De Blasio Claims ‘Strong Liftoff’ On NYC Students’ First Day

NEW YORK CITY — The long-awaited, much-debated day New York City students began returning to classrooms arrived Monday with what Mayor Bill de Blasio called a “strong liftoff.”

All told, roughly 90,000 3-K, pre-K and special education students will attend in-person classes this week. De Blasio himself greeted students, parents and teachers at a Queens school on Monday.

“I feel very good about the trajectory we’re on,” he said.

The trajectory will bring K-5 and K-8 school students back to classrooms starting Sept. 29, followed by all other students Oct. 1.

De Blasio, who twice pushed back schools’ reopening amid pressure, said he’s confident it will roll out as planned this time.

But numerous concerns and unsettled questions remain.

Reporters peppered de Blasio, Chancellor Richard Carranza and other school officials with questions about first day hiccups. The schools’ online platform page, for instance, went down for 10 minutes as students and parents tried to log in.

And the city’s free “Learning Bridges” childcare program appeared off to rocky start — it started with 3,600 slots, much fewer than the eventual 100,000 previously promised by de Blasio.

Deputy Chancellor Josh Wallack said offers will go out this week and the program will expand to 30,000 slots next week.