Tell Governor Brown and the CA Legislature: Working families should not have to choose between a job and affordable childcare!

On Thursday May 11th, Governor Brown released his proposed May Revise budget and made a significant step forward for kids and families in our Golden State. He is moving forward with investments in early learning which will increase the number of children served in our state preschool program and increase provider reimbursement rates to keep them in line with the increase in California’s minimum wage.

While these are welcome changes, we know that they are not enough to meet the changing needs of California’s families. Nearly half of our state’s infants and toddlers are from families who are struggling to make ends meet, and it’s estimated that six out of seven children eligible for subsidized child care in California did not receive services.

It’s painfully clear that our kids and families need a boost. While Governor’s budget will increase the number of children served in our state preschool program, it fails to fully meet the need for subsidized child care and does not update 10-year-old income eligibility guidelines. Updating the 10-year-old income eligibility guidelines would give today’s working families a much needed boost by ensuring that while they experience the benefits from increased wages, they will also still be able to access quality, affordable child care opportunities.

Join me by thanking the Governor for renewing his commitment to increasing investments in early learning and urging the Governor and Legislature to improve access to child care by updating income eligibility guidelines in the final budget.

Dear Governor Brown and the California Legislature:

Thank you for renewing your commitment to increased investments in early learning. Moms and families across California were delighted to see that the proposed funding “pause” on early learning spending in January’s budget was reversed in the May revision budget proposal! This is great news for families, kids and providers who will now benefit from increased access to California’s state preschool program. This proposal will also help improve compensation for our hard working early learning providers as California’s minimum wage increases.

However, despite this step in the right direction, we know that this investment will not be adequate to meet the needs of California families for affordable, high-quality childcare. We urge you to make the investments needed to address the fact that six out of seven children eligible for subsidized child care in California did not receive services. Moreover, we ask you to update 10-year-old income eligibility guidelines that would give today’s working families a much needed boost by ensuring that while they experience the benefits from increased wages, they will also still be able to access quality, affordable child care opportunities. As you both work to finalize the state budget this June, please remember that no parent should be prevented from working or taking a promotion because they cannot find affordable childcare.

Thank you,

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