Our Priorities
Families in Virginia have access to a variety of affordable, high-quality early care and education opportunities.
High-quality early care and education (ECE) is an essential component of a thriving childhood. Early care and education opportunities provide children with a strong developmental foundation and allow parents to pursue paid work to provide economic security for their families.
Investment
Increase state investment in early care and education by $500 million to enhance ECE quality and participation. Make the COVID-era changes to eligibility for the child care subsidy program permanent, including higher income eligibility, allowing for eligibility during job searches, and reducing/eliminating parent co-pays.
Stabilization
Stabilize the child care sector with adequate funding to increase mixed-delivery grants to public/private early education settings and increase parent choice through the child care subsidy program.
Participation
Ensure that participation in ECE is representative of the racial, socioeconomic, and geographical diversity of our commonwealth. Improve access for young children with special educational and health care needs to a wide range of fully resourced child care options.
Compensation
Increase the allocation of ECE funds to increase early educator compensation.
Resources
Giving
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