Delaware can expect more investment in child care.
The state’s Department of Health and Social Services and Gov. John Carney announced funding changes for the sector this week, building on proposals in the governor’s final recommended budget. In that draft spending plan, Carney proposed expanding eligibility for Purchase of Care, subsidized child care, to 200% of the federal poverty level, while creating over 200 additional seats in state-funded pre-K.
Tuesday, he added to those actions:
- Capping family co-payments at 7% of family income, as opposed to 9%, and remove all co-pays for families below 150% of the federal poverty level, according to a press release, looking to see families pay less out-of-pocket for child care.
- Increasing compensated absence days from five to 10, providing child care centers and homes with additional stability and predictability in their budgets.
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“We know how critical the first five years of a child’s life are to future academic and career success,” said Carney in a statement. “Investing in our youngest learners has been a priority of ours from day one, and these investments further that commitment. I want to thank our child care providers for all they do every day to set our children up for future success.”
The administration has more than doubled investments in Purchase of Care and the Early Childhood Assistance Program, as previously reported. The coming year’s budget proposes investing $83 million in Purchase of Care, alongside $15.7 million in ECAP.
Advocates and providers alike have been pushing for the state to consider raising eligibility to 250%, as previously reported by Delaware Online/The News Journal. This week’s announcement didn’t look to move the needle on eligibility criteria, though aimed at other common concerns. DHSS leaders also already discussed the likelihood of rolling back copays, in a budget hearing late last month.
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State Sen. Kyle Evans Gay and Sen. Sarah McBride, sponsoring several pieces of legislation at these intersections of Delaware childcare, praised the move.
“Far too many Delaware families either cannot afford the cost of child care or live in a place where child care is scarce or completely inaccessible. This cost crisis facing families is only deepened — especially in Kent and Sussex counties — by the fact that child care providers do not receive the support or funding necessary to operate these critical small businesses,” these lawmakers said in a joint statement.
“It’s up to us to invest heavily in our child care infrastructure, lowering costs for the thousands of families who are simply trying to make ends meet while simultaneously supporting the early educators and providers who serve Delaware families and children.”
Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online/The News Journal and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.