As a longtime teacher in Durango and member of the Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children, I work to ensure young kids in our community and across Colorado have the support they need.
After a difficult year, Durango’s early childhood providers are still struggling to maintain care for the working families in our area. We need Congress to continue to prioritize early learning and care as part of our nation’s long-term recovery.
The Build Back Better Plan includes a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s child care and early education system. We need to rally around this plan to ensure Congress gets on board.
Child care and early education is crucial not just for kids, but also the economy. Did you know that 6.4 million children – 59% of children under age 5 – are in a care arrangement with a non-parental provider? On top of this, the early learning and care industry contributes approximately $100 billion to our economy and employs over 1.5 million people.
Child care and early learning benefit everyone. We have the opportunity to support this bipartisan issue, ensuring families and our local economy continue to thrive.
Please join me in asking the Colorado federal delegation to stand behind investments in early education and care through supporting the Build Back Better Plan. We all want what’s best for kids, families, and our economy – the child care sector is just that.
Stephanie Milner
Durango
