York City Council members discussed Intro 579A at the June 11, 2026 stated meeting, a bill sponsored by Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez that would require the New York City Department of Education (DOE) to develop and implement an annual multilingual outreach campaign to increase enrollment in 3K and pre-K, with special emphasis on families in shelters and public housing. Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA
# What’s happening
– Intro 579A was presented to require DOE to run an annual 3K/pre-K outreach campaign.
– Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez sponsored the bill.
– Campaign focuses outreach in shelters and public housing; discussed June 11, 2026.
Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA
# Why it matters
– Families with 3- and 4-year-olds in shelters and public housing are directly affected.
– The campaign aims to increase awareness and simplify enrollment for 3K and pre-K seats.
Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA
# Key details
– Meeting date: June 11, 2026 (stated meeting at City Hall).
– Bill name and number: Introduction 579A, sponsored by Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez.
– Program names: 3K (three-year-old program), pre-K (four-year-old program), and referenced 2K.
– Outreach locations specified: shelters, public housing, transit hubs, neighborhood institutions.
– DOE currently uses multimedia outreach: emails, outbound calls, virtual sessions, street teams, texts, robocalls, and community partners. (Source: earlier DOE testimony)
– Prior outreach funding and staffing noted in earlier hearings: an outreach team, contracted vendor use, and multi‑million dollar investments referenced.
Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA; https://youtu.be/s1DdZ-EgYcg; https://youtu.be/M23PisrzeNU
Jennifer Gutierrez
– Role or jurisdiction: New York City Council Member; sponsor of Intro 579A.
– Action taken or responsibility: Presented and advocated for Intro 579A at the June 11, 2026 stated meeting.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Bill discussed on June 11, 2026.
Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA
Department of Education (DOE) / New York City Public Schools
– Role or jurisdiction: City agency that administers 3K and pre-K programs.
– Action taken or responsibility: Would be required by Intro 579A to develop and implement the annual outreach campaign.
– Relevant numbers or dates: DOE previously described outreach channels and event work in March 2026 hearings.
Source: https://youtu.be/s1DdZ-EgYcg; https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA
The Council discussion and sponsor remarks
Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez described Intro 579A during the June 11, 2026 stated meeting and said the bill would require the Department of Education to “put together a comprehensive and implement a comprehensive multilingual education and outreach campaign” focused on shelters, public housing, transit hubs, and neighborhood institutions. Gutierrez said the campaign aims to increase awareness and simplify access to 3K and pre-K. Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA&t=642
The bill text as described by Gutierrez requires an annual campaign; the June 11 discussion did not include a detailed line-item budget, specific staffing chart, or calendar of measurable targets in the public remarks. The sponsor framed the measure as a requirement for DOE to develop and implement the campaign. Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA&t=723
What DOE has reported in earlier hearings about outreach methods (context external to the June 11 meeting)
In prior Council hearings, the DOE (New York City Public Schools) described current outreach channels that it already uses for early childhood programs. Those channels include multimedia advertising, mailed voter‑style guides for other programs, targeted email campaigns, outbound calls to families in low-application districts, virtual information sessions, street teams, text messaging, robocalls, and partnerships with community‑based and faith‑based organizations to conduct local outreach. That earlier testimony also noted in‑person enrollment events and targeted outreach to shelters. Source (earlier committee testimony, March 2, 2026): https://youtu.be/s1DdZ-EgYcg&t=1935
Staffing and budget context from earlier agency testimony (external to the June 11 meeting)
In earlier budget and oversight hearings, DOE and related agencies described using small outreach teams, contracted vendors for marketing and events, and multi‑million dollar investments that were coordinated across agencies. Those prior hearings referenced transfers of outreach funding to other agencies like HRA and described scaling outreach staff and vendor work. Specific funding levels for past outreach efforts were discussed in previous hearings, and a separate immigrant family communication initiative was listed as a $4 million program in related budget testimony. These prior details provide context but are distinct from the policy text of Intro 579A. Source (DOE and budget hearings, March 14, 2025; June 9, 2026): https://youtu.be/M23PisrzeNU; https://youtu.be/KFSfiB4j_yY
Enrollment targets and gaps discussed previously (earlier coverage)
Earlier Council coverage and hearings noted a city goal figure for seats and an enrollment gap. Reporting from March 2026 referenced a target of about 90,000 3K/pre-K seats with roughly 75,000 seats filled at that time, leaving a gap the city and Council sought to close through outreach. That figure was discussed in prior committee testimony and coverage and provides context for the campaign’s purpose. Source (earlier coverage and March 2, 2026 hearing): https://getlocalpost.com/2026/03/03/nyc-council-aims-to-boost-enrollment-in-3-k-and-pre-k-through-new-outreach-strategies/; https://youtu.be/s1DdZ-EgYcg
What Intro 579A would require DOE to do (as discussed at the meeting)
Intro 579A, as presented, directs the Department of Education to develop and implement an annual multilingual education and outreach campaign to reach families with children eligible for 3K and pre-K. The presentation emphasized targeted work in shelters, public housing, transit hubs, and neighborhood sites to increase awareness and simplify access. The June 11 remarks did not specify enforcement language, reporting deadlines, or numerical performance targets in the public record. Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA&t=723
What remains unspecified in the June 11 discussion
The June 11 stated meeting remarks did not include detailed answers on the campaign’s:
– Annual or one-time budget allocation tied to Intro 579A.
– Exact headcount or staff roles DOE must assign to the campaign.
– A binding list of languages to be used or measurable enrollment targets and timelines.
Council members and DOE staff have explored these operational details in earlier hearings, but the June 11 sponsor remarks describe the campaign requirement without those line‑item specifics. Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA
How residents and advocates can follow next steps
The Council’s stated meeting advanced discussion of Intro 579A and the sponsor urged passage; implementation details typically follow as the bill moves to further Council steps or is negotiated with DOE and the mayoral administration. Residents seeking specifics on budget, staffing, languages, outreach channels, or measurable targets should watch upcoming Council hearings, DOE budget testimony, and follow agency reporting once the bill’s requirements are operationalized. Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA; https://youtu.be/s1DdZ-EgYcg
For reporters and researchers: use the full meeting video and earlier hearing testimony to track developments. The sponsor’s remarks at the June 11, 2026 stated meeting define the bill’s scope (multilingual, shelter/public housing focus) but do not substitute for later DOE implementation plans or budget documents. Source: https://youtu.be/1n8JM7WYAtA
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