Maryland Must Invest in Affordable Child Care
Access to child care is key for our future
Every child in Maryland deserves access to high-quality, inclusive child care. Child care supports healthy brain development and contributes to children’s ability to succeed in school and throughout life. High-quality, inclusive child care provides opportunities for children to engage in enriching playtime with others, interact with caring adults, and develop essential skills that lay the foundation for their future. Studies have shown that child care can reduce the achievement gap and lead to higher adult earnings and better health outcomes.
Take action now to demand that Maryland legislators fund affordable child care!
Urge legislators to fully fund child care
Investing in child care reduces inequality, supports the economy, and reduces the achievement gap. Maryland legislators must fully fund child care to ensure it is affordable and accessible to all families. If our elected leaders fail to invest in child care and accept harmful cost-cutting measures, Maryland’s working families and children will suffer the consequences for generations to come.
There are two changes to the Child Care Scholarship Program that must be rejected by lawmakers:
If passed as introduced, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) would allow the Administration to unilaterally institute waitlists for the CCS Program, eliminating the safeguard that advocates fought for in 2023 that requires MSDE to inform the General Assembly before any cost-cutting measures are taken.
MSDE also has stated its intention to reimpose copays for families. The copays could be up to 7% of a household’s income, threatening their economic security.
Lack of affordable child care is bad for the economy and perpetuates inequality
According to Maryland Family Network's 2024 Child Care Demographics, child care ranks among the most expensive costs for Maryland households with young children. Child care in Maryland often costs up to $28,000 a year, an average of 26% of household income. Lack of affordable child care often puts parents in an impossible position of having to leave the workforce or reduce work hours to provide caregiving support. Women are eight times more likely to sacrifice work for caregiving than men. This not only harms families but also impacts Maryland’s businesses and the economy. As demand for Maryland’s Child Care Scholarship Program grows, let’s ensure that everyone has access to the affordable, inclusive care provided by the program.