New York State Birth Through Five (NYSB5) Preschool Development Grant Needs Assessment Report

Authors

Center for Human Services Research, University at Albany

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

10-2019

Abstract

The New York State Birth Through Five (NYSB5) Preschool Development grantee, the New York State Council on Children and Families (CCF), partnered with the Center for Human Services Research (CHSR) at the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY), to conduct New York’s first-ever comprehensive birth through five needs assessment of its early childhood care and education (ECCE) system. As found and detailed in this Needs Assessment, the state’s expansive ECCE system points to a strong commitment to supporting young children and their families. Yet, the scale of the ECCE system, cross-sector configuration, range of funding mechanisms, and different statutory and regulatory authorities contribute to fragmentation and inequities in terms of access, affordability, workforce, and program quality.

The purpose of this NYSB5 Needs Assessment is to provide a comprehensive view and nuanced understanding of the state’s ECCE system’s strengths and weakness so that the state can design and build a mixed delivery system (MDS) that is informed by parent voice and provides access to high quality, equitable, and comprehensive ECCE programs and services essential for successful development and lifelong success. Accordingly, this Needs Assessment is informed by approximately 2,500 early childhood administrators, direct care staff, parents, policymakers, and stakeholders in NYS.

This NYSB5 Needs Assessment examines the current availability, accessibility, and quality of the ECCE system and the possibility of a MDS where more than one funding stream is used to enhance or expand services for children and families, especially as it pertains to vulnerable or underserved populations. It identifies areas of success and promise, and analyzes areas in need of improvement. As described in this report, NYS is actively engaged in a number of innovative, cross-sector initiatives to break down silos; yet, much work remains to ensure that efforts are not duplicated and program efficiency and quality are increased.

Recommended Citation

Center for Human Services Research, University at Albany, "New York State Birth Through Five (NYSB5) Preschool Development Grant Needs Assessment Report" (2019). Education & Early Childhood Development Reports and Research Briefs. 5.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/chsr-eecd-reports-and-briefs/5