Parents, educators, kids rally for affordable, quality child care in Worcester

WORCESTER — Andree Gonzalez could not afford child care for her two sons if it wasn't for the financial help she receives from state vouchers.

"I lucked out," Gonzalez said while attending a Saturday morning rally at Elm Park to show support for the so-called Common Start bill.

The bill would provide free child care to families who qualify. The exact price tag for taxpayers is unclear, but one activist said it could cost billions of dollars.

The measure is scheduled to be taken up Tuesday at the State House by the Joint Committee on Education.

Those who attended the rally said it's critical the state Legislature pass the bill to provide access for all Massachusetts families to affordable, high-quality early education and child care.

"Early education and care are just as much a public good as K-12 education," said Liz Sheehan Castro, coordinator of the Central Massachusetts chapter of the Common Start Coalition.

The organization is a partnership of providers, parents, educators and advocates that is a principal backer of the bill.

Sheehan Castro put the bill's total price tag at billions of dollars after it's phased in over five years.

Highlights include: early education and care for children from birth through age 5; and after- and out-of-school time for children 5-12, and for children with special needs through age 15.

The legislation would create a new system of direct payments to providers to offset operating costs. And provide higher pay for staff.

Families who qualify for free early education and care would fall below 50% of the statewide median income. That translates to roughly $62,000 for a family of four and $42,000 for a single parent with one child.

Families with incomes above the median levels wouldn't pay more than seven percent of their total household income.

A "moral decision," is how state Rep. David LeBoeuf, Democrat — 17th Worcester District, described the bill. "We can fund the future of children versus public dollars that don't have as much benefit."

There is political will at the State House to pass the measure, LeBoeuf said. But it could take more than one legislative session to do it.

A millionaire's tax — which is on the statewide ballot next year — will help pay for the bill, LeBoeuf said. He stressed that organizations providing child care will contribute funds, so the entire financial burden isn't put on the shoulders of taxpayers.

Some could point out that President Joe Biden's$1.7 trillion Build Back Better plan — stuck in Congressional negotiation — includes $400 billion for child care subsidies.

If those monies become available, then the question arises — should Massachusetts taxpayers be on the hook for the monies called for in the Common Start bill?

Sheehan Castro doesn't see it that way. She said she believes Build Back Better will set the foundation to put the benefits of the Common Start bill in motion.

"A lot of families can't afford child care spots," Sheehan Castro said. "There is a shortage of educators because of low pay and (coronavirus) pandemic exhaustion."

One child care provider who supports the Common Start bill is Alexandra Florez, who attended Saturday's rally with her three children. Florez operates a child care business out of her Worcester home, and said the issue comes down to fairness.

She said she wants higher pay, the ability to save for retirement, and take a vacation when possible.

"Child care providers should be considered equal with public school teachers," Florez said.

Andrea Safford is a Worcester public school teacher and a single mother. She pays $300 weekly to have her 1-year-old son in child care. Safford said it's a challenge to pay it on a teacher's salary when she also has a $1,200 monthly mortgage payment.

"We need affordable child care," Safford said. "Child development in the first five years is so important. It sets the stage for socialization and literacy skills."

Gonzalez and her husband, Lucas, couldn't agree more.

Their two sons — Lorenzo, 2, and Lennox, 1 — are in child care while Gonzalez is a full-time college student and Lucas works.

Gonzalez gushed as she described Lorenzo's developmental improvement while enrolled in child care.

After a few weeks, his social/emotional skills skyrocketed, and he started singing the alphabet.

"Little things like that are really impactful," Gonzalez said, noting that with the skyrocketing cost of child care, the Common Start bill should apply to more families, including households of four with incomes below $62,000 annually.

Gonzalez also has a response for those who don't think Massachusetts taxpayers should contribute to someone else's child care.

"Taxpayers pay for public school, whether they have kids or not."

And Gonzalez believes there is political will at the State House for the Common Start bill to get the necessary votes for passage.

"Child care affects everyone. I think there's support among enough people to make this happen," she said.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @henrytelegram

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