ALBANY, N.Y. (April 7, 2022) — In response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement of the details in the enacted 2022-23 budget, the public education advocacy group Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement:
“Governor Hochul’s lofty-sounding announcement on child care is watered down by the long implementation timeline,” said Jasmine Gripper, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education. “The slow roll out means parents will continue to be forced to pay high costs for child care or remain on waiting lists for years. The child care crisis in New York is urgent and important. At this rate, families with a child born in 2022 will have to wait until the child is 4 years old in order to have a seat in a child care facility.”
“The injustice of this budget is not just about who was left behind but also who wasn’t: the billionaires. The best form of economic development is support for families and children, especially young children, not subsidies for the wealthy. The money we spend on child care translates into parents who are able to go back to work; fair compensation for child care educators, many of them women of color; and quality care for children that puts them on the path to educational success.
“All families need child care, and Governor Hochul’s purposeful exclusion of some families based on their immigration status is unacceptable. This budget leaves behind immigrant families, many of whom are among the most vulnerable in our communities.
“New York’s child care providers are essential to our economy. It will be impossible for Hochul to grow the workforce by 20 percent if the child care industry continues to shrink due to low wages. The child care educators working with children need quality wages now, not 4 years from now.
“It is heartening to see New York State maintain its promise to public school students with the second year of full Foundation Aid roll out. The $2.1 billion increase to schools maintains stability for schools as they continue to help students recover from the academic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst this awful budget for young children and families, at least we can appreciate that school aid remains.
“Thank you to Senator Brisport for remaining an unwavering champion for bold investments in child care and taking the time to talk to parents and providers across the state. We appreciate the time, effort and advocacy of all of our legislative champions and allies who worked hard to demand meaningful investments in child care. We will continue to fight for universal access for all families regardless of immigration status.”