The BUILD Initiative’s Post

High child care costs pose a major challenge for many families. Adding to this problem, early childhood education professionals in Massachusetts typically earn just $18.30 per hour, emphasizing the gap between child care expenses and educators' earnings. This stark reality underscores the critical necessity for enhanced public funding to tackle these issues effectively. Discover more in our latest report on Public Funding for Early Childhood Education Providers: https://lnkd.in/eydNDRfV

During Week of the Young Child — and every week — we encourage you to show your support for early childhood education and educators! #WOYC24 High-quality child care is an investment in Arizona's economy, ensuring children can learn and grow, parents can earn a living and support their families, and communities thrive. But the U.S. Chamber Foundation estimates that child care challenges cause a loss of $1.7 billion annually to Arizona's economy. Check out our website for stories highlighting child care providers across the state who improved their facilities and opened new ones so that more families in their communities could access high-quality child care. https://lnkd.in/gPqFW8fN Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children (AzAEYC) FIRST THINGS FIRST .

Today's blog: Keep up to date with early childhood policymaking in Massachusetts Now that summer is over, public policymakers are busy, making this the best time to keep up with everything that’s going on. Learn more in #EyeOnEarlyChildhood https://lnkd.in/emYgs4MS

💡#DidYouKnow: Robust investments in high-quality early care and education support a strong workforce and economy. Failure to invest in high-quality early care and education hurts our workforce and economy, exacerbating existing challenges. Investing in high-quality early care and education also is an important way to support long-term academic and economic success, increased employment and earnings, and decreased likelihood of criminal activity. Overall High-quality early care and education can have profound long-term positive effects on children. These benefits include fewer referrals for special education services, fewer grade retentions, and an increased likelihood of graduating from high school. #LAEarlyEdMonth #ChildCareisEssential #ChildCareImpactsEveryone #4PXPLA #GeauxFar Learn more about how early care and education prepares young children for success in school and in life by visiting https://ow.ly/nkWj50QGwA0 Join us on Monday, February 26th in New Orleans at 6 PM to learn how you can be a Champion for Children: https://ow.ly/mK0K50QGwA1

"We give all public school children books, teachers, playground equipment, and more without regard to family income. Why do we start means-testing families when it comes to meals? The books, teachers, and playground equipment don’t go a long way if kids are hungry and cannot learn." Almost 90% of New Yorkers supporting free school meals for all. As legislators in Albany finalize next year's budget, I hope they will finally make this hugely popular policy a reality and feed all kids. Read more from Terence Meehan of the Alliance to End Hunger. https://lnkd.in/dpNCnzr8

💡#DidYouKnow: Robust investments in high-quality early care and education support a strong workforce and economy. Failure to invest in high-quality early care and education hurts our workforce and economy, exacerbating existing challenges. Investing in high-quality early care and education also is an important way to support long-term academic and economic success, increased employment and earnings, and decreased likelihood of criminal activity. Overall High-quality early care and education can have profound long-term positive effects on children. These benefits include fewer referrals for special education services, fewer grade retentions, and an increased likelihood of graduating from high school. #LAEarlyEdMonth #ChildCareisEssential #ChildCareImpactsEveryone #4PXPLA #GeauxFar Learn more about how early care and education prepares young children for success in school and in life by visiting https://ow.ly/FfW950QGwzY Join us on Monday, February 26th in New Orleans at 6 PM to learn how you can be a Champion for Children: https://ow.ly/UR6750QGwzZ

We are joining with the Early Childhood Investment Corporation and other partners to oppose state legislation that would exclude community-based organizations and providers from the PreK for All model. Children, parents and employers statewide count on mixed-delivery of the Great Start Readiness Program. The budget currently proposed by the state House Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and Education would exacerbate our child care crisis. It would harm working families, employers and our economy. Read our joint statement on the legislation here: https://lnkd.in/eNrBtVsk And consider signing on and adding your voice to encourage lawmakers to protect the requirement to allocate GSRP slots to community-based organizations. The deadline is May 15: https://lnkd.in/edj-tVZ7

Have you ever thought about the importance of Early Childhood Education? Now is the time to have your voice heard! Parents, caregivers, employers, grandparents, and all those who believe in the power of education, let's unite and show support for the ECE world. They are helping to build the solid foundation of our future. Join the movement and share your thoughts on the topic by following the link below. Let's make a difference together! Link: https://lnkd.in/eFhiiiNX

Research by William Lopez, Karen A. Kling & Amanda Nothaft at Poverty Solutions found about 10% of Michigan children aged 0 to 11 years in households with incomes below the new eligibility threshold receive child care subsidies. Learn more about how this research is informing the Early Education Community of Practice, a collaboration of early education leaders that brings together leaders in the field with state partners to align around policy priorities and advocacy opportunities: https://myumi.ch/3Q9W3 W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Policy Equity Group, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services

As a former Early Childhood Educator, this needs to be top of our mind. Access to high quality childcare is not only the right thing for kids, but it is a huge economic driver in a tight labor market. High quality childcare is incredibly expensive but it does not cover costs. Licensing, materials, training, insurance, suplies and food, benefits, administration…it doesn’t add up. Childcare should not be a business. Similar to public schools, it should be a universal right that we fund as a benefit to our communities - a benefit to our local businesses and industries who need employees. Universal childcare means more people can balance family and work. Income levels will rise. Education levels will rise. And what’s better, is with stable funding, all of our communities large and small will have access to childcare.