Child care subsidy enrollment in #WashingtonDC has grown 22% in just 6 months, now serving nearly 6,800 children. Thanks to OSSE and DHS removing barriers, more families can access care. But without full funding, thousands risk losing the support they need to work, learn, and

Home visiting gave Rita Gray more than support — it gave her an opportunity: 🎓 Bachelor’s degree 🎓 Daughter graduated with honors 📚 Now pursuing an MBA Programs like Community Family Life Services change lives. We urge DC CFSA ⁣ to maintain funding. Councilmember Zachary Parker

Thank you, Charles Allen, for meeting with Ward 6 early education staff and residents today! We spoke about the importance of restoring cuts to child care subsidies. Without full funding, thousands risk losing the support they need to work, learn, and thrive. CM Allen's Team

At Jubilee JumpStart, Gustav & his daughter Nia found more than #childcare— they found community. "When Nia was born underweight, I knew I needed support. I wanted to give her every chance—nutritionally, developmentally, emotionally. But being a single dad with no family nearby,

It's been a hectic week in #WashingtonDC, with release of Mayor Muriel Bowser's budget proposal + prepping for budget hearings that began soon after. But as we examined the budget, we discovered the mayor's announced support for early childhood education is a one-year-only promise. Read

The number of food-insecure families in #WashingtonDC is just as alarming, so we signed on to the effort today that just delivered baby bottles with messages to Congress, asking: “Don’t cut the programs that keep me healthy and fed.” The One Big Beautiful Bill Act slashes

For years, children in wards 7 and 8 have been underserved. Educare DC’s president, Jamal Berry, shares that with a 23% return on investment on teachers based on pay equity, the support for equal pay is necessary and extremely important. Eliminating the #PayEquityFund will

The #PayEquityFund is a workforce program, funding this #WashingtonDC workforce is necessary. The PEF is not a problem that can be “worked out” in future budget cycles. It is imperative that the Council of DC protect and enhance the Fund in FY26 and beyond.

Without a $10M increase, the #PayEquityFund will not be able to make cost-of-living adjustments, risking the loss of #WashingtonDC early educators, facilities being forced to close classrooms, and families being turned away.

Flat funding for the #PayEquityFund will cause a cut to wages, displacing early education programs currently in the PEF program, and denying entry to the program for as many as 100 child development homes, meaning denying urgently needed fair wages to #WashingtonDC residents &

A year later, we’re back fighting to protect the widely successful Pay Equity Fund. DC’s early educators and young children deserve better.

"How can teachers like me plan for the future if our salaries are only guaranteed for one more year? How can we continue to build our careers in early education if we constantly have to worry about whether our pay will be cut?" Stephanie Reese, an Educare DC teacher, echoes the

Affordable health care keeps early educators healthy, stable, and able to care for #WashingtonDC children. The HealthCare4ChildCare program works, but only if the #payequityfund is fully funded. Council of DC Phil Mendelson Christina Henderson Fund HealthCare4ChildCare in the FY26 budget

Early educators care for #WashingtonDC’s future, our youth, but many can’t afford to care for their own health. Without full funding for the #PayEquityFund, early educators could lose health coverage, parents could lose work, & children could lose care. Council of DC

Dr. Amber Shelton warns that slashing pediatric resources risks harming #WashingtonDC kids’ growth. @healthystepsztt offers vital support in child development, like boosting vocabulary and social skills—proof that continued investment is essential. DC Health CM Christina Henderson

Teachers like Artia deserve fair pay beyond FY26. "As a single mother supporting a son in college, caring for an elderly parent, and raising my niece, I carry many responsibilities. Before the #PayEquityFund, it was difficult to stretch my paycheck to meet everyone’s needs."

Despite Mayor Bowser’s promise to maintain early education funding, her proposed budget falls short. Child Care Subsidies won’t meet current family needs and the Pay Equity Fund is set to be eliminated entirely next year. This is unacceptable. Affordable, high-quality child care

💗 72% of voters agree: Early learning is a smart use of tax dollars. ✅ Head Start delivers — boosting school readiness, family stability, and long-term success. 💰 Now is the time to #InvestInHeadStart. Read more in Education Week. #HeadStart60 edweek.org/teaching-learn…

At today's Council of DC FY26 budget hearing, Under 3 DC's Martine Gordon connected the dots between all the child and family health and education programs facing cuts and stressed the importance of addressing these needs to ensure #WashingtonDC families with young children can