Schools and Child Care

New York City Schools

The New York City public school system is pretty complicated. Fortunately InsideSchools.org, a project of The Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, has extensive information to help you understand the system and provide help with finding a school for your child. Begin with their helpful New to New York City Schools. Then use their school finder to understand schools by neighborhood. This may also help in determining where you choose to live. Elementary school children typically go to their local school. Middle school children may go farther afield and high schoolers have many schools to choose from. 

Private nurseries and schools can be very expensive.     

Family and Center-Based Child Care Services

New York City regulates both family and center-based child care. Because of the limited availability of center-based care for children under two, many families rely on family or in-home care. In lower Manhattan, waitlists for centers average over a year, so if you seek this type of care, you should get on the waitlist early. Centers are accustomed to accepting applications from expectant and adopting parents. 

• Family Child Care. A regulated family child care provider takes care of three to six children in their own home or apartment. In group family care, the provider and an assistant cares for seven to twelve children. These settings serve children from infant through school age.

• Infant and Pre-School Center-Based Programs. Center-based care is known by several names, including day care center, child care center, early childhood program. These programs often provide a full day of care, generally from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Partial-day or school-day programs, often referred to as nursery schools, are also available. 

• School-Age Center-Based Programs. Care is provided for children before and after school hours. Some programs, such as summer camps, also provide care during school vacations and holidays.

• Additional resources

  • New York City Child Care Services

  • ChildCareCenters.us, database for family and center-based child care 

Babysitters 

Whether it's for an evening out, a last minute emergency, or to make a meeting at an odd time, sometimes you just need someone who can care for your child. How do you find the person you need?

• Ask around. Your colleagues and others can share the names of sitters or refer you to other parents for suggestions. Speak to parents or former employers for information about the candidate's experience, trustworthiness, and fit with your family.

• Hire a New School student. Visit Career Services for information on posting positions on Handshake, the New School internship and job board. Questions? Email careerservices@newschool.edu 

• Look online or consider joining a babysitting coop. Please note the inclusion of these resources does not consitute a New School endorsement:

  • Sittercity

  • care.com 

  • SittingAround, babysitting coop 

  • Frugal Mama, some tips on arranging babysitting swaps 

In-Home Child Care Providers

In-home care is care provided by an individual that you employ to work in your home. Caregivers are available to either 'live in' or 'love out' and come to your home each day. Is hiring a nanny, au pair, or other in-home care provider for your family? 

Consider the costs

Caregivers can either live in your home or come as needed. Full-time caregivers in New York City earn about $950 a week and part-time caregivers usually earn $20-25 an hour, but these days, it could be much more. Full-time caregivers are also eligible for social security and health benefits, so you will need to be sure to pay taxes and decide to cover the cost of health care. Meals, transportation, outings with your child, or other expenses may also contribute to the cost of hiring an in-home child caregiver.

Determine your needs

Before advertising for a caregiver, consider which days and hours you will need to be covered and whether that schedule will remain consistent over time or will change. Are you also looking for someone who can provide household services such as laundry or shopping? 

Start your search

After identifying what you need in an in-home child caregiver, you can work through an agency or post your position in local newspapers and online resources. You may be interested in the New York Times article, 'Finding a Nanny Who Fits Your Family'. New York magazine's Family Guide website also offers a listing of agencies for nannies and au pairs.

The parent-run MommyBites is a site for finding nannies and nanny shares through their New York NannyBoard. iParentingLife.com compares two of the largest sites. 

Make an offer

Once you find someone who fits your family's needs, be sure to check references. When you are ready to hire, prepare an employment contract or written agreement in which you clearly state terms of employment, hours, time off (vacation, sick days), and responsibilities. If you have worked through an agency, the agency may have contracts for your use. Or use an online nanny sample contract such as these or these. When you and the caregiver sign the contract, you make certain that both of you are clear on the terms and that the relationship will be treated professionally.