Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson gave a speech today outlining his vision for the city’s public schools and slamming Mayor Bloomberg’s education policies. Among the goals cited by Thompson, a former head of the Board of Education, were expanding the city’s prekindergarten programs and the number of Community Learning Schools, an initiative that was launched by the UFT.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew responded to Thompson’s speech with the following statement:

Whether it is expanding the community schools model so more schools provide students the support they need to succeed, or front-loading services to children age five and under so they are ready to learn once they get to school, Bill Thompson is focused on getting kids what they need to achieve -- in school and in life.