Dear Governor Inslee:
As leaders of the Children’s Campaign Fund Network, we ask that you reject DCYF’s proposal to eliminate 1800 ECEAP slots for high-needs three- and four-year-old children. Children are the future leaders of our state, and every investment we make in early learning and child care pays the state back multiple times over in thriving, contributing children and families. The state budget should not be balanced by eliminating these needed services to children and their families.
The Children’s Campaign Fund Network builds power for children, youth, and families in Washington State by engaging in education, advocacy, and electioneering work. We are committed to doing whatever we can to support retaining and expanding access to early learning and childcare. During this campaign cycle, our candidate endorsements were weighted heavily to favor those who supported increasing affordable childcare slots in Washington. Our endorsed candidates communicated extensively to voters about childcare in their campaigns: 58 candidates listed childcare as a priority on their websites, 45 posted about childcare on social media, and 344 listed childcare in their voter’s guide statements.
Washingtonians overwhelmingly support protecting and expanding access to childcare. This year, 82.5% of our endorsed candidates won their races and will serve in the legislature next year, championing investments in childcare. In 2024, Children’s Campaign Fund Action co-led a poll to gauge the electorate’s attitudes regarding childcare. Most voters all over the state endorsed new revenue strategies to increase affordable childcare and early learning slots and salaries for child care workers. That support was even more pronounced in childcare deserts like Central Washington and the Olympic Peninsula. This widespread support for revenue was illustrated when over 64% of the Washington electorate voted against Initiative 2109. Initiative 2109 failed in large part because it would have reduced funding for childcare.
Furthermore, we must address the interconnected issues highlighted in a recent article from the Seattle Times: fixing the number of childcare slots and addressing the provider shortage must happen simultaneously. A reduction in one without strengthening the other renders the remaining funding ineffective and diminishes the state’s ability to meet the needs of children and families.
Reducing childcare is deeply unpopular and hurts children, their families, and Washington’s economy. We urge you not to include this cut in your proposed budget.
Sincerely,
Alex Galeana
Executive Director, Children’s Campaign Fund Network
Ruth Kagi
Chair, Children’s Campaign Fund Action
Janis Avery
Chair, Children’s Campaign Fund
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[Link courtesy of Washington State Association of Head Start]
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