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REMARKS
Concern about administration's approach to early childhood education
1:39:43
ยท
128 sec
Council Member Krishnan expresses deep concern about the administration's approach to early childhood education, highlighting the disparity between growing demand and the mayor's statements about cuts and seat availability.
- Krishnan emphasizes the importance of early childhood education as an investment
- He points out the contradiction between the mayor's claims and the reality of rising demand
- Deputy Chancellor Hawkins acknowledges the challenges and explains the need for a dynamic, flexible approach to meet changing needs
Shekar Krishnan
1:39:43
And so when I see these numbers and we hear how much the demand for early childhood education is growing so rapidly, the need for special education early childhood seats too, I am shocked at the way the mayor has really made it a point to cut from three k to talk about how every child will get a seat but the demand continues to rise so much.
1:40:05
I think you would agree that early childhood education is one of the best investments we could make, Right?
1:40:10
Not just for children and families but also for the workforce too.
1:40:13
Right?
Simone Hawkins
1:40:14
I agree.
Shekar Krishnan
1:40:15
And I see it as an incredibly important economic engine for our city.
1:40:18
But again, there's a sharp disparity between this administration's approach to early childhood education, knowing its importance, and knowing what the data says about the demand.
1:40:28
I want to focus in particular on
Simone Hawkins
1:40:30
May I?
1:40:31
Sure.
1:40:32
And so I do appreciate those stats and I think what you've demonstrated there is the exact thing we're trying to solve for.
1:40:39
And so the mayor has been very clear in his commitment and this is a commitment that must be supported at all levels of government and is not only ours to own and bear at the local level.
1:40:49
And so working closely with our federal government and state partners to get the resources to properly sustain the system.
1:40:55
It is a very, very dynamic ecosystem that requires all of our support.
1:41:00
And one thing around three ks growth, that is a need that has changed within the five year span of a contract that doesn't allow for that level of flexibility.
1:41:10
And so although we see very clearly and I think I articulated this in my opening remarks that there is a need for three ks, I will go as far to say there is even a higher need for infant toddler care which we are not meeting right now in this city and we are unable to do so if we only focus on expanding.
1:41:27
Optimizing, I'm sorry, optimizing is a bidirectional process.
1:41:31
We can only within the confines of our resources and systems increase in places that need the care, maybe three ks or otherwise by really evaluating spaces that are underutilized to shift those resources.
1:41:43
And we've been committed in doing so and so as much as possible we would like to move forward in that direction so we can meet the demands of community.