ESCCC leaders had a great time at Caucus Weekend presenting our vision for achieving universal child care with @jabaribrisport.bsky.social . Grateful to our partners at AQE, @childrensagenda.bsky.social, ECEONTHEMOVE, WNYCCAT, and DCCNYINC for their contributions!
Thank you @shelleybmayer.bsky.social for pushing for important changes to the Foundation Aid formula to help reflect the needs of students, including students who are homeless who currently get no added funding through the formula. spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...
The Children’s Agenda has long advocated for a universal child care system, and we celebrate Governor Kathy Hochul’s historic announcement yesterday of substantial funding commitments which will accelerate statewide progress towards universal child care and universal Pre-Kindergarten. Our recent poll shows that nearly every New York voter who is considering having children is concerned about the costs of raising kids, and the cost of child care is a major stressor for 61% of parents, especially parents of color and those in New York City.
The vision of the Empire State Campaign for Child Care outlined in New York State Child Care for All is moving ever closer to reality. Governor Hochul’s additional $1.2 billion investment in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) will ensure that nearly 200,000 children, including at least 10,000 here in Monroe County, will be able to access safe, quality care. We particularly appreciate the Governor’s focus on expanding access to care throughout Upstate New York and hope to see Monroe County at the top of the list of pilot programs.
Increased workforce compensation is critical to achieving universal child care throughout New York State, as low pay ($38,000 per year on average) is a determining factor leading to provider shortages and wait lists. We look forward to working with the Governor and legislature to increase educator pay. Truly universal child care supports all children, including those with disabilities, and we appreciate Mayor Mamdani’s public recognition of the right to inclusive early childhood education.
Pre-Kindergarten is another essential foundation for children’s future success, and we celebrate Governor Hochul’s $470 million commitment to remedy the funding shortfalls that we and our partners have been calling out for some time, including in our report Reimagining Universal Pre-Kindergarten Funding in New York: Addressing Equity and Funding Sustainability. Increasing the funding floor for Pre-K will encourage districts to add classrooms and move New York State towards a truly universal Pre-K system. At the same time, increasing the per-pupil amount for existing Pre-K classrooms will allow early adopters like the Rochester City School District to restore program stability that had suffered under the frozen funding formula.
The Children’s Agenda has long advocated for a universal child care system, and we celebrate @governor.ny.gov historic announcement yesterday of substantial funding commitments which will accelerate statewide progress towards universal child care and universal Pre-Kindergarten.
We applaud @governor.ny.gov historic announcement today to accelerate progress towards universal child care and pre-kindergarten across New York state. This is a huge win for families across every community in the state and helps make New York a more affordable place to start and raise a family.
We're thrilled to be here to share in the good news that child care will be more accessible to so many more families in New York State. We are especially pleased about the expanded funding for the Child Care Assistance Program, which so many families rely on. Let's get this done!
When child care works, parents can work, kids thrive, and families get ahead.
@governor.ny.gov's $4.5B investment builds on proven progress—expanding PreK statewide, moving NYC toward universal 3-K, launching 2-Care, and reaching more families.
robinhood.org/news/rh-stat...
Ask any parent and they'll tell you: The cost of child care is too damn high.
I want to make life easier for them.
That's why we're delivering affordable, universal child care for children under five throughout New York State.
New: Gov. Hochul is set to propose an expansion of universal pre-K statewide, funding for Mayor Mamdani's 2-Care program and pilots of additional child care expansions in select parts of the state. The pair will be in BK this morning with more details www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...
Ahead of today’s anticipated vote on extending Premium Tax Credit enhancements, hear the stories from various ACA marketplace enrollees on what they fear they have to lose if their monthly premiums rise and they are unable to afford the health care they need. Thread ⬇️
Thank you to North Country Public Radio for their reporting on our efforts to make universal child care a reality in New York State!
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...
Thank you @madinatoure.bsky.social & @politico.com for sharing what NY voters want to see state leaders like @governor.ny.gov addressing in 2026. There's a lot more common ground than partisan division in what families need to succeed. thechildrensagenda.org/2025/12/19/p...
A New York survey of 4,000 adults finds one in four have no savings and many rely on debt as housing and living costs outpace incomes.
"Mamdani and others cite a plan to overhaul the system by the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, a coalition that came together in the summer of 2017 when a state budget proposal threatened cuts to child care subsidies."
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Possible first steps on road to universal child care - thank you David Lombardo at Capitol Pressroom for diving deep into this essential need @empirestateccc.bsky.social capitolpressroom.org/2025/12/11/p...
Join us for our 2026 Advocacy Day in Albany on Tuesday, January 27th to make it clear that child care must be a top priority in this year's state budget! Register now: airtable.com/appknPXXZF6c...
There’s more interest than ever in child care in New York, and this is a moment we can’t afford to let pass. Join us Dec 15 or 18 for a one-hour virtual teach-in on the Child Care for All roadmap. Pick your date and help build power by inviting someone else into the fight!
forms.gle/ZnDY6nWLzUf9...
Many thanks to Jack Arpey at Spectrum News 1 Capital Region for highlighting the new report from @empirestateccc.bsky.social - New York State Child Care for All. Between Gov Hochul and Mayor-elect Mamdani, NY is in prime position to enact universal child care. spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...
A black and white photograph of two young boys, one wearing glasses, sitting and listening attentively in a classroom setting. A yellow banner across the top reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) turns 50 this year. The law ensured disabled kids would have access to public schools and promised funding for schools to make it possible." The source is cited at the bottom.
A photo of a young boy wearing glasses, giving a high-five to an unseen adult hand. The title banner reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "IDEA serves children as young as infancy and toddlerhood through its Part C early intervention services. But administrative and funding barriers mean only about half who qualify are enrolled." The source is cited at the bottom.
A graphic illustrating a classroom setup with several gray desks and chairs, and a few yellow desks and chairs highlighted in the middle. The title banner reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "During the 2022–23 school year, 7.6 million students between the ages of 3 and 21 received special education services through IDEA. That’s three out of every 20 public school students." The source is cited at the bottom.
A photo of a young girl in a pink shirt sitting in a wheelchair and looking directly at the camera, leaning on a table in a classroom. The title banner reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "Vouchers = fewer protections for children The use of vouchers harms students with disabilities by resulting in the forfeiture of nearly all federal protections and the loss of guaranteed special education services." The source is cited at the bottom.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of IDEA—a landmark law that ensured millions of disabled students would receive quality education. Yet, that promised education is at risk today with a federal funding gap of over $38 billion.
As of Nov 1, the NHSA shows 140 HS programs are operating w/out #federalfunding & are facing possible closure due to a lack of funds. Affecting 22,432 HS staff across the country. If uncertainty continues, more HS programs will be impacted.
Learn more: nhsa.org/about-nhsa/...
🚨 Advocacy Actions: Tell leaders that SNAP must be funded! 🚨
📨 Individual letter to your state representatives: secure.everyaction.com/XuhUXuyhqUeP...
📨 Organizational sign-on letter: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
If you or someone you know in the western NY area is struggling to find food in the coming days, please use this helpful resource from our friends at Foodlink - foodlinkny.org/find-food/
Our most recent blog is an interview with Larry Marx, CEO of the Children’s Agenda. He discusses courage, faith, and rest in leadership. foramericaschildren.org/the-courage-...
📣📣📣ACTION ALERT: Contact your Members of Congress TODAY to urge USDA to release its ~$5B in contingency funds. mazon.org/policy_actio...
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $30 million in assistance as the federal government shutdown puts SNAP benefits in peril.
rochesterbeacon.com/2025/10/27/n...
With millions at risk of losing SNAP in the coming days, a reminder: hunger doesn't happen in isolation. When food assistance disappears, families use rent money to eat. Then come evictions and homelessness.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
#SNAP ’s contingency fund has more than $6 billion available, enough to cover most November benefits for millions of people. The Administration should act as soon as possible to release these funds and prevent hunger for millions. www.cbpp.org/blog/the-tru...
New York is 'failing its youngest children' in early intervention, report says. Read the news from Dan Clark at @timesunion.com on The Children's Agenda's latest report, highlighting the need to reimagine Early Intervention here in NYS.
www.timesunion.com/state/articl...
“New York’s children deserve better," Assembly Health Chair Amy Paulin said.
We honor the history, resilience, and rich cultures of Indigenous Peoples.
The Smithsonian National Museum of American Indian is home to Native Knowledge 360, a free resource to transform teaching and learning about Native Americans. Check it out.
americanindian.si.edu/nk360
Government shutdowns are bad for children and families. Learn which basic needs programs will be impacted. As we learn more about resources that can help families make ends meet during this turbulent time, we will share them with you.
childrensfundingproject.org/update/gover...
