The investments that could sustain the child care system forever

The vast majority of voters (89%) say they want elected officials to ensure working parents have access to quality child care, but politicians are avoiding discussing real solutions to child care access and affordability — because the system appears to be in an intractable crisis. We will never be able to transform our nation’s child care system to ensure equitable access and affordability without significant, sustained investments – at the federal, state and local levels – in both educator compensation and capital infrastructure costs that child care providers face.

As an educator and executive director of an early care and education provider for infants, toddlers and preschoolers in New Haven, I know firsthand that the child care system is broken. Families pay too much for child care and educators don’t earn a living wage because the actual cost of care is more than most people can afford.