Education advocate backs de Blasio

Diane Ravitch, an education policy expert and critic of charter schools and vouchers, threw her support to Bill de Blasio Monday.

Ravitch touted the public advocate's education proposal, which would be funded by a five-year tax increase on New Yorkers earning more than $500,000 a year, with approval from state lawmakers in Albany.

"I endorse his plan to ask the wealthy to pay a little more in taxes so the city can provide universal prekindergarten for all four-year-olds and more after-school programs for middle-school students who need them," Ravitch said.