The Child Care Primer Series, Update 2002: Highlights of Child Care and Early Education Services in New York City.

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Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, Inc., New York, NY.
United Way of New York City, NY.

Child Care; Compensation (Remuneration); Demography; Early Childhood Education; Eligibility; Human Resources; Infant Care; Preschool Teachers; Tables (Data); Teacher Salaries; Young Children

Noting that 2002 was marked by substantial increases and then reductions in child care funding, this document updates the 2001 primer providing information on child care in New York City, including information on demographics and eligibility for subsidized child care, infant and toddler care, the universal pre-kindergarten initiative, and early childhood teacher salaries. Statistical information is presented in tabular and graphic formats in six sections: (1) demographics and eligibility for publicly subsidized child care; (2) administration for childrens services; (3) human resources administration; (4) infant and toddler care; (5) universal pre-kindergarten; and (6) early childhood teacher salaries. Among the major findings, the report notes that universal pre-kindergarten provided the only substantial increase in early education services in New York City in 2002. In fiscal year 2002, funding for child care for low-income families in New York City was increased by $71 million over fiscal year 2001, but was later cut and replaced with new federal and state funds. Child care for infants continues to be in critically short supply. Regulated child care is not affordable for many families. The Agency for Child Development continues to maintain a long waiting list for subsidized child care. Families receiving child care benefits from the Human Resources Administration continue to rely on informal child care. Teacher salary differentials continue to make it difficult to retain qualified teachers in early childhood programs. Masters level teachers, employed by the City in early childhood centers, earn 54 percent less than teachers employed in New York City public schools, after 10 years of services. (KB)

2003

ED473323