Education
Cuomo Administration Mum On Overdue Child Care Report
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“We were told two weeks ago it was done, ready to go. I don’t know what the hold up is.”
WSKG (https://wskg.org/tag/child-care/)
“We were told two weeks ago it was done, ready to go. I don’t know what the hold up is.”
It’s the latest stress the industry has faced since COVID-19 turned the child care sector upside down in March.
“If the pandemic was over today, and our economy was back to where it was pre-pandemic, we would probably be in a pretty good place. I think the concern really comes in when we look at the future.”
“We find the data is suggesting children should be wearing masks any time they are outside of their family’s home and can’t maintain a distance of 6 or more feet.”
“We are more than happy to provide childcare. It’s complicated. It’s not easy. But it’s our mission.”
The Y, and New York City’s Department of Education, have been caring for tens of thousands of children during the pandemic. Neither has had reports of coronavirus clusters or outbreaks.
$20 million will be available to help reopen and expand capacity for child care providers, and $45 million will be available to help pay for the cost of a newly opened classroom.
“There’s just not enough availability for every kid that wants to be in day care to be in day care in most states today.”
“Going out there and saying ‘support your local economy’ is going to make you look bad if at the same time you are saying ‘put your kids in danger.’”
The organization Research for Action (RFA) estimates there are fewer than 50,000 available seats. In that same analysis, RFA found 150,000 families that likely need child care outside traditional hours.
People earning 150% of their state’s median income would be asked to spend no more than 7% of their personal income on child care.
New York is getting ready for big changes to child care regulations. New federal rules say child care centers have to start fingerprinting employees and increase requirements for background checks, training, and annual inspections, among other changes. State Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo expects the rules to take effect next year. She says they’re welcome but have a high price tag. “That’s something we’ve been wanting for a very long time, and we appreciate the federal government stepping in and basically saying, ‘You have to do this,’” she says. “The $90 million impact, however, is what’s a concern to us.”
Picture this, working parents: a daycare center, right in the same building as your job. For most, it’s far-fetched. But Kirsten Gillibrand, the U.S. senator from New York, wants to change that. She’s introduced a bill to increase tax breaks for businesses that build onsite child care. Having child care at work could make a big difference for parents like Stephanie Walsh.