Q&A
Deputy Chancellor Hawkins addresses agency coordination and early childhood education system challenges
1:17:35
ยท
3 min
Deputy Chancellor Simone Hawkins responds to Council Member Stevens' concerns about agency coordination and the challenges facing the early childhood education system. Hawkins acknowledges the need for improved coordination and outlines some of the complexities involved in addressing these issues.
- Hawkins agrees that improving coordination across all agencies is necessary
- She emphasizes the need to consider parent needs and choices when making decisions about the system
- The Deputy Chancellor mentions the challenges of resource constraints and the need to blend and braid funding
- Hawkins acknowledges the impact of regulations from various agencies, including the Department of Health and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services
- She admits that while conversations are happening, comprehensive data analysis is not yet available
- Council Member Stevens reiterates the importance of data-driven decision-making and evaluation of all related programs
Simone Hawkins
1:17:35
Yeah.
1:17:36
So we're working to improve our coordination across all agencies.
1:17:40
I agree that it's gonna take all of us to improve this system.
1:17:43
There's not a one stop solution to fix this.
1:17:47
We have to look at our current contracts, to your point we have to look at where parents are choosing to go and that changes year over year, right?
1:17:55
I know personally that some parents prefer a voucher because they feel safer having their infant with a family member for instance, but as we get into our pre k years they want to get their foot into that district school and so they're potentially eyeing that district school or charter school, right?
1:18:11
And so I think when as we are engaging across the agencies, we have to also center parent needs and choices and I think we are and we are looking into ways to do that more effectively.
1:18:21
That should guide any decisions we make as we reimagine what the system should and will look like.
1:18:27
And so there's we have to talk about resource constraints, the best way to blend and braid funding so we can maximize those supports.
1:18:35
We have to look at the regulations as you mentioned from our health department partners, but also those from the New York State Office of Children and Family Service who serve as the primary and sole regulator of our family child care space.
1:18:47
And so coordination must be improved, we are having those conversations.
1:18:50
I will not sit here and over promise and under deliver that we have data ready and available that does that kind of deep analytical assessment.
1:19:00
I would
Althea V. Stevens
1:19:00
just advise and here's the thing right, I've oversight of ACS, I've also been pushing their side, that is something that needs to happen.
Simone Hawkins
1:19:06
I agree.
Althea V. Stevens
1:19:07
Like you know we data for me is important and this is the OE, you're always talking about data, And so if we don't have the data to actually look at the information and take a deep dive to think about how to move forward, I think that that is one of the first things we should be doing.
1:19:20
That should have been one of the first things that was done when the expansion happened, but I can't, you know, blame people.
1:19:25
I wasn't here.
1:19:27
Whatever.
1:19:27
You weren't here.
1:19:28
Whatever.
1:19:29
But that should have been part of the conversation around this expansion and for the last three years, that's something that has not been brought to the forefront or have not even been talked about and I think that is at a point where we actually need to step back and do some real deep diving around evaluating of all the programs that we have, like you said, ACS, HRA, all of these other programs and how that is also affecting the system because it's not part of the conversation and I think it's affecting where it is and whether we do need to whether we should expand because on the other side, ACS has been expanding their program and voucher system for the last three years at the same time three k has been expanding, but no one is kinda bringing that sort of forefront.
1:20:09
So I just wanted to make sure that we we start pushing the conversation in a way of more solutions around what is in the system because a lot of it keeps falling under DOE, but some of I think that there's some other outlining factors and also thinking about the other piece around even DOH, being a person and a provider who worked in the system, understanding that sometimes classrooms are closed for the littlest thing, and so your enrollment is affected often because a teacher might be out, so now people who are certified.
1:20:39
So that's another thing.
1:20:40
And my last question, sorry, chair.