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Q&A
Strategies for increasing enrollment and seat flexibility
0:52:19
·
111 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph presses DOE officials on plans to address the gap between available seats and current enrollment. DOE Deputy Chancellor Simone Hawkins explains that the solution is multifaceted and involves more than just outreach.
- DOE acknowledges that the early childhood education sector is stressed and strained
- Strategies include moving seats closer to areas of demand
- DOE is working within existing contract constraints to increase flexibility
- Efforts include converting seats between pre-K and 3-K, and modifying seat types (EDY to SDY) where possible
Rita Joseph
0:52:19
So, we have so many families that we have to do much much more outreach then.
Simone Hawkins
0:52:24
So, I appreciate that chair.
0:52:26
I think it's a multifaceted approach, and I think we have to really face the reality that this sector is very much stressed and strained for a host of reasons, and so I do think that outreach is part of the solution.
0:52:39
Do not think it's the sole solution, and so it's a matter of really moving seats closer to where the demand lives and is necessary, and right now that's not necessarily the case.
Rita Joseph
0:52:50
But, you're not filling enough seats, so is where's where's the gap?
0:52:53
There's a huge gap here in filling seats.
0:52:56
Let's talk about it, right?
0:52:57
So, you have this big universe and about what 70,000 seats were applied for, and you gave them all and you still have a huge gap.
0:53:06
So, how do you plan on filling in this gap if we're gonna give a seat?
0:53:09
Are we missing something here in outreach?
0:53:12
I know that engagement is not the silver bullet.
0:53:14
I get that.
0:53:15
Right?
0:53:16
But what else are we doing to fill in this huge gap that we have here?
0:53:20
That's a huge gap.
0:53:20
I agree.
0:53:21
So what are we what are we gonna do?
0:53:22
I'm listening for the plan.
Simone Hawkins
0:53:24
No.
0:53:24
I'm so I appreciate that, and so some of that plans requires and I wanna actually take a step back, we are restricted to operate in the bounds of an existing contract.
0:53:32
Right.
0:53:33
And so although we really are asking for a lot more flexibility and nimbleness than exists, we are doing what we can within the bounds of those agreements, And so where we can convert a seat, maybe from a pre k seat to a three k seat, we are having conversations with providers to do that.
0:53:49
Where we can modify an EDY seat, again those means tested seats that are based on, you know, income household size, to an SDY seat, which is subsidized with CTL and based on age and you have to live in the five boroughs, we are doing that as well.
0:54:05
And so where we can really infuse flexibility into existing contracts, we are exploring those options.