Lack Of Access To Childcare Remains A Key Obstacle For CUNY’s Student Parents

On Thursday, September 10, 2020, the Committees on Women & Gender Equity and Higher Education, chaired by uptown Council Members Helen Rosenthal and Inez Barron respectively.

They will conduct an oversight hearing regarding the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the availability of affordable childcare throughout the City University of NY (CUNY) system.

Thursday’s hearing begins at 10am and will be live-streamed here.

With an estimated 25,000 undergraduate and graduate student parents, CUNY is an important microcosm for understanding childcare needs generally across New York City.

With an estimated 25,000 undergraduate and graduate student parents, CUNY is an important microcosm for understanding childcare needs generally across New York City. Access to childcare has become even more critical during the pandemic as neighborhood childcare centers and schools have been closed for public health reasons.

Lack of childcare services can delay or even prevent graduation, leading to increased student debt, limited employment opportunities, and other long-term issues.

Lack of childcare is one of the main barriers that women with young children face in accessing higher education — exacerbating gender-based economic inequality. Lack of childcare services can delay or even prevent graduation, leading to increased student debt, limited employment opportunities, and other long-term issues.

This is the third hearing on childcare services at CUNY in this legislative session. Data conveyed during Thursday’s hearing will be an important step toward ensuring that student parents –particularly working and/or low-income parents– have an equal opportunity to achieve success.