“Last year, a united New York City Council fought for and won Fair Fares, a groundbreaking anti-poverty program, in the city budget. This year, we prioritized achieving pay parity for city teachers because investments in education are investments in our city’s future. Today, I am very proud to announce a new deal that creates a path for certified teachers who work in community based organizations to earn the same starting salary as their DOE colleagues. This deal will enhance the educational opportunity of our city’s students by helping to provide stability in their classrooms, instead of losing effective teachers due to the lack of pay parity. I am so proud of all my colleagues in the City Council for remaining united on this important issue and fighting for all teachers in the city budget.”