DCC Welcomes NYS Labor Commissioner for Tour

POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess Community College (DCC) welcomed New York State Commissioner of Labor Roberta Reardon on Monday, March 9, for a tour of DCC’s child care facilities, highlighting DCC’s role in expanding access to early childhood education and supporting student parents and the regional workforce.

Commissioner Reardon and her team visited DCC’s Louis Greenspan Daycare Center, where the Commissioner led story time with universal pre-kindergarten students. The tour continued past the June Rousch Pierson Lab Nursery School, where DCC early childhood education students gain hands-on experience working with young children alongside a master teacher.

DCC’s early childhood education students, faculty, staff, parents, DAY ONE Early Learning Community members and Commissioner Reardon then participated in an hour-long roundtable discussion about the need for quality early childhood education to support parenting students and working parents.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Access to affordable child care is not just a family issue, it’s an economic one. At the New York State Department of Labor, we are committed to removing barriers that prevent New Yorkers from successfully participating in the workforce. Dutchess Community College is doing its part by providing reliable care to Hudson Valley families while also educating the Early Childhood Education workforce of tomorrow to meet regional needs. I applaud Governor Hochul for continuing to advance tangible solutions that help families and communities statewide.”

The visit wrapped up with a thoughtful conversation between the Commissioner, child care providers, students in DCC’s early childhood education program, and parents of young children at the Greenspan Daycare. DCC’s Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness Susan Rogers said the College was honored to welcome the Commissioner for a tour.
“Child care is essential infrastructure for a strong workforce,” said Rogers. “By supporting student parents and training the next generation of early childhood educators, DCC is helping strengthen families, expand opportunity and meet a critical workforce need in our region.”

Access to reliable child care plays a critical role in student success, particularly for adult learners and student parents pursuing degrees and workforce training. Currently, DCC offers child care for children ages 18 months through five years. In partnership with DAY ONE Early Learning Community, the College offers course credits for apprentices pursuing early childhood education credentials, forming a unique partnership in the state.

DCC President Peter Grant Jordan said, “Huge thanks to Governor Hochul and Commissioner Reardon, who acknowledge that child care, housing and transportation are the keys to fueling a thriving economy in our region and across the State of New York. The Commissioner’s focus on child care along with support from the Governor can help us eliminate those barriers that prevent parents from pursuing credentials that lead to better job prospects while caring for their families and our regional workforce.”

Support from community organizations and the state has been critical in DCC’s growth of these services. Beginning in fall 2026, DCC anticipates expanding services to include care for sixteen infants as young as six weeks old. The expansion, along with key safety upgrades, is supported by several community and state partners, including Astor Services Head Start and Assemblymember Didi Barrett, who presented DCC with a $1 million check in Dec. 2025. The State University of New York (SUNY) also recently awarded DCC $100,000 to expand child care services into the evening, helping remove a key barrier for students who are balancing college, work and parenting responsibilities.