Despite the winter storm, 400+ members of the Empire State Campaign for Child Care (ESCCC) came out from across the state to rally for funding for universal child care and for a permanent workforce compensation fund.
Members of the campaign from all regions of the state traveled to Albany to meet with lawmakers and attend the campaign’s afternoon rally. Attendees spoke of the excitement around the Governor’s executive budget proposals that provide robust funding for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), as well as universal pilot programs in three counties, all of which are part of the campaign’s New York State Child Care for All plan. Attendees stressed that there must be funding included to stabilize the child care workforce. Currently, child care educators earn less than 96% of all jobs in the state.
ESCCC is a statewide coalition of parents, child care educators, and advocates who believe that every family in New York State deserves high quality, universal child care and that every child care educator deserves to earn a thriving wage. The Campaign was founded in 2017 and has played a key role in advancing the state’s child care investments.
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“Hundreds have come to the state capitol from across New York because they’ve endured too many years of half-measures and empty promises on child care. We cannot let up until child care is free and available for every kid across the state, and child care workers are paid fairly as educators,” said Senator Jabari Brisport, chair, Senate Committee on Children & Families.
“Paying our child care workforce must be our top priority this year. Every recent victory — and every plan to expand toward universal care — hinges on whether we pay the people doing this work. That’s how we make the system sustainable, retain experienced educators, bring new workers into the field — and most importantly, it’s how we recognize the people who have been the backbone of our state, despite being severely underpaid. Thank you ESCCC, our partners, the Governor, and Mayor for getting us to this point — now let’s get this done the right way, by making sure our workforce is included.” said Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, Chair, Assembly Committee on Children & Families.
“New York families cannot wait any longer. Universal child care is not optional—it is the backbone of a strong, affordable New York. I appreciate Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to universal child care, which she reaffirmed in her recent State of the State, and now that commitment must be fully realized in the 2026 budget. The Governor must fully fund universal child care so every family, no matter where they live or how much they earn, has access to affordable, reliable care for children up to age 13. Universal child care is an investment in our children, our workforce, and our economy, and it must include fair wages and real support for the child care providers and educators who make this system work. New Yorkers have waited long enough for free, high-quality child care, and it is time to make 2026 the year we make universal child care a reality,” said Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas.
“Thanks to the tireless work of advocates across our state and the Governor’s historic investments, the momentum behind universal child care for all in New York has never been stronger. This progress reflects years of dedication from parents, providers, educators, and community leaders who have continued to speak out, share their stories, and demand a system that truly meets the needs of working families. I am so grateful to everyone who shows up every day to push this issue forward. As we build on this momentum, I am committed to working alongside my partners in government to strengthen access, affordability, and quality so that every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive and every family can participate fully in our economy. Together, we can create a child care system that supports children, families, and providers across our state,” said Assemblymember Sarah Clark.
“Child care is where family stability begins. As a parent providing for my family on a single income, I know that before we talk about jobs, education, or opportunity, we have to talk about who is caring for our most precious, treasured assets – our babies. Because my son had access to a full-day, high-quality Head Start program through Say Yes Buffalo, he is thriving today as a kindergarten student. And I was able to work to provide for my family and serve my community as a legislator. If our children do not have safe, high-quality places to be cared for, families cannot be stable. That’s why New York must invest in child care that meets the needs of all families across the state,” said Senator April N.M. Baskin.
“As a mother of four, wife, advocate, educator and public servant who founded and operated a 24/7 child care center, I have lived the reality of compromising basic needs when it comes to child care. As a Member of the New York State Assembly Children and Families Committee, we fought hard alongside advocates for this year’s budget to invest $2.2 billion in child care aimed at stabilizing existing programs and expanding subsidies for NYC families. But we know more is needed to secure the future for families and caregivers across this state
With a universal system we can remove weight from families, keep programs financially viable, and create high-quality, diverse learning environments where all children benefit. I urge my colleagues to increase the minimum pay scale for child care workers so there is fair compensation for services. We need to extend care needs beyond weekdays and the traditional school calendar, providing an inclusive service to all children regardless of disabilities or family immigration status. Investing in universal child care and the Child Care Assistance Program means keeping families in New York, bringing caregivers back into the workforce, and building a future where no family has to leave their home just to afford quality care,” said Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman.
“To think that nine years ago, the Empire State Campaign for Child Care was born after a bruising fight to fend off a proposed cut to child care assistance! This year, the Governor’s Executive Budget proposes a $1.2 billion recurring increased investment in the child care assistance program along with significant, thoughtful expansions to pre-K, 2-Care in New York City, and universal child care pilot programs in communities outside of New York City. The groundwork for this historic proposal was laid by the unflagging efforts of Empire State for Child Care members – parents and child care providers, grassroots organizations, and community, union and business leaders. Today, our members came together and celebrated the strong movement we have created. We also called upon lawmakers to adopt and build from the Governor’s strong proposal, starting by creating a permanent compensation fund for the child care workforce. Let’s harness the momentum of this moment to keep New York moving quickly toward the ultimate goal: statewide universal child care for all children, no exceptions”, said Dede Hill, Vice President of Policy, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy.
“New York cannot achieve universal child care without a permanent investment in the educators who make it possible. Expanding access while failing to pay child care workers a thriving wage is not a question of sustainability, it is an immediate crisis that leaves classrooms understaffed, educators pushed out of the field, and families without care. If we don’t act now, we are setting universal child care up to fail and undermining our state’s families and economy,” said Marina Marcou-O’Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, Co-Executive Directors, Alliance for Quality Education.
“We have a moment of opportunity. People can’t afford to stay here. If you want to keep young families here, you have to address child care. We must reiterate that permanent compensation for the child care workforce is essential to scale up to meet the demand of families in New York State. A well-compensated workforce is non-negotiable to the success of rolling out universal child care, and we look forward to working with both city and state government to deliver a system that serves every family, and provides early childhood educators with the thriving wages they deserve.”, said Shoshana Hershkowitz, Campaign Manager for the Empire State Campaign for Child Care
“Prevent Child Abuse New York strongly supports enacting universal childcare in New York State with flexible care options for working families and funding for a well-trained workforce. Families need affordable options, including for non-traditional work schedules. Providers need to earn income that allows them to continue to provide care and support their own families. Without the flexibility and the workforce, universal childcare doesn’t work. By making high-quality childcare accessible and affordable for all families, we remove a significant barrier to stable employment and economic security for parents. As a result, we reduce stress on families. We urge policymakers to prioritize universal childcare. New York State families need and deserve universal childcare”, said Tamaé Memole, Co-Executive Director Prevent Child Abuse New York.
“PowHer NY is strongly supportive of the ESCCC budget priorities and anticipates mobilizing our broad statewide network of Partner organizations to promote these very important next steps in the path to achieving universal access to quality, affordable, child care. The challenges of accessing and affording child care, on the one hand; and the longstanding inadequacy of wages and benefits for the child care workforce, combine to reinforce and perpetuate pay inequity based on gender and race. New York needs to prepare and fund a smooth and rapid path to universal child care that includes a wide choice of care providers and is accessible to all children regardless of age, ability, zip code or immigration status. Children are the future. And child care providers provide the foundation that can make that future bright”, said Blue Carreker, PowHer Network Coordinator.
“The Day Care Council of New York is excited to join colleagues and allies at Empire State Campaign for Child Care’s advocacy day at a time when Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, and leaders throughout the State are working to expand access to child care. The success of any expansion depends on the strength of the child care workforce, and New York State must take action in this budget to invest in fair compensation for the child care workforce”, said Tara N. Gardner, Executive Director of the Day Care Council of New York.
“Western New York Child Care Action Team continues to uplift and take action for Universal Child Care and the children, families, and professional workforce at its’ core. We will not stop until there is child care freedom and justice for all!’, said Vonetta Rhodes, Founder, Western NY Child Care Action Team.
“New York needs universal child care so parents can hold jobs and provide for our families, every child can get a strong start to their education, and businesses can recruit and retain the employees they need. We can’t make that vision a reality unless all of our child care workers and early educators are paid the family-sustaining wages they deserve, Thanks to tireless advocacy from parents, caregivers, child care providers, and business leaders, our state is on the cusp of enormous progress on this issue. We will continue to mobilize moms across the state until we end the child care crisis that has harmed our communities for far too long.”, said Diana Limongi, Early Learning Campaign Director at MomsRising.
“The state’s move toward a multi-year investment in child care and Pre-K is cause for celebration. Full implementation will make a meaningful difference for families across New York who are currently paying thousands of dollars each year for care. We look forward to working with electeds to ensure a high-quality continuum that includes not only early childhood education, but also developmentally appropriate afterschool and expanded learning opportunities as children grow, so families continue to have support beyond the traditional school day.”, said Alli Lidie, CEO, New York State Network for Youth Success.
“As a single mom, I thought I was finally overcoming the hurdles of childcare after years of struggle. Just when I felt secure, I welcomed a newborn into my life, only to find myself facing the daunting reality of paused enrollments and the NYC childcare waitlist of over 60,000 families. The system is overwhelming, and it feels like I’m back where I started 7 years ago fighting for the support I need to care for my children. Every parent deserves access to reliable childcare, and it’s time for us to advocate for a solution that truly supports families like mine”, said Mansie Meikle, parent advocate.
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