Washington State’s Child Care Gap Proves Tough to Solve
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Throughout her childhood, Shannon Edwards observed her mother, a child care provider, constantly grappling with the difficult decision of prioritizing her own income or maintaining an affordable center for families. Now working as a preschool teacher herself, Edwards recognizes the injustice of this dilemma that providers face daily. She believes that providers require support.
Recognizing this need, the Legislature has taken steps to assist. With the passing of the Fair Start for Kids Act in 2021, substantial funding was directed towards child care and early learning, thereby expanding access to these services for families in Washington. However, providers claim that they are still facing challenges.
This year, the Legislature increased rates for child care providers and extended subsidies for families. Nevertheless, advocates argue that Washington still has a long way to go before establishing a well-funded system that ensures universal access to child care. Ryan Pricco, the policy and advocacy director at Child Care Aware of Washington, states that a complete overhaul and reset of the system is currently underway.
Over the past few weeks, Governor Jay Inslee has signed several bills pertaining to child care, although the budget for the next two-year cycle, which includes much of the program’s funding, is yet to be signed. It is expected that the budget will be signed by the Governor next week.
During an event at the recently opened Capitol Childcare Center in Olympia, Inslee emphasized his commitment to sustaining child care funding. He acknowledged that while significant progress is being made, it is not a quantum leap forward, but rather incremental steps towards improvement.
What has been achieved this year?
The approved budget allotted nearly $386 million for the next two years to increase rates for providers. Additionally, bonuses were included for those who work outside of standard hours. Part of the funding will also be allocated to expand subsidy programs for families involved in specialty courts, such as drug courts, families with undocumented members, and families with parents working in child care. Funding will also support increased subsidies for families with parents participating in apprenticeship programs.
Senator Claire Wilson, who serves as the vice chair of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee, stated that the Fair Start for Kids Act has already made progress in expanding access to subsidies, and the Legislature continues to prioritize further expansion. Wilson emphasized the critical nature of child care, highlighting its role in economic recovery and the support that families require.
Senator Brad Hawkins, the leading Republican on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, expressed concern about the cost of expanding child care subsidies, suggesting that taxpayers bear the burden, even though program participants benefit.
The budget also includes approximately $34 million over the next two years for grants to early learning providers who cater to children with disabilities and utilize culturally appropriate early learning methods for tribal children. An additional $47 million will be allocated to ongoing grants in the capital budget for renovating child care centers. Other policy changes include prohibiting homeowners associations from impeding licensed family home child care or day care centers within their jurisdictions and enhancing access to mental health consultations for providers.
Hawkins mentioned that he voted against several bills that aimed to increase child care access in this session because he believes the state should allocate more resources to the entire K-12 education system, particularly given the learning setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is a universal child care program the solution?
Although access to child care is improving, Pricco from Child Care Aware notes that there are still vacant classrooms throughout the state due to difficulties in hiring and retaining staff. Many providers are experiencing burnout, especially after operating throughout the pandemic. Some providers simply cannot afford to continue their services.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families estimates that approximately 278,000 children under the age of five in Washington require child care, yet only about 26% of them have access to a licensed center or preschool in their area.
"This present day, there are parents who feel a sense of worry and even panic when it comes to locating reliable child care," expressed Krutsinger during the opening of the Capitol Childcare Center.
The Olympia center currently offers care for 54 full-time students, primarily the children of state employees. However, it is anticipated that this number will rise in the upcoming fall. While the center will undoubtedly assist many families, Krutsinger emphasized the pressing need for more funding within the child care sector.
To lay the foundation for future higher salaries for child care providers, a substantial investment has been allocated in this year’s budget. Approximately $500,000 has been designated towards studying and implementing a fully-funded, universally accessible child care system. This entails ensuring that providers receive fair wages and benefits, as well as ensuring that no family spends more than 7% of their income on child care, as outlined within the budget.
The funding for this study will enable a collaboration of providers, families, and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan detailing how and when the Legislature can fund this universal system. The final plan will be submitted to the Legislature by June 30, 2025.
"This marks the initial step towards our long-term vision," Pricco commented.
Moreover, providers involved in the study, such as Edwards, expressed their desire for increased access to mental health services, professional development, and career opportunities.
While expanding child care may lead to significant costs within the state budget, Wilson argued that it would yield long-term benefits by setting children on a path towards better outcomes and reducing the necessity for programs addressing issues like behavioral health, substance use disorders, and homelessness.
"If we genuinely invest in early prevention and support for families, these problems would be mitigated," Wilson explained.
The Washington State Standard operates under the umbrella of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors operating as a 501c(3) public charity. The Washington State Standard maintains its editorial independence. For any inquiries, please reach out to the Editor, Bill Lucia, at info@washingtonstatestandard.com. Stay updated with the Washington State Standard on Facebook and Twitter.
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