We, the parents, families, educators, alumni, and community members of P.S. 98, urge your immediate intervention to prevent the loss of a fifth-grade classroom at our beloved school. P.S. 98, located in Douglaston, Queens, NY, has been an integral part of our community, nurturing our children and creating future leaders. However, the recent budget cuts threaten to dismantle the environments where our children learn and grow.

The education system in New York City has long been plagued by inequalities, particularly impacting small neighborhood schools like P.S. 98. According to recent analyses, large schools receive disproportionately larger pieces of funding, while smaller schools are left to struggle with limited resources. This disparity is well-documented: a report by the New York City Department of Education indicated that smaller schools receive nearly 25% less per student than their larger counterparts. Such funding inequities not only affect the quality of education but also the morale and well-being of students and educators alike.

P.S. 98 is known for its personalized approach to education, fostering an environment where every child is given the individual attention they need to thrive. Cutting funding translates directly to larger class sizes, reduced resources, and fewer extracurricular opportunities—critical elements in fostering a well-rounded education. It compromises not only our children's education but also their aspirations and dreams.

The proposed elimination of a fifth-grade classroom would have immediate consequences for our students. It would increase class sizes during one of the most academically demanding years of elementary school, reduce opportunities for individualized instruction, and place additional burdens on teachers already working with limited resources.

Equally important, it would eliminate our departmentalized fifth-grade program—a critical bridge between elementary and middle school. Departmentalization gives students the opportunity to learn from multiple teachers, adapt to different classroom expectations, strengthen organizational skills, and develop the independence necessary for success in middle school. Eliminating this structure would leave students less prepared for one of the most significant academic transitions of their education.

What makes this year’s proposed staffing reduction even more difficult to understand is that enrollment has not declined—it has grown. P.S. 98 has done precisely what the City encourages schools to do—retain families, attract new students, and increase enrollment. Yet despite this success, the school is being asked to eliminate instructional staff. A funding system that reduces teaching positions while enrollment grows sends the wrong message to schools that are successfully serving their communities.

·         2023–2024: 242 students

·         2024–2025: 249 students

·         2025–2026: 258 students (projected)

Under a funding model based on student enrollment, an increase in enrollment should result in sufficient funding to maintain existing instructional positions. Instead, P.S. 98 is being asked to educate more students with fewer teachers.

We believe all children, regardless of their school's size, deserve an equal opportunity to quality education. To achieve this, we need immediate restoration of the lost funding to P.S. 98 in the FY2026/27 New York City budget and a strategic plan to address and rectify funding inequities. Without this intervention, we risk undermining the very foundation of our neighborhood's educational infrastructure.

Accordingly, we respectfully ask for your leadership in advocating for the following:

Restore FY2027 funding for P.S. 98 so the school can retain its fifth-grade teaching position, preserve two fifth-grade classrooms, and maintain the departmentalized instructional model that prepares students for middle school.

Ensure that schools have the resources necessary to comply with New York City’s class size law. No school should be forced to violate the intent of the City’s own policy because of inadequate funding. 

Support meaningful reform of the Fair Student Funding formula so that small neighborhood schools receive funding sufficient to cover their minimum operating costs and are no longer forced to seek annual appeals simply to maintain essential staffing.

Advocate for a funding model that recognizes both enrollment and the fixed costs of operating a school. Every child deserves access to safe classrooms, qualified educators, appropriate class sizes, and the academic support necessary to succeed, regardless of the size of their school.

We call on the New York City Council, the Department of Education, and state legislators to act swiftly and prioritize the equitable distribution of educational funds. By doing so, P.S. 98 can continue to be an exemplary institution that meets the needs of its students and community.

Join us in this fight to ensure that every child, in every neighborhood, has access to the best possible education. Please sign this petition to restore equitable funding and preserve the legacy of excellence at P.S. 98. Together, we can make a tangible difference in securing the future for our children and our communities.