“More than 100 people packed the basement of a quaint church in Englewood, where a panel of African American and Hispanic mothers sat nervously as music softly played.
The black and brown mothers spent months organizing the town hall last month, where they could talk about their fears of losing established early learning centers in their neighborhoods.
As the city launches universal, full-day prekindergarten for 4-year-olds citywide, it also is rolling out a new funding system — and now, some early learning centers have seen their funds reduced or eliminated, forcing 102 classrooms in 35 neighborhoods to close. Those that won’t close say they will have to cut back on services.”
