Operations and Policy: Supporting a High-Quality Environment

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We are committed to providing policy and operational resources that support programs in delivering high-quality early care and education. This page brings together key guidance, tools, and resources to support program operations, quality, health and safety, and other core requirements.

Policy Handbooks

Our policy handbooks provide operational guidance and requirements to support early childhood programs in delivering high-quality services. They address key areas including health and safety, staffing, facilities and materials, program operations, and other requirements specific to each program setting.

For questions about the guidance provided, please contact EarlyChildhoodPolicy@schools.nyc.gov.

EFQ Supporting Resources

The Early Childhood Framework for Quality (EFQ) outlines the principles and practices that guide high-quality early childhood education across NYCPS programs and settings. These resources support programs in understanding and using the EFQ to strengthen practice and promote consistent expectations for quality.

For questions or additional support, please contact your DECE support team.

Statement on Positive Behavior Guidance

Early childhood programs play an important role in supporting children’s social-emotional development and creating environments where all children feel safe, supported, and included. Programs should use developmentally appropriate, strengths-based approaches to understand and respond to children’s behavior, in partnership with families.

The Statement on Positive Behavior Guidance provides expectations and guidance for supporting children's behavior, including requirements related to exclusionary practices. Children in NYCPS-affiliated early childhood programs may not be expelled, suspended, or have their schedules shortened or otherwise reduced because of their behavior.

 

Multi-Factor Authentication for WES

Users of the Web Enrollment System (WES) are required to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) when logging in. MFA requires users to verify their identity through a prompt on their smartphone or by responding to a phone call.

Before using MFA for the first time, WES users must enroll in MFA by following the MFA Enrollment Instructions. 

Additional step-by-step guidance is available in the following videos

Programs must have a valid WES username and password before enrolling in MFA. If you do not remember your password or it is no longer active, email missecurityadmin@dss.nyc.gov with the subject line “Password request.” Include your WES username and a cell phone number in the body of the email. You will receive a temporary password by email or text and will be prompted to change it when completing MFA enrollment.

For questions or technical support with MFA enrollment, contact WES.MFASupport@strongschools.nyc. If you are experiencing a technical issue, include your WES username, a description of the issue, and a screenshot of any error message.

 

Administration & Finance

These resources support early childhood programs with key administrative and financial processes, including enrollment and attendance, budgets, contracts, invoicing, personnel documentation, and other operational requirements. 

Health & Safety

NYCEECs provide a safe and healthy environment as the foundation for children as they learn and grow. These resources will help support programs’ efforts towards this goal.