This op-ed piece for AMNY by CUNY Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost Alicia M. Alvero addresses CUNY’s commitment to early childhood education and the institution's response to the initiatives of Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani, who are implementing universal child care for toddlers from age two. Dr. Alvero mentions the CUNY SPS partnership with New York City’s Workforce Development Corporation and their recent launch of the NYC Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program, which places aspiring child care workers in paid roles while they earn a tuition-free Child Development Associate certificate from CUNY SPS.

CUNY SPS' child development associate certificate program is featured in this Daily News article. In the certificate program, apprentices earn a tuition-free Child Development Associate, or “CDA,” certificate. Dr. Alicia M. Alvero, the executive vice chancellor and university provost, shared her enthusiasm for the program's growth potential. “[It’s] a different credential than the classroom teacher, and there is a very high demand, and will be even more,” Dr. Alvaro told the Daily News. “We are anticipating over 3,800 people may be necessary for the 2-year-old program from the governor and the mayor, and most of those will require CDA. And that CDA credential, we partnered with the School of Professional Studies at CUNY.”

Two new graduate programs at CUNY SPS were highlighted in CUNY News: the Master of Science in Generative AI, and the Master of Arts in Early Childhood and Policy Leadership. As mentioned in CUNY News, both programs support critical priorities for New York State and City, and both will be fully online.