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ASuba Ma-a has taught Universal Pre-Kindergarten in East Harlem for the last 14 years.

"One of the children that I taught is going to UCLA," said ASuba. "It gives me a sense of purpose, that I'm a productive member."

ASuba loves his career and the government helps by subsidizes the cost of child care for each student, depending on the parent's income.

But starting next September, providers worry the city plans to reduce how much public money goes for each student and eliminate the cost of health care for each child care worker.

"A lot of us may not know where we're going to make those ends meets," said ASuba.

Union Settlement Association is a big provider, with more than 500 children in its early learning programs. David Nocenti, who runs Union Settlement, says he will be forced to fundraise just to make ends meet.

"The city should pay for what they're asking for and they should pay for 100 percent of it," said Nocenti. "The city is explicitly saying that it's only going to pay 93.3 percent of the cost."

City Councilman Robert Jackson worries providers and teachers will get shortchanged and thousands of families will get cut. He and 42 other City Council members sent a letter to the mayor on Thursday saying that the change is unacceptable.

"The bottom line is it's about money," said Jackson. "Let's sit down and work this out and that's what the hope and expectation is."

It is a hope shared by providers, parents and teachers.

"Then we have a much better world. New York is a much better place," said ASuba.

The Administration for Children's Services released a statement saying it is doing what it can amid financial limitations due to increasing costs. It will invest limited resources in neighborhoods where the largest number of eligible children reside.

ACS officials also maintain that health insurance costs are included.