Albany, NY -- Today, advocates and community members gathered at Bethlehem Preschool to call on Governor Cuomo to implement QUALITYstarsNY, New York's quality rating and improvement system for early care and learning programs. This event was part of a series of gatherings held in cities across New York State to raise awareness about the importance of adopting QUALITYstarsNY.
Studies show that children are born learning and about 90% of brain development occurs by age 5. For this reason, community members also noted that any budget cuts to early childhood education would have grave consequences for our communities, by attacking our children's opportunities for success, as well as denying local communities a way for economic stimulus.
QUALITYstarsNY, currently being field tested in 13 counties across New York, will provide parents with key data to determine the best program for their children, while making resources available for programs to improve the quality of the education they offer.
During this time of economic difficultly, quality early care and learning is a smart investment. For every dollar invested in early education programs, $1.86 is generated in local spending, boosting the economy and creating jobs. Quality early education programs also returns $7 in savings for every dollar invested by reducing costs for remedial education, health care, welfare, unemployment, and incarceration.
"New York needs to be sure that it is making the best use of funds so that all children can benefit from high quality early childhood services. QUALITYstarsNY gives us that opportunity," said Nancy Kolben, Executive Director of Center for Children's Initiatives.
"No one can deny the economic benefits from investing in quality early childhood education. New York can't afford not to invest in the future of our state by implementing QUALITYstarsNY," said Patricia Skinner, Executive Director of the Capital District Child Care Council.
"There's no doubt money is tight at the Capitol. But 30 other states have already implemented quality rating systems and have found them to be a very cost effective,
very smart investment," said Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York. "Our kids are counting on us to make the right choices now so they have every chance at success in the future."
QUALITYstarsNY is a voluntary system of quality rating and improvement that evaluates early care and learning programs on a star rating scale (1 to 5) to indicate the quality of the program, and provides targeted support and consultation to help improve the program. Upon full implementation, any licensed early care or learning program would be eligible to participate, whether they are located in nursery schools, child care centers, Head Start, public schools, or private homes.
"The QUALITYstarsNY program rating system will benefit parents as they seek to find the best childcare and early education for their children," according to Cathy Halayko, Co-Director of Bethlehem Preschool, Inc. in Glenmont NY. "The program is set-up to support providers through its emphasis on quality evaluation and improvement. Currently, there is no state-wide system which supports quality improvement initiatives."
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QUALITYstarsNY: Ready for Kindergarten, Ready for College is a campaign by Winning Beginning NY and Citizen Action of New York to fully implement the QUALITYstarsNY quality rating and improvement system in New York State. More information is available at www.winningbeginningny.org and www.citizenactionny.org.
The mission of the Capital District Child Care Council is to promote quality early care and education in the region and to help others recognize that an investment in the education of our youngest children is an investment in our future. Find out more by visiting www.cdcccc.org.
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Greenfield Slams ACS on Child Care Cutsby NYCGreenfield2,095 views
The state is making it start at eliminating private childcare centers. Here in North Carolina, the star system is slowly but surely shutting down centers that cannot achieve the fourth star. Four stars requires jumping through hoops of fire. Program will not improve childcare. The state now has let us know that all teacher will have to have a degree to continue in childcare after 2012. Now my question is how are centers to pay for a teacher with a degree?
Mr12remember 1 year ago