Most families in Rhode Island struggle to find affordable, quality child care, even as child care providers struggle to make a living wage and leave the field.
A well functioning child care system is essential for child development, family well-being, working families’ ability to make ends meet, gender equity, and the health of our whole economy.
We need the state to step up and build the child care system families deserve over the long term — we need the ‘Child Care for All Act’.
EXPAND CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE!
CAP COSTS FOR FAMILIES!
RAISE CHILD CARE EDUCATOR WAGES!
SUPPORT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS!
EXPAND CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE! CAP COSTS FOR FAMILIES! RAISE CHILD CARE EDUCATOR WAGES! SUPPORT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS!
Child Care for All has been introduced by Rep. Cruz in the House as H-6122.
The Child Care for All bill would address Rhode Island’s child care challenges by:
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More than 90% of Rhode Island families struggle to afford child care. Starting with the lowest income families, this bill lays out a plan for expanding the number of families who are eligible for assistance until we reach the goal of child care that is affordable for every single family.
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Child care costs for Rhode Island families would be capped at 7% of household income—much less than the current 23% of income the average RI household is paying for child care now. Families making <$40k/year wouldn’t have to pay anything for child care.
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Child Care for All would fund early educators to receive wages on par with public school teachers with similar credentials. It would create a task force to study and set wage standards, which would be funded through annual grants to child care providers.
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Even though child care tuition is too high for families, tuition payments alone do not allow for high quality care and decent wages. This bill creates annual grants for child care providers to make up that gap. It also provides additional funding for infant care and non-traditional hour care.
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Child Care for All would authorize the new Office of Early Childhood to create a public child care pilot option to provide innovative programming that increases equity and affordability for families
Get involved!
Want to help us make Child Care for All a reality in Rhode Island? Are you part of an organization that wants to sign-on in support of the Child Care for All bill?
coalition support
Are you part of an organization or an elected official that supports Child Care for All? Fill out the brief form below to list your name or logo on our website to help us show the strength of our coalition.