Save Child Care. Essential Stories. Essential Work.
In April and May of 2020, NYAEYC conducted two surveys of child care providers across New York State. Those surveys provided the data featured in this report. The May survey concluded with the following question: What do you want to tell your elected officials about providing child care during COVID-19?
Despite a lack of investment, guidance, and recognition, child care programs have committed to providing critical support for children and families for the duration of the crisis. As our workforce meets each challenge with courage and compassion, they need elected officials to hear their stories and act. They implore Congress to fund child care now and commit to working towards a system that values their work as children’s first teachers and the backbone of our economy.
Without at least $50 billion in funding now and sustained support, these critical programs will not survive.
NAEYC Position Statements
Position statements state the association’s position on issues related to early childhood education practice, policy, and/or professional development for which there are controversial or critical opinions. All position statements can be downloaded free of charge, however, written permission is required to republish excerpts from or full text of NAEYC position statements. Take a look at NAEYC’s position statements here.
New York State Policy
“Access to high-quality early childhood education is critical to preparing young children for academic and developmental success. Early childhood education programs are also critical to parental employment stability. New York State’s early childhood system includes child care, Early Head Start, Head Start, and Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK).” If you would like to make a difference in the life of a child in New York State, contact your local Senator, and for more information about New York State’s early childhood resources, please take a look at the links below.
New York State Early Care and Learning Council (ECLC)
New York State Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC)
New York State Council on Children and Families (CCF)
New York State Education Department Universal Prekindergarten Program
New York State Family Child Care Association
New York State School-Age Care Coalition
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
Federal Policy
For more information about policy on the federal level, please take a look at the following resources.
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)
National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
The NYAEYC Public Policy Committee identifies key issues that affect the field of early care and education and makes information available to the greater membership. In addition, the committee identifies ways individuals can act independently and/or organizationally as advocates for children and families.