FOR PLANNING PURPOSES: Statewide events to be held Wednesday, April 10, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Garfinkel, West End Strategy Team sgarfinkel@westendstrategy.com, 309-369-7540
***Wednesday, April 10***
Connecticut Early Child Care Community Rallies Across State forThird Annual Morning Without Child Care as Governor, Legislature Plan Zero Additional Investment in Sector for FY 2025
As Gov. Lamont and legislature plan to allow childcare crisis to go unaddressed, parents, educators and providers will advocate for increased public funding to ensure high-quality programs, competitive teacher salaries and affordable tuition for families
CONNECTICUT – On Wednesday, April 10, childcare providers across Connecticut will close for a portion of the day to participate in the Morning Without Child Care, statewide rallies to highlight the crisis in early childhood education affordability and access, and to push for adequate government funding to support families, educators and child care providers. The events are organized by Child Care for Connecticut’s Future, a statewide coalition of organizations, providers, parents and advocates working to achieve long-term investment in Connecticut’s early learning system.
This week, the coalition learned that Gov. Lamont and the legislature will not amend the existing two-year budget, thereby neglecting to add much-needed funding to address the child care crisis in fiscal year 2025.
A total of 11 cities are holding rallies this year, with 10 rallies across the state planned for April 10, and a previous rally held last week in Mansfield. A full schedule is available here, as well as below. Photos and video from the rallies will be available here.
The public is invited to join the early childhood care and education community in rallying for expanded access to early education, emphasizing that investment in child care is essential to children and parents, child care providers and educators, and the state’s economy.
Said Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman, Director of Child Care for Connecticut’s Future:
“Early childhood education programs across Connecticut are so short-staffed and underfunded that classrooms are closed despite waiting lists of children. Parents and providers are worse off now than before the start of the pandemic, as pandemic-era federal funds are now gone, and we are facing a shortage of affordable childcare spots. When families can’t find reliable, affordable child care, their own livelihoods – and Connecticut’s economy – suffer.
“Gov. Lamont and his Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care conceptualized a plan to increase public investment in early childhood care and education; that plan isn’t perfect, but it’s a starting point. As of this week, funding of Connecticut’s childcare sector is in danger. It is essential that the governor fund his own plan and direct attention to this mounting affordability and accessibility crisis. The lack of public funding and accessibility leaves Connecticut children without quality care and education – the foundation to create opportunities in their lives. The future of Connecticut’s economy depends on addressing our state’s childcare crisis now.”
Among its advocacy priorities, the coalition is asking Gov. Ned Lamont and the Connecticut legislature to invest in long-term transformation of the early childhood care and education system, through a dedicated funding resource that ensures sustained investment. That includes approving components of the $2 billion plan recommended by the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care in December 2023, and passing HB 5002, which would establish an early childhood fund to increase compensation for early educators and decrease tuition costs for families across the state. As well, the coalition recommends that child care expenses be capped at 7% of annual family income, in line with federal recommendations.
In response to the Blue Ribbon Panel report released in December 2023, Child Care for Connecticut’s Future released its own detailed recommendations to comprehensively address the state’s childcare crisis.
Parents, educators, providers and advocates will be available for interviews before, during and after the April 10 rallies. Between now and the rallies, participants and organizers are available to discuss why early childcare providers are closing their doors during the rallies – and why parents are forgoing their care to stand alongside providers and educators in solidarity for the massive changes needed to improve the broken system.
To speak with Child Care for Connecticut organizers and rally speakers, please contact Sarah Garfinkel at sgarfinkel@westendstrategy.com or 309-369-7540.
WHO: Early childhood educators, providers, public officials and families will be speaking at each rally location.
WHAT: Connecticut early childcare community rallies for a Morning Without Child Care
WHEN/WHERE: Wednesday, April 10 (listed in chronological order):
New Haven, 8-9 a.m., Town Green (across from City Hall, 165 Church Street)
Stamford, 8:30-10 a.m., Government Center Stamford (888 Washington Blvd.)
Stratford, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Town Hall (2725 Main Street)
Norwalk, 9-10 a.m., Norwalk Town Green (8 Park Street)
Waterbury, 9-10 a.m., Town Green (In front of YMCA)
Bridgeport, 10-11 a.m., Washington Park (474 East Washington Avenue)
Cheshire, 5:15-6 p.m., Play to Learn (200 Mansion Road)
Danbury, 5-6 p.m., Danbury Library Green (170 Main Street)
Torrington, 5:15-6 p.m., Torrington City Hall Steps – 140 Main Street
Hartford, 5-6:30 p.m., Minuteman Park (Capitol Avenue)
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Child Care for Connecticut’s Future envisions a Connecticut where every child can access high-quality, affordable child care, fostering optimal development and supporting working parents. Child Care for Connecticut’s Future is a non-partisan coalition representing parents, providers, business leaders, advocates, and community leaders who want to transform how child care and early education are funded in Connecticut. We strive to build sustained public support through advocacy and education to achieve our transformative vision of an equitable system that supports the whole family.