To ensure all children have a strong start and all educators can afford to stay in the profession, I ask members of JFC to please make early childhood care and education a priority in the budget. Build on the governor’s recommended budget and expand access to serve more families and ensure programs are high quality and support the following:

Department of Education: Increase access to state-funded pre-K (ECAP)

1. Increase eligibility to serve families up to at least 300% of the Federal Poverty Level

1. Provide infrastructure funds to expand early care and education capacity through grants and by allowing public school capital funding to cover pre-K

Department of Health and Social Services: Increase access to child care (Purchase of Care) for more families

1. Increase per-child Purchase of Care rates to at least the federal benchmark of the 75th percentile so programs can open more classrooms and increase staff pay and benefits

1. Expand eligibility to serve families up to at least 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (making about 5,000 more families eligible)

While this request is focused on FY27 budget, the state needs to make longer-term, transformational investments that expand access to all Delaware families.

Investing in early childhood education isn't just a budget line item; it’s an investment in our children's development and our state’s economic future. Please help us support the teachers who give so much to our kids.

Sincerely,

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