Child care is essential, and it is time for the Mayor and DC Council to fully fund it.

Every child in the District of Columbia deserves a strong start in life, and every family deserves access to high-quality, affordable child care. We can make care affordable while ensuring that the educators and program directors who care for and educate our children receive fair pay and benefits.

Investing in families and workers is a win-win for the District. When we support our people and small businesses, like child care programs, we strengthen communities and the local economy. Almost all early educators and program directors in the District are Black and brown women. Paying them fair wages and providing strong benefits is not only the right thing to do, it is a matter of racial and economic justice, and it’s also good for the economy. Supporting educators strengthens the workforce, helps families thrive, and ensures children receive an early education that pays off throughout life.

Unfortunately, too many families still struggle to find and afford child care, while the educators and directors who make it possible often do not receive the wages and benefits they deserve. Like access to health care, affordable housing, and good schools, child care is essential infrastructure for the District to thrive. Fully funding child care makes it accessible and equitable for families, supports children’s development, and honors the professionals who make it possible.

The District has taken important steps toward this goal, but much more remains to be done. We must protect the investments already made and fully fund child care to make this promise a reality. Without sustained and expanded investment, programs will struggle to recruit and retain qualified educators and directors, families will continue to face sky-high costs, often more than what many pay for housing, and too many children will be left without access to early learning opportunities.

That's why we are calling on you as the Mayor and members of DC Council to fully fund child care in the District, because every family deserves access to affordable child care, and every educator and program director deserves fair wages, strong benefits, and the recognition they deserve.