AGENCY TESTIMONY
Ongoing improvements and collaboration in early childhood education
0:45:12
ยท
59 sec
Deputy Chancellor Hawkins outlines ongoing improvements and collaborative efforts in NYC's early childhood education system, emphasizing transparency, efficiency, and partnership.
- Active work to realign resources where they are most needed
- Significant improvements in transparency for invoicing and payments, reducing average invoice approval time to under two weeks
- Collaboration with other agencies, including the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, to streamline background checks for program staff
- Commitment to engaging with the city council, provider community, and families for thoughtful system improvements
Simone Hawkins
0:45:12
This underscored this underscores why we are actively working to realign resources where they are most needed, ensuring that families in every neighborhood have access to quality early childhood programs while also reducing inefficiencies that undermine the long term health of the system.
0:45:29
To that effect, we have made significant strides in improving transparency and invoicing and payments, reducing the average invoice approval time to under two weeks, and are working across agencies including with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to streamline clearance background checks for program staff in partnership with the mayor's chief efficiency officer.
0:45:49
I want to emphasize that we are and committed to engaging this body in solutions that work best.
0:45:55
We welcome collaboration with the council, our provider community, and families to ensure that any shifts in our system are done thoughtfully with children's best interest at the center of our decision making.
0:46:07
I thank the council for the opportunity to speak today and look forward to your questions.