As a MomsRising member from your district, I am writing to ask for your strong support of the Fair Start for Kids Act (SB 5237). This proposal finally begins to address the child care crisis and makes historic investments in early learning. It is being heard in House Appropriations on Thursday, April 1.
Child care was broken long before COVID with parents paying more than college tuition for infant care, early learning professionals earning less than bellhops, and employee turnover resulting from child care issues costing Washington businesses over $2 billion per year. Over the last year, what was once broken has cracked even further - in fact, at this moment 40% of all child care programs in the state are currently reporting they are at risk of permanent closure. But Washington's early learning system can and must be rebuilt stronger, smarter, and far more equitably than before. The Fair Start for Kids Act is the foundation on which that work should begin.
Washington's families, families like mine, are counting on you to fix the child care crisis. By investing in our early learning system and educators, you are multiplying the power and impact of public funds because quality early education has been proven time and again to have strong and positive impacts for kids, schools, families, communities, businesses, our economy, and the future of our state. Please support the Fair Start for Kids Act.