Albania Jimenez testifies on early literacy and quality in 2K

Hello.

Thank you, Chair Gutierrez and the members of the subcommittee.

My name is Albania Jimenez.

I'm the Chief of Advocacy and Community Mobilization at Literacy in Community, or LINK.

For 30 years, LINK has worked with families and educators during the years when the Foundations for Literacy are first built.

We are incredibly excited about 2K.

But today, I...

I want to ask the council to look beyond one measure of success, the number of seats we create.

A seat gives a family access.

What happens in that seat determines its impact.

Two years olds are building language, relationships, curiosity, and foundations.

They will eventually need to read.

Every conversation, song, story, and back-and-forth interaction with a trusted adult helps build those foundations.

So, as 2K expands, elderly literacy should be part of how New York City defines quality.

That requires investing in the adults surrounding each child.

Educators and family child care providers need ongoing professional learning and coaching in child development and early literacy, not just one-time training.

And families need to be part of that strategy.

Parents are children's first teachers.

What happens in 2K should connect with what happens at home, with practical multilingual support that gives families the tools to continue learning through the day.

Finally, NYCPS should leverage community organizations like us that already have

expertise, and trusted relationships

with families to help provide these supports.

Universal child care can make our city more affordable.

Universal literacy can make opportunity more equitable.

2K gives us the chance to advance both.

Council should ensure that we measure not only how many 2K6 we create, but the quality and opportunity we create within them.

Let's get this right from the beginning.

Thank you.

Just gold star for enthusiasm.

Thank you, Elmania.

Thank you.

Betty?