One Brooklyn
January 27, 2020
“To combat the inequality gap, we have to close the gap where it first appears — in the beginning of a child’s life. Eighty percent of brain development occurs in the period between ages zero to three. To ensure we are setting up our children for future success, our City must encourage centralized coordination between families, pediatricians, and our departments of health and education to effectively track child development and navigate the many options for early intervention service. We also have to facilitate on-the-ground outreach to new families that is culturally competent, focused on everything from pre-natal care to the basics on stimulating a baby’s mind. And finally, we must heavily invest in professional development for a new generation of early childhood educators, studying from the best up-to-date brain science research.
“Those who tend to our youngest and most vulnerable should not live in poverty; they should be provided a living wage commensurate with the tailored professional development they receive. I commend Bank Street College on the release of this important report that points the way forward on early childhood development, our greatest opportunity and obligation to go upstream and pinpoint the root causes of our city’s challenges.”
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