Washington Area Women's Foundation

Child care: A sound investment even in this time of economic uncertainty.

All the jurisdictions in the region are in the midst of budget cuts to fill huge budget shortfalls.  All around us is gloom and doom news about funding.

Yet, to my delightful surprise – the chair of the D.C. City Council, Vincent Gray, wrote an OP-ED piece in the Washington Informer highlighting the sound investment in Pre-Kindergarten education as a way to invest in children, families and the city overall.

For D.C., the Pre-Kindergarten Enhancement and Expansion Amendment Act will ensure every three and four-year-old in the District has access to high-quality pre-kindergarten.

The hope that every child in the District will receive quality early education to ensure they are prepared to succeed in school and life is so exciting.

We need more key leaders in government and business to stress the importance of funding what is absolutely necessary for a sound future. There is a solid case for investments in early care and education.

So at this time of financial crisis, thank you to those who are advocating for such investments for your commitment to ensure the District’s children are going to be afforded the quality early learning opportunities they deserve!

HyeSook Chung is The Women’s Foundation’s Early Care and Education Program Officer.