This year, Harbor Child Care was proud to play an active role in the UPK Collaboration Council, a group created by the New York State Office of Early Learning and the Office of Children and Family Services. The goal? To bring public schools and community-based early childhood providers together to improve how we collaborate on Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) across the state.
Throughout the year, we met regularly, both online and virtually, to have honest and solution-focused conversations about what is working in UPK and what still needs attention. The council included educators, agency leaders, and child care providers from across New York, each bringing a unique perspective to the table.
In May, the council held its final in-person session to finalize a set of actionable recommendations. We discussed everything from how UPK is funded to the day-to-day instructional and program requirements that shape the children’s experience. We also focused on an issue close to our hearts: teacher qualifications and retention, because the strength of any program begins with the people in it.
Why It Matters
Harbor has always believed in collaboration. Being part of this council gave us the chance to represent the voices of families and educators in our community. It’s our hope that the recommendations developed through this work lead to a stronger, more unified UPK system—one that better supports children, families, and the people who care for them.
