Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said the city is working on feeding distribution centers to continue to offer meals to students in the days and weeks moving forward. That is why we have created Regional Enrichment Centers—places where the children of these front-line workers can be safely cared for while their parents continue to serve the city in this time of need. Andrew Cuomo's head? “I understand why they did this but we have nurses who could be in hospitals right now sitting in a classroom.”. The approximately 100 RECs around the city each offer remote instruction; three hot meals a day; and childcare; along with art, … A teacher working in a Bronx enrichment center said that he and his colleagues are eager to assist city kids amid the system shutdown. Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza said during the press conference that the uptake for the RECs hasn’t been “as robust” as anticipated -- which is why he and the mayor are expanding qualifications to other essential workers. Staff who work at Regional Enrichment Centers or at feeding distribution sites -- which give three “grab and go” meals to kids across the city -- can also apply for care at RECs. Staff members at the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene who weren’t previously covered will qualify, as well as essential staff at the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Probation. With city schools shuttered due to coronavirus concerns, the city rushed to provide havens for the children of essential emergency workers and established 93 centers to fill the breach. All rights reserved (About Us). “If they want to take advantage of it and we find a lot of pickup on it, we’re going to be able to have the capacity we have now,” he said. On this page, you'll find the forms you might need to enroll in a DOE public school. Those who are serving in these vital roles and have no other means of childcare can enroll in New York City Department of Education's Regional Enrichment Centers (RECs). If we find that there is not as much use of it, we’ll of course be able to compress it if we need to. By using this site, you consent to the placement and use of these cookies. Staten Island parents on remote learning: Teacher, school support ‘amazing', First responder child care centers open with ‘a lot of precautions’, Mayor: NYC schools may be closed for rest of 2019-2020 academic year, Coronavirus: AP exams will be online, shortened to 45 minutes, Schools closed: Here’s where NYC students can get free meals, Coronavirus: Several Staten Island schools announce confirmed cases, Wagner College postpones commencement due to coronavirus, 10 tips for families as NYC schools move to online learning. The City of New York is now providing childcare for all essential personnel who are critical to the COVID-19 response efforts. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Children will be offered a site based on their home address and their parent/caregiver’s role providing essential services. They are expected to be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and each room will have a maximum of 12 children supported by at least one adult. How prepared are teachers, parents for remote learning? A WeChat group of the city’s school nurses also revealed widespread frustration with the current deployment and lack of activity. But the important point is we will grow in whatever direction, according to the level of need, to make sure those essential workers can get to work and be really comfortable about where their kids are and what they’re doing.”. Essential staff at the Staten Island Ferry and NYC Ferry will join other transit workers in having the ability to bring children to regional centers. Parents drop off their kids at a Regional Enrichment Center located at the Staten Island School of Civic Leadership, Graniteville. DOE ‘enrichment centers’ for kids of emergency workers full of adults, short on children By Selim Algar.