DC’s child care system, once a national model in early education, is now crumbling.

Mayor Bowser continuously chooses not to fund child care at the level it actually costs to operate, pushing the system into a crisis that is putting thousands of employers, children, families, educators, and small businesses at risk.

On March 18 at 9am, early learning programs across the District will at least partially close, and providers, educators, parents, and allies will rally at the Wilson Building to make the consequences of underfunding impossible to ignore.

The cumulative impact of eliminating the Pay Equity Fund and reducing the Child Care Subsidy program would be devastating. Programs will close, educators will leave the field, parents won’t have the dependable child care they need to work, and children will lose access to the stable, high-quality care they need to thrive.

Not a single early educator should be forced to absorb thousands of dollars in salary cuts or lose their health care.

Not a single working family should be pushed onto a waitlist for affordable, subsidized child care.

Not a single early learning program should be forced to close its doors because Mayor Bowser ignored repeated budget warnings from providers and families.

Child care is essential infrastructure. When it’s underfunded, everything else crumbles.

RSVP to join the rally at the steps of the Wilson Building and demand the child care funding that families and early educators need!