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Q&A
Council member Brannan questions DOE on Head Start capacity and ACS vouchers
3:51:14
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169 sec
Council Member Justin Brannan engages in a Q&A session with Department of Education representatives, focusing on changes to Head Start capacity and the potential impact of ACS voucher funding on preschool seats. Deputy Chancellor Simone Hawkins provides clarifications on the proposed changes to Head Start and the complexities surrounding ACS vouchers and seat capacity.
- Head Start capacity is proposed to decrease in the new application, but current system will be maintained due to additional investments
- Clarification sought on the impact of potential cuts to ACS vouchers on preschool-aged children's seats
- DOE emphasizes that vouchers are not synonymous with seats and promises to follow up with ACS for more detailed information
Justin Brannan
3:51:14
Head Start follow-up, think from earlier.
3:51:19
So data that New York City Public Schools provided this morning seems to indicate that head start capacity will decrease by about 3,500 seats for ages three to four.
3:51:33
An early Head Start would only increase by over eight sixty seats.
3:51:37
So will the overall Head Start capacity decrease in a new application?
Simone Hawkins
3:51:43
I'm gonna answer that in two ways, Chair, and I'll be quick.
3:51:46
And so the SEEK configuration in the application, yes, it would decrease and that's what we are proposing, but I would like to say we've been persistently under enrolled year over year for our five year grant.
3:51:57
And so Head Start expects 97% to be considered full enrollment.
3:52:02
We've been around 65% and so prior to being entered into the designated renewal system, we were required to adjust our capacity anyway And so we decided to do that to make sure we submitted a viable application.
3:52:16
However, because of the investment, we're able to sustain the current system in addition to any potential funding we'll get from Head Start And so it would only be a net add.
3:52:27
So yes, the application is suggesting a decrease, but we are maintaining the current system as well.
Justin Brannan
3:52:34
Okay.
3:52:35
And I have another just a clarification from folks back at Mission Control here asking about the ACS vouchers.
3:52:43
So the data that ACS gave us yesterday shows that there's 19,801 ACS vouchers that are going toward preschool aged children.
3:52:54
If the funding for these vouchers is not in the budget for FY '26, does that mean that there are 19,801 seats that will not exist in 2026?
Simone Hawkins
3:53:04
So vouchers are not synonymous with seats, but I would suggest you know we'll get back to ACS with that specific question so we can get clarification for you.
3:53:14
It's not all apples to apples.
3:53:16
Our contracted care system has a designated number of distinct seats funded with the same type of money and so there is capacity to absorb children who would normally qualify for those means tested seats which include kids who would normally qualify for vouchers, but vouchers cover whole families not just specific age groups.
3:53:37
And so that's a very dynamic question so I want to make sure we check with ACS to make sure we get you the proper response.
Justin Brannan
3:53:43
Okay.
3:53:44
Thank you.
3:53:45
Chair Joseph, your computer.
Rita Joseph
3:53:57
Thank you.
3:53:57
Thank you New York City Public Schools.
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
3:54:01
Thank you.
Daniel Weisberg
3:54:02
Thank you very much, cheers.
Althea V. Stevens
3:54:03
I thank
Justin Brannan
3:54:03
you all.