BILL NUMBER:S5650A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commissioner of
education to evaluate and report on early childhood education in day
care centers

PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
This bill would direct the Commissioner of the
New York State Education Department to issue a report on early
childhood education in children ages zero to five years old in
daycare settings.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends Section 305 of the education law to
require the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department
to issue a report by December 31, 2011 regarding early childhood
education in daycare settings.

Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
There are over 1.2 million children in New York State
under the age of five. Approximately 500,000 of these children are in
regulated care and 56,000 children in informal care. There are
              

approximately 51,000 children in Head Start and Early Head Start
serves approximately 5,700 children and expectant mothers. Over
67,000 preschool children with disabilities are in special education
programs and services.
There are 152 registered nursery schools serving children throughout
New York State. In prekindergarten settings, there are over 102,000
children in eligible agencies.

The New York State Education Department (SED) currently has authority
over education institutions serving children ages three and up.
Oversight over child care. institutions under three years of age is
done by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services
(OCFS). While OCFS' regulations speak to the health and safety of a
child, there is no education component. In New York State, early
education is not mandated before age 6, but longitudinal studies have
shown that children enrolled in structured, early education meet
their developmental millstones at a significantly higher rate,
compared to those who do not receive early education who often
flounder by age 21. Learning begins in infancy and all children
should be entitled to be in a clean, safe, healthy environment which
will stimulate their growth emotionally, academically and physically.
Additionally, it has been found that children enrolled in structured
daycare have better mental health outcomes in the long term, than do
their counterparts in more informal daycare settings.

The lack of education requirements and oversight by SED of all
children starting at birth is of grave concern to a child's
development and preparedness for kindergarten and beyond. At the
national level a new grant program has been proposed, the Early
Learning Challenge Fund, to eliminate the school readiness gap and


provide all children from birth to age 5 with the early start needed
to succeed in school and life. In response to the proposed grants,
the New York State Board of Regents created an Early Childhood
Workgroup to examine the current system and make policy
recommendations to:
increase New York's chances for access to the new Federal grants; and,
elevate all children's school readiness regardless of setting.

The study required in this bill will examine key issues in and
roadblocks in overseeing a child care system that places a strong
emphasis on education.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill would take effect immediately.

                                BILL NUMBER:S5650B

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commissioner of
education to evaluate and report on early childhood education in day
care centers

PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
This bill would direct the Commissioner of the
New York State Education Department to issue a report on early
childhood education in children ages zero to five years old in
daycare settings.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends Section 305 of the education law to
require the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department
to issue a report by December 31, 2011 regarding early childhood
education in daycare settings.

Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
There are over 1.2 million children in New York State
under the age of five. Approximately 500,000 of these children are in
regulated care and 56,000 children in informal care. There are
              

approximately 51,000 children in Head Start and Early Head Start
serves approximately 5,700 children and expectant mothers. Over
67,000 preschool children with disabilities are in special education
programs and services.
There are 152 registered nursery schools serving children throughout
New York State. In prekindergarten settings, there are over 102,000
children in eligible agencies.

The New York State Education Department (SED) currently has authority
over education institutions serving children ages three and up.
Oversight over child care. institutions under three years of age is
done by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services
(OCFS). While OCFS' regulations speak to the health and safety of a
child, there is no education component. In New York State, early
education is not mandated before age 6, but longitudinal studies have
shown that children enrolled in structured, early education meet
their developmental millstones at a significantly higher rate,
compared to those who do not receive early education who often
flounder by age 21. Learning begins in infancy and all children
should be entitled to be in a clean, safe, healthy environment which
will stimulate their growth emotionally, academically and physically.
Additionally, it has been found that children enrolled in structured
daycare have better mental health outcomes in the long term, than do
their counterparts in more informal daycare settings.

The lack of education requirements and oversight by SED of all
children starting at birth is of grave concern to a child's
development and preparedness for kindergarten and beyond. At the
national level a new grant program has been proposed, the Early
Learning Challenge Fund, to eliminate the school readiness gap and


provide all children from birth to age 5 with the early start needed
to succeed in school and life. In response to the proposed grants,
the New York State Board of Regents created an Early Childhood
Workgroup to examine the current system and make policy
recommendations to:
increase New York's chances for access to the new Federal grants; and,
elevate all children's school readiness regardless of setting.

The study required in this bill will examine key issues in and
roadblocks in overseeing a child care system that places a strong
emphasis on education.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill would take effect immediately.

                                BILL NUMBER:S5650C

TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commis-
sioner of education to evaluate and report on early childhood education
in day care centers

PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
This bill would direct the Commissioner of the New York State Education
Department to issue a report on early childhood education in children
ages zero to five years old in daycare settings.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends Section 305 of the education law to require
the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department to issue a
report by December 31, 2011 regarding early childhood education in
daycare settings.

Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
There are over 1.2 million children in New York State under the age of
five. Approximately 500,000 of these children are in regulated care and
56,000 children in informal care. There are approximately 51,000 chil-
dren in Head Start and Early Head Start serves approximately 5,700 chil-
dren and expectant mothers. Over 67,000 preschool children with disabil-
              

ities are in special education programs and services.  There are 152
registered nursery schools serving children throughout New York State.
In prekindergarten settings, there are over 102,000 children in eligible
agencies.

The New York State Education Department (SED) currently has authority
over education institutions serving children ages three and up.  Over-
sight over child care. institutions under three years of age is done by
the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). While
OCFS' regulations speak to the health and safety of a child, there is no
education component. In New York State, early education is not mandated
before age 6, but longitudinal studies have shown that children enrolled
in structured, early education meet their developmental millstones at a
significantly higher rate, compared to those who do not receive early
education who often flounder by age 21. Learning begins in infancy and
all children should be entitled to be in a clean, safe, healthy environ-
ment which will stimulate their growth emotionally, academically and
physically. Additionally, it has been found that children enrolled in
structured daycare have better mental health outcomes in the long term,
than do their counterparts in more informal daycare settings.

The lack of education requirements and oversight by SED of all children
starting at birth is of grave concern to a child's development and
preparedness for kindergarten and beyond. At the national level a new
grant program has been proposed, the Early Learning Challenge Fund, to

eliminate the school readiness gap and provide all children from birth
to age 5 with the early start needed to succeed in school and life. In
response to the proposed grants, the New York State Board of Regents
created an Early Childhood Workgroup to examine the current system and
make policy recommendations to: increase New York's chances for access
to the new Federal grants; and, elevate all children's school readiness
regardless of setting.

The study required in this bill will examine key issues in and road-
blocks in overseeing a child care system that places a strong emphasis
on education.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill would take effect immediately.

                                BILL NUMBER:S5650D

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
in relation to directing the department of education, the office of
children and family services and the department of health to identify
and review standards, guidelines and criteria for education,
development or learning in programs

PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
This bill would direct the New York State Education Department, the
New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and the New
York State Department of Health to issue a report on early childhood
education in children ages zero to five years old in daycare settings.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill requires the State Education Department, the
Office of Children and Family Services, and the Department of Health
to each review existing standards, guidelines and criteria for
education, development, or learning in programs under their
respective jurisdiction for children from birth to age five including
day care centers.

Section 2 of the bill outlines the requirements for the State
Education Department, the Office of Children and Family Services and
the Department of Health's report.
              

Section 3 of the bill is the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
There are over 1.2 million children in New York State under the age of
five. Approximately 500,000 of these children are in regulated care
and 56,000 children in informal care. There are approximately 51,000
children in Head Start and Early Head Start serves approximately
5,700 children and expectant mothers. Over 67,000 preschool children
with disabilities are in special education programs and services.
There are 152 registered nursery schools serving children throughout
New York State.
In prekindergarten settings, there are over 102,000 children in
eligible agencies.

The New York State Education Department (SED) currently has authority
over education institutions serving children ages three and up.
Oversight over child care institutions under three years of age is
done by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services
(OCFS). While OCFS' regulations speak to the health and safety of a
child, there is no education component. In New York State, early
education is not mandated before age 6, but longitudinal studies have
shown that children enrolled in structured, early education meet
their developmental millstones at a significantly higher rate,
compared to those who do not receive early
education who often flounder by age 21. Learning begins in infancy and
all children should be entitled to be in a clean, safe, healthy
environment which will stimulate their growth emotionally,
academically and physically. Additionally, it has been found that
children enrolled in structured daycare have better mental health


outcomes in the long term, than do their counterparts in more
informal daycare settings.

The lack of education requirements and oversight by SED of all
children starting at birth is of grave concern to a child's
development and preparedness for kindergarten and beyond. At the
national level a new grant program has been proposed, the Early
Learning Challenge Fund, to eliminate the school readiness gap and
provide all children from birth to age 5 with the early start needed
to succeed in school and life. In response to the proposed grants,
the New York State Board of Regents created an Early Childhood
Workgroup to examine the current system and make policy
recommendations to: increase New York's chances for access to the new
Federal grants; and, elevate all children's school readiness
regardless of setting.

The study required in this bill will examine key issues in and
roadblocks in overseeing a child care system that places a strong
emphasis on education.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill would take effect immediately.