Guest Commentary: Proposal calls for needed boost to child care funding

Advocates worked alongside legislators to catalyze the largest increase in recent decades — in concert with parents, educators and voters who have been calling on the state to address the growing crisis for families, employers and long-term state needs.”

Delaware’s Joint Finance Committee has voted to add $20.07 million to Delaware’s Purchase of Care program in fiscal year 2023 — a substantial increase in funding. They added to the governor’s proposed increase — both to increase the rates paid to child care providers by 15% and to include a $1.1 million “door opener” to fund enrollment growth. That means, as more families enroll in POC, the state budget will grow to be sure they are served. These funds will be ongoing, in the operating budget, rather than contingent or one-time, as has been provided previously

Advocates including First State Pre-K and the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children worked alongside legislators to catalyze the largest increase in recent decades — in concert with parents, educators and voters who have been calling on the state to address the growing crisis for families, employers and long-term state needs.

What will this mean?

Providers will be paid for children that are eligible for subsidized child care at 85% of the 75th percentile of the 2021 Market Rate Study, beginning July 1, 2022 (this is an increase from 70% of the 75th percentile). According to a recent cost-estimation report conducted by Division of Social Services, the state pays only a percentage of the actual cost to provide the state requirements — and much less than the true cost of care.

These increases will mean continued care for the 12,000 families currently enrolled in POC.

For providers who accept POC, this funding will allow them to keep up with rising minimum wage, and — we hope — offer more slots to families, especially those with infants. The investment will allow providers to pay better salaries to employees, helping to reduce turnover and provide stability for children and families.

It could also enable more providers to accept POC families.

What happens next?

The Joint Finance Committee reviewed and voted on funding priorities for the fiscal 2023 operating budget in late May. Legislative budget staff will write the final budget bill, which must be approved by the entire General Assembly by June 30.

Advocates have seen the governor and General Assembly continuing to prioritize early learning this year — including action this session to provide workers with one-time bonuses and bills to support the workforce.

However, Delaware’s work is far from over. We know that POC rates should reflect at least the federal benchmark — an investment we think will take at least $40 million in the budget this year — and, long term, the true cost of care. Advocacy will continue on for:

• Increasing the state’s rates over time.
• Increasing eligibility for families who don’t qualify for POC but still can’t afford child care — just this year, with inflation and minimum-wage increases, many families are not eligible since eligibility is still capped at 185% of the federal poverty limit, which is below qualifying levels for Head Start and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• Equity of rates across county lines, as Kent and Sussex providers are reimbursed at 40% less per child than New Castle County.
• Increase funding to support fair wages for the workforce.

As a reminder, Delaware voters of all background support increased investments for early learning.

Madeleine Bayard is the senior vice president of Rodel and leads policy, programmatic, government affairs and communications initiatives.