Two Brooklyn public schools are set to receive new state funding secured through Assemblyman William Colton (Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) as part of the 2026/2027 state budget, with allocations aimed at facility upgrades and after-school programming.
P.S. 101 will receive $300,000 to renovate its auditorium, including planned structural improvements and new stage curtains. The project is intended to modernize the space used for school assemblies, student performances and community events.
At P.S. 177, funding has been secured to continue and expand its after-school program operated in partnership with the Federation of Italian American Organizations. The program previously faced uncertainty after losing city funding support.
“Our local schools are critically important to students and parents in so many ways,” said Colton. “The education they provide is obviously crucial for the students’ success in the future, and the after-school programs not only build on that, but also, in many instances, make it possible for parents to hold down the jobs that help pay the household bills. They are therefore vital for maintaining the stability of the family, particularly in these inflationary times, when many people are working harder than ever just to make ends meet. I am delighted to have been able to deliver for these two schools and the communities they encompass.”
For fiscal years 2025/2026 and 2026/2027, Colton secured $65,000 followed by $70,000 in renewed funding. School leadership expects the additional allocation to expand capacity by roughly 60 student seats and stabilize programming that serves working families in the area.
Colton said the investments support both student learning and after-school care that many families rely on to balance work and household responsibilities amid rising costs of living.
