Dear Honorable Members of The Council of the District of Columbia,
The introduction of the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund in 2022 provided a crucial lifeline to the early care & education workforce; however, the recent proposed cuts would harm educators, young children, and families. The ECE Pay Equity Fund was a nationwide exemplary model for investing in the children’s earliest years. On behalf of the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), I urge you to reject the proposed budget cut and to fully support the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund.
Since 1982, NAFCC, a nationwide non-profit organization, has been supporting family child care throughout the country as educators make the intentional choice to offer high-quality early care and education in their homes. Across the country, 6 million children between 0 and 5 are cared for in a home-based child care setting (also called family child care). NAFCC supports and leverages a nationwide network of over 4000 providers and partners in expanding and promoting the power of family child care. There are over 60 DC-based FCC educators who are members of NAFCC or our DC affiliate, the DC Family Child Care Association. These child care owners can provide crucial early learning & care to over 360 DC families.
Unfortunately, in a recent NAFCC member survey 32% of respondents stated their income DOES NOT allow them to cover expenses like rent, utilities, and supplies (NAFCC Annual Member Survey, 2023). The low pay is a contributing factor to a decades-long decline in the supply of licensed home-based child care, leaving families with fewer options for high-quality early education. It is not acceptable that early educators who care for our youngest children often do not make enough to care for their own families.
Family child care educators, as well as all early educators, ensure families have access to early learning programs that enable them to work and learn and provide their children with affirming, loving, and enriching environments. The experiences children have early in life play a crucial role in the development of the brain and lifelong learning. We must ensure early educators are paid life-sustaining wages and the true cost of care so they can continue to provide quality care and education in their communities.
The Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund is a nation-leading innovative model that supports families, young children, and early childhood educators alike. Cutting this program erodes trust locally and nationally at a time when it is most needed. We cannot balance budgets on the backs of young children and those who care for them every day. The Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund is a vital program that must be fully funded.
Sincerely,
Erica Phillips
Executive Director
National Association for Family Child Care
