Saving City Pre-Schools

New York, NY —

A group of parents of preschoolers flooded the steps of the Education Department's headquarters in Lower Manhattan to protest the planned elimination of kindergarten classes at city-run day care centers.

Standing on the steps of the Tweed Building, the parents, with children in tow, said city officials cannot move the children to classes in public schools.

Laurie Bernstein says she a working mom and several public schools get out as early as 2:30 in the afternoon.

BERNSTEIN: I’m supposed to take 60, 70, 80 dollars out of my pocket to pay somebody to watch him when I don’t know how secure that is.

REPORTER: The Administration for Children's Services says it must move the classes from day care centers to public schools, to close a $62 million budget gap.