Deputy Chancellor Hawkins outlines the capacity and resource allocation challenges facing NYC's early childhood education system, highlighting misalignment between available seats and demand.

• 30,000 seats currently sit vacant across the system
• Some neighborhoods struggle with waitlists due to demand exceeding available seats
• The misalignment is a legacy of rapid expansion fueled by temporary stimulus dollars that are no longer available
• Inflexible contracts contribute to a configuration that doesn't align with where families live, work, and seek care