Relates to early childhood education in daycare centers

5 Co-sponsors

• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• Liz Krueger
• Velmanette Montgomery
• Suzi Oppenheimer
• Toby Ann Stavisky

BILL NUMBER:S5650D

Title of bill

An act in relation to directing the department of education, the office of children and family services and the department of health to identify and review standards, guidelines and criteria for education, development or learning in programs

Purpose of the bill

This bill would direct the New York State Education Department, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and the New York State Department of Health to issue a report on early childhood education in children ages zero to five years old in daycare settings.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill requires the State Education Department, the Office of Children and Family Services, and the Department of Health to each review existing standards, guidelines and criteria for education, development, or learning in programs under their respective jurisdiction for children from birth to age five including day care centers.

Section 2 of the bill outlines the requirements for the State Education Department, the Office of Children and Family Services and the Department of Health's report.

Section 3 of the bill is the effective date.

Justification

There are over 1.2 million children in New York State under the age of five. Approximately 500,000 of these children are in regulated care and 56,000 children in informal care. There are approximately 51,000 children in Head Start and Early Head Start serves approximately 5,700 children and expectant mothers. Over 67,000 preschool children with disabilities are in special education programs and services. There are 152 registered nursery schools serving children throughout New York State. In prekindergarten settings, there are over 102,000 children in eligible agencies.

The New York State Education Department (SED) currently has authority over education institutions serving children ages three and up. Oversight over child care institutions under three years of age is done by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). While OCFS' regulations speak to the health and safety of a child, there is no education component. In New York State, early education is not mandated before age 6, but longitudinal studies have shown that children enrolled in structured, early education meet their developmental millstones at a significantly higher rate, compared to those who do not receive early education who often flounder by age 21. Learning begins in infancy and all children should be entitled to be in a clean, safe, healthy environment which will stimulate their growth emotionally, academically and physically. Additionally, it has been found that children enrolled in structured daycare have better mental health

outcomes in the long term, than do their counterparts in more informal daycare settings.

The lack of education requirements and oversight by SED of all children starting at birth is of grave concern to a child's development and preparedness for kindergarten and beyond. At the national level a new grant program has been proposed, the Early Learning Challenge Fund, to eliminate the school readiness gap and provide all children from birth to age 5 with the early start needed to succeed in school and life. In response to the proposed grants, the New York State Board of Regents created an Early Childhood Workgroup to examine the current system and make policy recommendations to: increase New York's chances for access to the new Federal grants; and, elevate all children's school readiness regardless of setting.

The study required in this bill will examine key issues in and roadblocks in overseeing a child care system that places a strong emphasis on education.

Budgetary implications

None.

Effective date

This bill would take effect immediately.