PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Paula Inhargue, Policy Analyst at United Neighborhood Houses
2:47:54
ยท
3 min
Paula Inhargue, a policy analyst at United Neighborhood Houses, testifies on the recent decision to close childcare sites in NYC and its impact on early childhood education. She criticizes the city's approach, highlights funding concerns, and proposes solutions to address the situation.
- Expresses concern over childcare site closures based on real estate considerations and disputed enrollment data
- Highlights the negative impact of these closures on families, children, and staff
- Calls for long-term commitment, clear protocols for real estate practices, and restoration of funding for early childhood education in the FY2026 budget
Paula Inhargue
2:47:54
Thank you chair Joseph and members of the New York City Council Committee on Education for convening today's hearing.
2:48:00
My name is Pauli Nadia, and I'm a policy analyst at United Neighborhood Houses.
2:48:04
UNH is a policy and social change organization representing neighborhood settlement houses that leads advocacy and partners with our members on a broad range of issues, including early childhood education.
2:48:15
This decision to close these childcare sites driven by real estate considerations rather than a fair review of the program's quality threatens vital early childhood education services for hardworking families.
2:48:28
The city has also claimed that the decision was made due to low enrollment, but providers have refuted this, making it clear that their programs have students enrolled, some at full or almost full Disclosures are part of a troubling trend of cuts to early childhood programs at a time when affordable childcare remains out of reach for many families despite repeated promises from mayor Adams to make New York City the best place to raise a family.
2:48:53
The sudden displacement of children and educators will force parents to scramble for for alternatives in an already overburdened system and leave staff questioning what their next job will be.
2:49:04
This news of center closures came just one day after mayor Adams f y '26 preliminary budget proposal did not include a hundred and 97,000,000 currently allocated for the DOE for early childhood education as well as $25,000,000 for promise NYC programming at the administration for children's services, a move that could put thousands of early childhood seats at risk of being eliminated by the summer.
2:49:28
As of last week, the city announced it is in negotiations to extend the leases for one year for these providers.
2:49:35
However, this merely delays the issue rather than resolving it, leaving families and providers in the same precarious position in the near future.
2:49:42
A long term commitment is necessary to ensure continue continuity of care and stability for the children, families, and staff who rely on these programs.
2:49:52
In order to address this situation, we urged we urged the city to take immediate action to fully extend these leases and work in partnership with providers to safeguard the future of early childhood education in these communities, Issue clear guidance and protocols around the city's real estate practices and preferences in advance of the next early childhood education procurement.
2:50:13
If the city no longer wants to be a leaseholder of early childhood education centers, it must make that clear and give potential providers the chance to find appropriate space and undergo a leasing and construction process.
2:50:24
If the city is still open to leasing spaces, it must negotiate leases that cover the full life of the service contract.
2:50:31
The city should also conduct a needs assessment and share those results publicly about the state of the early childhood education field in New York City.
2:50:39
If these neighborhoods are oversaturated with ECE programs and have fewer eligible children as the city has stated, it must it must make that information public so that providers can understand and plan accordingly.
2:50:51
This will be crucial ahead of the forthcoming ECE procurement from New York City public schools so that providers are proposing programs that are responsive to communities.
2:51:00
And lastly, the city should restore $222,000,000 in funding for early childhood education in the f y twenty six budget.
2:51:07
Thank you.