Supporting Families and Strengthening Childcare and Education

Stabilize the childcare workforce by paying wages people can live on

Children benefit from stable relationships with experienced caregivers, and families need classrooms that remain reliably staffed. Paying childcare educators wages they can live on would reduce turnover and help programs retain the skilled people already doing this work. It would also allow providers to open more classrooms as qualified staff become available. Because families cannot absorb tuition increases large enough to cover these wages, New York should provide stable, ongoing public funding for childcare compensation rather than relying on temporary bonuses.

Pay childcare providers what care actually costs

Childcare programs reserve a place for each enrolled child and schedule staff to meet required staffing ratios whether or not every child attends that day. Payments based on enrollment rather than daily attendance would keep funding stable when a child is absent because of illness, a family schedule change, or other common reasons. Rates should also reflect the actual cost of employing staff and operating a safe, high-quality program. This would allow providers to plan their budgets and keep classrooms open.

Expand childcare options through outdoor, nature-based programs

Outdoor, nature-based childcare is a distinct model built around active learning and regular time in nature. Children learn by navigating uneven ground, interacting with plants and animals, building with natural materials, and using their creativity through play. Nature-based programs strengthen motor skills and support self-regulation, problem-solving, and social development. Regular contact with nature also helps children develop familiarity with and care for the natural world. A pilot initiative would enable the State to partner with existing programs to establish standards designed specifically for this childcare model, including safe shelter during severe weather, specialized staff training, and a nature-based curriculum. These standards would then form the foundation for a nature-based childcare licensing pathway and support the launch of programs throughout the state, from rural to urban communities.

Help school staff recognize and respond to mental-health needs

Teachers and school administrators spend much of each day with students during the school year and may observe changes in behavior, attendance, or schoolwork without knowing whether these are signs of a developing mental-health need. Mental-health response training would help them identify warning signs and respond safely in the moment, including using de-escalation when appropriate. It would also prepare them to connect students and families with licensed providers, school-based services, and community resources. Educators would not be expected to diagnose, treat, or counsel students. Their role would be to recognize a concern, help stabilize an immediate situation, and refer the student to qualified care.

Make school funding reflect student need

Every child should have access to strong academic programs and the staff and services they need, regardless of the wealth of their community. Foundation Aid was created to reduce funding inequality between districts that can raise substantial revenue locally and districts that cannot. The formula starts with an estimated cost of educating each student, adjusts this amount to reflect student learning needs and regional costs, and then subtracts what the community is expected to contribute based on its property and income wealth. The Rockefeller Institute reviewed the outdated formula in 2024 and provided specific recommendations for modernizing each part of this calculation. Recommendations ranged from how current poverty data is used to accounting more accurately for students who require additional services. To date, only a few of the recommendations have been implemented. The State should implement the remaining recommendations so districts with limited tax bases receive enough aid to meet their students’ needs.

Accomplishments

Expanded childcare spaces and supported local providers

I secured $4.2 million to expand Coddington Road Community Center, helping add up to 48 permanent childcare spots and more room for school-age care. This expansion responded to a waiting list that had grown to roughly 340 families. I also secured $100,000 for the Child Development Council of Central New York to train and support current providers and help new providers through the licensing process. Earlier, while serving on the Tompkins County Legislature, I developed and funded a small-grant program for home-based childcare providers.

Expanded youth training and year-round recreation at GIAC

I secured $750,000 to renovate and expand GIAC’s historic Red and White Café. The café will become the center of a youth development program offering teens and young adults hands-on training in culinary arts and entrepreneurship, along with education and employment opportunities.

I also secured $13 million to rebuild and expand the Alex Haley Municipal Pool, bring it up to ADA standards, add modern locker rooms, and construct a movable, energy-efficient enclosure. The pool currently serves more than 12,000 visitors each summer. The enclosure will make swimming lessons, recreation, and youth employment available throughout the year.