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Emergency & Snow Day Closing Procedure

Emergency & Snow Day Closing Procedure for Center-Based and Family Child Care Networks

Citywide Emergency
Local Emergency Closures
Emergency Closing Procedures for Family Child Care Networks

Citywide Emergency

During inclement weather/other City emergencies, EarlyLearn NYC contractors should listen to official communication from the NYC Mayor’s Office for help in making a determination as to whether they should close their center. Center-based programs should close in accordance to the Mayor’s Office declaring a “City emergency” or the closure of all public schools. In the case of a Citywide emergency, there is no follow-up documentation or reporting of the closure to ACS required.

Local Emergency Closures

“Local emergencies” are defined as conditions that prevent or impede a particular contracted child care program or office from being accessible or providing child care services in a safe and healthy environment under NYC/DOHMH regulations or meeting NYC/DOHMH staffing requirements for the operation of a licensed child care center. In contrast to a Citywide emergency, these are issues or dangerous situations which only affect your individual site’s ability to provide services such as a burst pipe or malfunctioning HVAC system.

  • If a program closes for “local emergency” reasons immediately call (212) 393-5156 or email leaving your name, program name, site location and reason for the local emergency closure.
  • You must also complete ACS ECE Form 9801-E. Download the ACS ECE Form 9801-E.

    Contact ACS within five business days and send via mail to the attention of Ayleen Guzman at ACS Early Care & Education: 66 John Street, 8th Floor New York, NY 10038 OR via email.

  • If this is a facilities-related matter, immediately call the Help Desk at (212) 453-0945 and email.

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Emergency Closing Procedures for Family Child Care Networks

State and City rules and regulations governing Emergency Closings AND Local Emergency Closings do not apply to Family Child Care Networks. In the event that:

  1. the Mayor’s Office declares a “City” emergency and/or announces that all public schools are closed or
  2. severe inclement weather prevents a provider home from opening to serve children on given day

Family Child Care Networks are to implement the following procedures:

  1. Instruct home providers to –
    • notify network immediately if they are unable to open home for service
    • contact families to advise them of the home’s closure; providers should ask families if they require emergency alternate service
    • notify network of any parents requesting emergency alternate service
  2. FCC Networks must contact any parents requesting emergency alternate service and make all attempts possible to arrange for service.

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