4C for Children is partnering with organizations across the state such as Groundwork Ohio, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Montgomery County Preschool Promise, and many others, to share the following message:
State lawmakers have proposed drastic changes to Step Up To Quality. We need your help.
Your voice is needed to help educate our senators and representatives that such a move would be devastating for young children and families—and for child care providers who have worked so hard to improve the quality of education. Quality early education and care is key to supporting the children in child care—and child care providers have invested so much time, effort and money into successfully raising the bar.
Here is a summary of the changes being proposed:
- Ending the requirement that programs receiving PFCC funding must earn a Three-Star rating by July 2025. If that requirement goes away, the next logical move would be to eliminate the already inadequate reimbursement that programs receive for moving up the Star-Rating ladder. Losing this financial support would put many programs out of business.
- Severely limiting how new federal funding aimed at supporting child care programs can be used. None of these new dollars could go for HERO Pay for all center-based program staff and family child care providers, or for coaching or scholarships for child care providers who want to earn degrees or credentials.
We need you to act. The children and families in our community need you to act. Click here to send a letter to your senator and representative saying that you support the Step Up To Quality system and believe the deadlines and requirements for those that serve children receiving PFCC should stay in place.
You can write your own letter or use the template that’s provided at the link. But don’t just write. Use the link to call your senator and representative, too. Lawmakers track the number of calls and emails they receive — the tally can impact their vote!
We have all worked so hard for quality early childhood education and now it is at risk! We have to stand up for the children, for the families and for the professionalism of child care.