Rallies to Focus on Need for Better Child Care Options for CT Families

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On Wednesday, April 10, childcare providers across Connecticut will close for a portion of the day to participate in the Morning Without Child Care, statewide rallies to highlight the crisis in early childhood education affordability and access, and to push for adequate government funding to support families, educators and child care providers.

The events are organized by Child Care for Connecticut’s Future, a statewide coalition of organizations, providers, parents and advocates working to achieve long-term investment in Connecticut’s early learning system. 

Ten rallies will be held across the state on April 10. The public is invited to join the early childhood care and education community in rallying for expanded access to early education, emphasizing that investment in child care is essential to children and parents, child care providers and educators, and the state’s economy.

“Early childhood educational programs across Connecticut are so short-staffed and underfunded that classrooms are closed despite waiting lists of children, which means that parents can’t find affordable child care spots, and in turn, their own livelihoods and Connecticut’s economy suffer,” said Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman, Director of Child Care for Connecticut’s Future.

“Providers, parents, educators and business leaders have consistently called for relief and governmental attention in the face of a mounting affordability and accessibility crisis. The lack of public funding and accessibility leaves Connecticut children without quality care and education – the foundation to create opportunities in their lives and ensure a strong future for Connecticut’s economy.” 

Among its advocacy priorities, the coalition is asking Gov. Ned Lamont and the Connecticut legislature to invest in long-term transformation of the early childhood care and education system, through a dedicated funding resource that ensures sustained investment.

Priorities include approving components of the $2 billion plan recommended by the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care in December 2023, and passing HB 5002, which would establish an early childhood fund to increase compensation for early educators and decrease tuition costs for families across the state. The coalition also recommends that child care expenses be capped at 7% of annual family income, in line with federal recommendations. 

In response to the Blue Ribbon Panel report released in December 2023, Child Care for Connecticut’s Future released its own detailed recommendations to comprehensively address the state’s childcare crisis. Child Care for Connecticut’s Future is a non-partisan coalition representing parents, providers, business leaders, advocates, and community leaders who want to transform how child care and early education are funded in Connecticut.

Throughout the state, early childcare providers are closing their doors during the rallies to underscore the need for what they describe as massive changes to improve the broken system.  The scheduled rallies include:

  • Bridgeport, 10-11 a.m., Washington Park (474 East Washington Avenue)

  • Cheshire, 5:15-6 p.m., Play to Learn (200 Mansion Road)

  • Danbury, 5-6 p.m., Danbury Library Green (170 Main Street)

  • Hartford, 5-6:30 p.m., Minuteman Park (Capitol Avenue)

  • New Haven, 8-9 a.m., Town Green (across from City Hall, 165 Church Street)

  • Norwalk, 9-10 a.m., Norwalk Town Green (8 Park Street)

  • Stamford, 8:30-10 a.m., Government Center Stamford  (888 Washington Blvd.)

  • Stratford, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Town Hall (2725 Main Street)

  • Torrington, 5:15-6 p.m., Torrington City Hall Steps – 140 Main Street

  • Waterbury, 9-10 a.m., Town Green (In front of YMCA)