Early Childhood Education Programs for
Children in Temporary Housing
Who we are
Administration for Children’s Services, Division of Early Care and
Education
• Runs largest publicly-funded childcare system in the country, serving approximately100,000 children
• Provides quality early care and education services to eligible children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old in center and family child care settings through EarlyLearn NYC
Department of Homeless Services, Family Services
• Provides temporary emergency shelter to families with children and pregnant women
Department of Education’s Students in Temporary Housing (STH )
• Unit within the Office of Safety and Youth Development
• Provides technical assistance and work directly with schools and students in temporary housing, including those in shelters
• Provides services students are entitled to under the McKinney Vento Act and Chancellor’s Regulation
A-780
NYS-TEACHS
• Funded by the State Education Department and housed at Advocates for Children • Provides technical assistance on homeless education issues.
• Serves include: Hotline (800-388-2014), Website, Webinars, Annual Workshops, and On-Site Trainings
Before we get started…
3
Key Takeaways
Children who go to quality early childhood
education programs are:
Better prepared for kindergarten AND
More likely to graduate from high school, hold a
job, have higher earnings
Quality early childhood education
programs:
EarlyLearn NYC
Other Head Start programs
Pre-K
Programs for children with special needs:
Early Intervention
Preschool Special Education services
You can play a role in making sure parents know
about different early childhood education
programs
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 4
Today’s
Topics
Importance of Participating in Early
Childhood Education Programs
General Early Childhood Education
Programs
McKinney-Vento and Preschool
Early Childhood Education Programs
for Children with Disabilities
Resources
Topics
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 5
Quick Guide: Preschool Programs in NYC
EarlyLearn
6 weeks-4 yrs old, depends
on program
Head Start
3-4 yrs old
Pre-K
4 yrs old
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 6
Free, high quality early education program for
children 6 weeks to 4 years old.
Combination of Head Start, Child Care, and Pre-K.
Higher standards than other childcare programs
All programs offer
full-day sessions
Pre-K provided to all 4-year
olds enrolled in EarlyLearn
EarlyLearn NYC
7
Who’s Eligible for EarlyLearn NYC
•
Head Start:
•
All children in shelters are
eligible for Head Start
Child Care Subsidy:
Families receiving cash assistance
Families receiving preventive services or who have an open
ACS case
Low income families and
Parent working or in an educational/training program
Parent who needs child care to attend services in response to
domestic violence
How to find EarlyLearn programs
in your area
•
Call 311
•
Access the EarlyLearn NYC program directory at
http://www.nyc.gov/html/acs/html/child_care/for_p
arents.shtml
•
If the parent gets cash assistance, ask the local Job
Center for more information
•
If the parent doesn’t get
cash assistance, text
“EARLYLEARN” TO 877-877
9
Head Start
Other Head Start Centers, in addition to EarlyLearn
programs:
Open to children ages 3-4
Free 8-hour day programs
Many medical, dental, nutritional, and adult
educational services to families
Eligibility: All children in temporary
housing are eligible
To Enroll:
Call 311
Use the online Head Start Locator:
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/HeadStartOffices
10Head Start and children who are
homeless
3-4-year old children who are homeless
are categorically
eligible for Head Start
and
must be prioritized
for enrollment
11True or False?
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 12
Children who are homeless are enrolled
in pre-k at the same rate as children
who are permanently housed.
Children in shelters and participation in pre-k
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 130%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Children living in shelters
All children
% of Four-Year Old Children Participating in Pre-K in NYC
Pre-K for All
Free, full-day, high-quality pre-K (6 hours and 20 minutes)
Located in district schools or NYC Early Education Centers
(NYCEECs)
Eligibility
Open to all 4-year olds born in 2011
To find a program, families can:
Call 311
Text “prek” to 877877
Visit
www.nyc.gov/prek
Overview of Pre-K for All Enrollment
o
Single application for district schools and full-day NYCEEC pre-K programs
o
Families receive a single offer from the NYCDOE
o
Three ways for families to apply:
o
Apply online at
nyc.gov/prek
o
Call 718-935-2067
o
Apply at a Family Welcome Center
o
Application Period March 16 through April 24
How families apply
•
All families complete the Pre-K For All application for district schools and full-day NYCEECs
•Families rank their choices in order of preference (first choice is the program they want
the most), up to 12 programs
How children are placed
•
Children are matched to programs according to a priority order called Admissions
Priorities.
•
Admissions Priorities:
1.
Current students enrolled at the NYCEEC.
2.Siblings of current students enrolled at the NYCEEC.
3.
Students whose families currently receive free or subsidized social services from the
organization operating the NYCEEC pre-k program.
4.
Students with a home language other than English that the NYCEEC specializes in serving (if
applicable).
5.
All other students.
Offers to pre-K programs
•
Families can expect to receive offers in the spring, either to a district school or NYCEEC.
•Families accept offers and pre-register
How Pre-K for All Enrollment Works
15 NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 16
Federal law
Enacted in 1987
Reauthorized in 2001 as
part of NCLB
The McKinney-Vento Act
School
Stability
Academic
Success
School
Access
Examples of temporary housing:
Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing,
economic hardship or other similar reason
Living in emergency or transitional shelters
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to the lack of alternative
adequate accommodations
Abandoned in hospitals
Awaiting foster care placement
Living a in public or private place not designed for sleeping
Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, etc.
Migratory living in circumstances described above
Who is covered under McKinney-Vento?
17
McKinney-Vento Services
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 18
Free Meals
Title I Services
Immediate Enrollment
Immediate
Enrollment
Title I
Services
Free Meals
Transport
to School
of Origin
DOE’s Students in Temporary Housing
Program
Schools
School-Based Liaisons (approx. 1, 700)
Identify homeless students, connect
with Title I services, etc.
Shelters
STH Family Assistants (approx. 115)
Coordinate transportation, enrollment,
etc.
Borough Offices
STH Content Experts (10)
Coordinate resources/programs for STH
students
Central Office
Office of Safety and Youth
Development
Develop citywide STH programs
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 19
McKinney-Vento and Pre-K
Immediate Enrollment
Pre-K Class-size:
Up to 18 children = 2 staff members
Contact DOE’s Division of Early Childhood
Education 212-374-0351 to
see if additional child(ren)
can be added to “full”
classroom
Enrolling in Pre-k Classroom that is “full”
21
Transportation
• Parents can get a Metro-Card
to take their child to a pre-K
program.
• To get a Metro-Card, contact:
• Dep’t of Education Family
Assistant or
• STH Content Experts
RECAP
Participation in quality early childhood programs
can help kids be better prepared for kindergarten
and beyond!
Children in shelters are categorically eligible for
Head Start and should be given priority on all wait
lists
Parents can get a free MetroCard to take their
children to pre-k
Help parents sign their children up for EarlyLearn,
Head Start and Pre-K programs in the spring!
Help parents find programs in the area
Let them know about upcoming deadlines
Help parents complete applications online
23
Questions?
True or False?
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 25
Approximately 45% of
preschoolers who are homeless
have at least one major
developmental delay.
Young children who are homeless
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 26
Approximately:
75% - at least one major developmental delay
40% - two or more major developmental delays
35% - emotional or behavioral problems
Children with Disabilities
Early Intervention and preschool special education
services address delays in one of five areas:
Cognitive
Communication
Physical/Motor
Social/Emotional
Adaptive/Self-Help
27Early Intervention
Free program for children ages birth–3 run by the
Department of Health
Examples of services:
Occupational therapy, physical
therapy, speech
Health, nursing, or nutrition
services
Psychological or social work
services
Family training, counseling, respite
How to apply?
Call 311
Preschool Special Education
Run by Department of Education for children ages 3-5
Examples of services:
Speech and language therapy
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Counseling (play therapy)
Parent training;
School health services
SEIT: Special Education
Itinerant Teacher
Special class in an integrated
setting (half-day or full-day)
Special class (half-day or full-day)
29
How to access Preschool Special
Education
Send a letter to the Chairperson of the local Committee on Special
Education
What to include:
Parent wants a preschool special education evaluation
Reason for concern; why parent thinks child may need services
Any services child received in past (such as Early Intervention)
Parent’s contact information
Parent’s signature
How to send:
Drop it off at the CSE (make sure to keep a copy!)
Fax it to the CSE
Evaluations
After getting the letter, the Committee on Preschool Special Education will
send the parent an evaluation packet
Parent must arrange the free evaluation with one of the agencies listed in the
packet
RECAP: Services for Children with Disabilities
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 31
Early Intervention
Birth – 3 years old
Call 311
Preschool Special
Education
3-5 years old
Send a letter to the Committee
on Special Education
Scenario
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 32
In April, a family is placed in a shelter. One of the children,
Maria, is 2 years, 11 months old. Her mother really wants
Maria to attend preschool. Maria’s mother thinks that Maria
may have a speech and language delay.
Which program(s) may Maria be eligible for?
Early Intervention
EarlyLearn
Head Start program
Pre-K
You just started working with a family who is living in a shelter and
has three young children ages 9 months, 2 years old, and 4 years
old. The children are not in school. The mother has an open public
assistance case and the family receives cash assistance.
Which programs are the children eligible for?
Head Start
Pre-K
EarlyLearn
All of the above
Scenario
33
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 34
FAQ’s for Families in Temporary Housing
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 35
Will my child will be in a safe learning
environment?
Yes! Pre-k, Head Start, and EarlyLearn
programs all have rigorous safety standards
and licensing requirements
How much do these programs cost?
They’re free!
Can I get transportation to take my
child to pre-k?
Yes! Parents can get a MetroCard from the
DOE’s Students in Temporary Housing
Program
Also, did you know that many of these programs offer
comprehensive family support services?
FAQ’s for Families in Temporary Housing
Are full-day programs available?
Yes!
Pre-k: 6 hours and 20 mins
Head Start: 8 hours
EarlyLearn: 10 hours
How can I find a program?
Call 311
Text “prek” to 877877
Visit:
nyc.gov/prek
(pre-k)
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/HeadStartOffices#map-home
(Head Start)
http://www.nyc.gov/html/acs/html/child_care/earlylearn.shtml
(EarlyLearn)
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 36
Build a community that encourages preschool enrollment!
Identify Pre-K and EarlyLearn Programs in the area
Have shelter-wide Pre-K enrollment week/month
Encourage staff to help parents enroll their children in pre-k in March
Online for pre-k if the parent has an email address or
At the Family Welcome Center
Invite representatives from preschool programs to present to parents at
the shelter
Encourage parents to participate in open-house
events at local preschool programs
Share information with parents about the
importance of preschool to counter any anxiety
they may have about sending their children
Tips for shelter-based staff
37
General Early
Childhood Education
Programs
• EarlyLearn
• 6 weeks-4 yrs old, depends on
program
• Call 311
• Head Start
• 3-4 yrs old
• Call 311
• Pre-K
• 4 yrs old (born in 2011 start in
Sept)
• Apply online, at Family Welcome
Center, or at community-based
organization
Early Childhood
Programs for Children
with Disabilities
• Early Intervention
• Birth-3 yrs old
• Call 311
• Preschool Special Education
• 3-5 yrs old
• Write to CSE Chair to request
evaluation
Quick Guide
Where to get help?
39 NYS-Office of Youth Development Borough Center LocationDistricts STH Content Expert Name Number Office E-mail
Bronx 1 Fordham Plz, Rm 821A Bronx, NY 10458 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Stephanie Dyer Bak Harris 718-741-7783 718-741-8595 sdyer@schools.nyc.gov bharris6@schools.nyc.gov Brooklyn 131 Livingston Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 23, 32 Jean Regnier
Wayne Harris 718-935-3296 718-935-3562 jregnier@schools.nyc.gov wharris22@schools.nyc.gov
Brooklyn South 1780 Ocean Ave., Rm 1B Brooklyn, NY 11230 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 31 Charlene Mitchell Edonine Castor 718-758-7722 718-758-7635 cmitchell4@schools.nyc.gov ecastor@schools.nyc.gov Manhattan 333 7th Avenue, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Cecilio (Bo) Diaz Iris Gersten 917-339-1698 917-339-1718 cdiaz@schools.nyc.gov igersten@schools.nyc.gov Queens 28-11 Queens Plaza N LIC, NY 11101 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 Winnie Tjioe
Stephanie Goldstein 718-391-6849 718-391-6843 wtjioe@schools.nyc.gov sgoldstein17@schools.nyc.gov
Special Education
400 First Ave, Rm 113 New York, NY 10010
75 Michele Marcel 212-802-1579 mmarcel@schools.nyc.gov
Students in Temporary Housing
Content Experts
40
41
CSE DISTRICT ADDRESS PHONE/FAX CONTACT
1 7,9,10
One Fordham Plaza,7th floor Phone: (718) 329-8001
Steven Birkeland Bronx, NY 10458 Fax: (718) 741-7928/7929
2 8,11,12
3450 East Tremont Ave., 2nd fl Phone: (718) 794-7429
Tricia DeVito Bronx, NY 10465 Español: (718) 794-7490
Fax: (718) 794-7445 3
25, 26 30-48 Linden Place Phone: (718) 281-3461 Esther Morell Flushing, NY 11354 Fax: (718) 281-3478
28, 29
90-27 Sutphin Boulevard Phone: (718) 557-2553
Esther Morell Jamaica, NY 11435 Fax: (718) 557-2620/2510
4
24, 30
28-11 Queens Plaza N., 5th fl Phone: (718) 391-8405
Chris Cinicola Long Island City, NY 11101 Fax: (718) 391-8556
27 82-01 Rockaway Blvd. 2nd fl Phone: (718) 642-5715 Chris Cinicola Ozone Park, NY 11416 Fax: (718) 642-5891
5 19,23,32 1665 St. Marks Avenue Phone: (718) 240-3557/3558 Geraldine Beauvil Brooklyn, NY 11233 Fax: (718) 240-3555
6 17,18,22 5619 Flatlands Avenue Phone: (718) 968-6200 Arlene Rosenstock Brooklyn, NY 11234 Fax: (718) 968-6253 7 20,21 415 89 th Street Phone: (718) 759-4900 Amine Haddad Brooklyn, NY 11209 Fax: (718) 759-4970
31 715 Ocean Terrace, Building A Phone: (718) 420-5790 Amine Haddad Staten Island, NY 10301 Fax: (718) 420-5787
8 13,14,15,16 131 Livingston Street, 4 th fl Phone: (718) 935-4900 Cherry Kang Brooklyn, NY 11201 Fax (718) 935-5167 9 1,2,4 333 7 th Avenue, 4th fl Phone: (917) 339-1600 Jennifer Lozano New York, NY 10001 Fax: (917) 339-1450
10 3,5,6 388 West 125
th
Street Phone: (212) 342-8300
Jane O'Connor New York, NY 10027 Fax: (212) 342-8427
Charter
Schools All Districts
One Fordham Plaza,7th floor Phone: (718) 329-8001
Mariama Sandi Bronx, NY 10458 Fax: (718) 741-7928/7929
CSE Contact Information
Free brochures are available in English and in Spanish
Free posters in 9 languages
Toll-free hotline 800-388-2014
Website,
www.nysteachs.org
Resources from NYS-TEACHS
NYS-TEACHS - (800) 388-2014 42
Other Resources
Change the First Five Years and You Change Everything from Ounce of
Prevention Fund:
Raises awareness about the importance of quality early childhood programs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbSp88PBe9E
The Early Childhood Self-Assessment Tool for Family Shelters from U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Helps shelter staff create shelters that are safe and developmentally appropriate
for young children
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/interagency-projects/ece-services-for-homeless-children/self-assessment-tool-family-shelters
Developmental Milestones from the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention
From birth to 5 years, children should reach milestones in how they play, learn,
speak, act, and move. These handouts can help parents track their children’s
development and act early if they have a concern.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
43
Thank You!
NYC Department of Education
Montgomery Smith, Students in Temporary Housing:
msmith66@schools.nyc.gov
Brian Fritsch, Pre-K For All:
bfritsch@schools.nyc.gov
NYC Department of Homeless Services
Franca N. Okeya, Family Services: (212) 361-6390/91,
fokeya@dhs.nyc.gov
Susana Vilardell, Director of Educational Services:
svilardell@dhs.nyc.gov
NYC Administration for Children’s Services
Division of Early Care and Education
Shari Gruber: (212) 393-5109,
shari.gruber@acs.nyc.gov
NYS-TEACHS
Jennifer Pringle: (212) 822-9546,
jpringle@afcnyc.org
Hotline: (800) 388-2014
Website:
www.nysteachs.org
44
