Parents, educators demand affordable, quality child care in Worcester – Worcester Telegram & Gazette
By Henry Schwan
WORCESTER — Andree Gonzalez could not afford child care for her two sons if it wasn’t for the financial help she receives from state vouchers.
“I lucked out,” Gonzalez said while attending a Saturday-morning rally at Elm Park to show support for the so-called Common Start bill.
The bill would provide free child care to families who qualify. The exact price tag for taxpayers is unclear, but one activist said it could cost billions of dollars.
The measure is scheduled to be taken up Tuesday at the State House by the Joint Committee on Education.
Those who attended the rally said it’s critical the state Legislature pass the bill to provide access for all Massachusetts families to affordable, high-quality early education and child care.
“Early education and care are just as much a public good as K-12 education,” said Liz Sheehan Castro, coordinator of the Central Massachusetts chapter of the Common Start Coalition.