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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Future challenges and funding concerns in early childhood education
0:44:00
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71 sec
Deputy Chancellor Hawkins addresses upcoming challenges and funding concerns for NYC's early childhood education system, emphasizing the need for difficult decisions and potential impacts of federal policy changes.
- Recent decisions regarding five properties were difficult but necessary for responsible stewardship
- Uncertainty about future federal policy shifts or funding reductions for programs like Head Start
- Potential loss of federal funding could lead to tougher choices, including reducing seats in neighborhoods with no alternative options
- Support from the city council will be crucial to mitigate the impact on families relying on these programs
Simone Hawkins
0:44:00
I want to be very clear, we are committed to serving as responsible stewards of this system and that means making difficult but necessary decisions.
0:44:10
While our recent decisions regarding five properties were difficult and we are happy to work with the providers, landlords, and community members to come to a resolution for the next school year to sustain these contracts, even greater challenges lie ahead.
0:44:26
We do not yet know what federal policy shifts or funding reductions may come from the federal level for programs like head start and other federal early childhood education initiatives.
0:44:36
We want to ensure that our families do not lose access to the critical informative programs needed to give them the bright start they deserve.
0:44:44
Unlike those recent these recent lease decisions where no children face losing access to care due to available capacity in the community, potential loss of federal funding would require us to make even tougher choices in the future, including reducing seats in neighborhoods where no alternative options exist.
0:45:05
If and when that moment comes, will need the support of the council to mitigate the impact on families who rely on these programs.