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Tell the legislature to invest in essential early learning and child care

Equity starts early

Tell the legislature to invest in essential early learning and child care

To: Members of the Washington State Legislature

We urge you to prioritize additional funding for essential child care and early learning during this legislative session.

The COVID-19 crisis has at once severely undermined Washington’s early learning and child care system, which was already piecemeal and inadequate, and highlighted the critical importance of child care, as parents across the state carry the unprecedented burden of managing both work and their children full time.

71%of Washington residents say balancing work and child care is a very or extremely serious problem.

Over the next few months, the Legislature will have the opportunity to make critical investments in child care and early learning for Washington kids and families.

Better access to affordable, high quality child care won’t only reduce stress on working parents, it will also promote an equitable economic recovery for everyone in Washington.

  • Ensuring essential child care services are available to essential workers
  • Reducing economic and racial disparities made worse by the pandemic
  • Providing every child with the opportunity they need to succeed

76%agree that child care and preschool are essential services that should be available to working families.

As Washington recovers from the pandemic, we can’t afford to leave working families behind.

Please support critical investments in essential early learning and child care services.

68%support increasing state funding to let parents affordably send kids to the early education program of their choice.

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Petition Text

To: Members of the Washington State Legislature

We urge you to prioritize funding for essential child care and early learning during the next legislative session.

The COVID-19 crisis has at once severely undermined Washington’s early learning and child care system, which was already piecemeal and inadequate, and highlighted the critical importance of child care, as parents across the state carry the unprecedented burden of managing both work and their children full time.

See full petition...Read less...

71%of Washington residents say balancing work and child care is a very or extremely serious problem.

Over the next few months, the legislature will have the opportunity to make critical investments in child care and early learning for Washington kids and families.

Better access to affordable, high quality child care won’t only reduce stress on working parents, it will also promote an equitable economic recovery for everyone in Washington:

  • Ensuring essential child care services are available to essential workers;
  • Reducing economic and racial disparities made worse by the pandemic;
  • Providing every child with the opportunity they need to succeed.

76%agree that child care and preschool are essential services that should be available to working families.

As Washington recovers from the pandemic, we can’t afford to leave working families behind.

Please support critical investments in essential early learning and child care services.

68%support increasing state funding to let parents affordably send kids to the early education program of their choice.

What’s at stake for

Children

Families

the economic recovery

child care providers

small businesses

racial and gender equity

Children

Kids deserve equitable care and learning opportunities, especially during times of uncertainty.

Bloomberg
If nearly 1/3
of child care providers closed permanently,
4 million
children would be left without space.

Families

Working parents carry emotional and economic burden without child care.

Forbes
81%
of mothers

said they needed child care in order to be able to do their job.

Economic recovery

Washington can’t get back on track unless parents can get back to work.

Washington Post
1 in 10 workers
are taking care of young kids on their own and will beunlikely to return to work full-time until schools and daycares fully reopen.

Child care providers

Child care providers are reaching record high demand, yet child care centers are closing at an alarming rate.

The Seattle Times
Soon nearly
50%
of child care centers
in the U.S. may be lost, according to the Center for American Progress.

Small businesses

Covid-19 puts a strain on entrepreneurs, forcing tough decisions.

EdSource
The number of women working as child care providers dropped by .25 million since may
representing a 20% drop in employment.

Racial and Gender Equity

The pandemic has exacerbated racial and gender inequities that existed before COVID-19.

Politico
Nationally, 93% of child care workers are women, and 45% are Black, Latino, or Asian. Since February 2020, women have lost a net
5.5 million jobs.

Latest

Apr 3, 2021

Washington Post - From child care to COVID, rising job market faces obstacles

Nearly 2.5 million women lost jobs and stopped looking for work during the pandemic. In most cases, experts say, it was because so many children were suddenly stuck at home, going to school online, and their parents lacked available or affordable child care. Better child care options or more flexible…

Read More

Mar 31, 2021

The Chronicle - Sweeping Childcare Reform Moving in Washington Legislature

Early childhood care and education in the state would see sweeping reform through the expansion of affordable child health and learning services, if a bill in the state Legislature wins approval. “This is a gamechanger for kids and families across our state,” said Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Federal Way, the bill’s…

Read More

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