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Q&A
Discussion on expanding universal childcare to include two-year-olds
1:46:24
·
116 sec
Council Member Shahana K. Hanif inquires about progress on including two-year-olds in the city's universal childcare system. Deputy Chancellor Simone Hawkins responds, emphasizing the need to stabilize the existing system before expansion.
- The DOE is focusing on stabilizing the current childcare system before adding additional care
- Some existing providers are being supported to age down where possible, including two-year-old seats
- The council's proposal for 3,500 non-means-tested seats for zero to two-year-olds is under review by the DOE
Shahana K. Hanif
1:46:24
I wanna start with the two care campaign.
1:46:28
At the preliminary budget hearing in March, you recognized the importance of aging down the city's universal childcare system to two year olds, and you said you would love to see it happen.
1:46:39
You mentioned conversations were happening internally.
1:46:42
Have you looked into this more since then, and has any progress been made?
1:46:49
And what is OMB saying?
1:46:51
Any details around cost?
Simone Hawkins
1:46:58
And so I would say I like all and love all my littles equally no matter their age, and so although we value and understand there's a need for two, you know, care for two year olds and infant care, I would say we really need to prioritize our focus on stabilizing the existing system before adding additional care to it.
1:47:21
And so, as I mentioned before, again recognizing that that is a need we have with you know again within the existing providers.
1:47:27
We don't want to stress an already strained system and so we are working with existing providers to age down where they can and that includes two year old seats.
Shahana K. Hanif
1:47:37
Got it and certainly agree that the existing system should be streamlined and stabilized, but it would be brilliant to add two year olds to our universal childcare program.
1:47:53
Have you considered the council's proposal from our budget response to provide 3,500 non means tested seats for zero to two year olds?
Simone Hawkins
1:48:06
And so this is something that we're definitely looking into.
1:48:09
I do remember reviewing it with my team.
1:48:13
It is something we need to continue to review more closely, so if you don't mind councilmember, we'd love an opportunity to round back
Rita Joseph
1:48:19
to you on that one.