Joan K. - Educator
Desmond C. - Advocate
Cheryl M. - Educator
Amy O. - Advocate
Jason F. - Parent
“We would love to have more children but currently the cost of child care is preventing that. As it stands, we will have to wait until our daughter can attend public schools before we could consider responsibly having another child. The cost of daycare is literally the only thing preventing us from growing our family.”
Shaitia S. - Parent
“I was a teen single mom with no voucher and no clue how to pay for daycare. I've had to work multiple job just to pay for childcare, let alone rent, food and car payments, etc. The network for finding childcare is just not there.”
Shannon R. - Parent
“Having affordable high quality childcare would reduce stress associated with being parents to little ones. Instead of paying for childcare, we'd be able to save for college and begin providing even more stimulating, growth development opportunities for our blossoming daughter.”
Yolanda C. - Parent
“Child care means that I can attend my doctor’s appointment and my wife can work. Without reliable child care and transportation to and from home, I have to cancel appointments or just take him with me, or my wife has to take him to work with her.”
Benicio - Parent
“We have a 15 month old. My wife has not been able to get back to work since. Affordable childcare would literally mean i can actually make a living. It is essential to making a living.”
Darlene - Parent
“Childcare plays a huge role in my household. It is the only way I am able to work a full time job as my family lives out of state. Two of the biggest struggles I deal with are the timing/payment of after school or daycare programs even with a voucher.”
Heather P. - Parent
“I think having more qualified early educators would solve an abundant amount of issues currently going on. One thing I think so many don't realize is that many of these kids are in a daycare or school more than they are home. This means these teachers have a huge part in helping to mold our children's ultimate being.”
Sophia - Parent
“I struggled a lot when my children were smaller because I did not have child care and I had to go to work to support my family. I was really struggling to support my family as a big amount of my check went to babysitter and taxi. Later when I couldn't keep paying a babysitter I had to quit my job.”
Katherine L. - Parent
“Compared to many other developed countries, the United States trails behind when it comes to affordable, high quality early childhood education. It’s time we fix this by providing ALL families access to affordable, holistic, child-centered early education.If I had access to high-quality, affordable early education and child care that would mean less of a mental and a financial burden would be placed on my family. My partner and I could return to work content knowing that our child is in good hands, and can therefore focus on thriving at work. We wouldn’t have to consider sacrificing our way of life or possibly not working at all to care for our child.”
Sandra M. - Parent
“Affordability is the biggest issue for me. I know how important it is for young children to go to early educations programs and it’s not fair, that if you can’t afford it, your child can miss out.”
Kaiya R. - Educator
“I think our system should be fixed because we do a lot and we never get recognized for what we do. If you think about it, teachers teach everyone what you need in your life and they help you grow.”
Alexia B. - Educator
“Childcare educators should be paid way more than we are. We help secure the building blocks of a child's education which helps them throughout their lives. Without us almost nobody would be where they are today. Teachers are not getting paid enough soon they will be short on staff then who will teach them? It's scientifically proven that for younger children it's super important to teach them early.”
Ellian M. - Educator
“Educators need to be paid more as people are not being recognized as they should be from a economic standpoint for the work needed and the importance of this field.”
Sydney S. - Educator
“It would mean a lot to me. Us teachers deserve more money then just minimum wage. I make minimum wage at the restaurant where I work. When I work there I literally wash tables. We do so much in our trade, we teach children! Without teaching them they wouldn't be able to read, they wouldn't be able to write. The world without childcare would be insane. This system is broken!! It would be very different because there would be many more people in the childcare program, and parents would want to send there children because it shows that the teachers work hard and now will get paid correctly.”
Laura L - Educator
“It would mean that the field would have more respect, and if high quality childcare existed that would mean that there are people who would enjoy taking part in the field and doing the lessons.”
Michaela B. - Educator
“I started working as an educator because I love working with children and I want to make a positive impact on children's lives just as my fifth grade teacher did for me. The pay for teachers in general needs to be higher.”