Policy Updates

When Dr. LaWanda Wesley was raising her five children, juggling work, college, rent, and expensive fees for child care meant ever-present stress. LaWanda was part of California’s subsidized child care program. Her child care should have been free. But the state surprised her and other families with child care family fees. When fees were due, LaWanda would think, “I need to pay for gas, and the kids need school clothes and new shoes. How do you pay for it all?” 

Gov. Newsom this week missed a critical chance to fix an unjust child care policy that hurts women of color. Newsom vetoed the Affordable Child Care Family Fees Act, a bill with broad bipartisan support, that would have upended California’s racist child care family fees system. Parents, child care providers, and advocates are gravely disappointed.

New fire guidance that clarifies the rules for family child care homes was released by the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) on March 19, 2021. Here are some highlights from the OSFM.

The US Department of Education is asking for public comment on a proposed rule. It would expand student loan forgiveness to EC educators in for-profit settings.
We support expanded eligibility and including family child care providers in the loan forgiveness plan. Add a personal comment if you can.

The 2022-2023 state budget process was important and exhausting. Our families and providers showed up at the Capitol, at legislative hearings, on Zoom, and in the streets to share their lived experiences.

Congress has not yet voted on sending money for child care to every state. Senator Murray and Senator Kaine’s proposal calls for $150 – $200 billion for child care in the federal reconciliation package to help more families get child care, lower costs, and pay child care providers more livable wages.