FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC – March 11, 2021 – In responding to Mayor Bowser’s recently announced child care relief plan, Ronald Jarrett, Under 3 DC’s Director, said, “Our coalition appreciates Mayor Bowser’s quick allocation of federal funds to help early education businesses sustain themselves. It is an important next step toward keeping doors open and businesses afloat as we begin the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Time is of the essence. An undefined spring timeline to begin the application process is not acceptable when so many businesses are at risk of closure. We also call on OSSE, the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF), and the Low-Income Investment Fund (LIIF) to make the application process as accessible and pain-free as possible for providers who have been stretched thin and stressed out for a year.”
Jarrett continued, “As Mayor Bowser noted in yesterday’s press release, ‘child care is critical.’ It is, especially if getting parents back to work and rebounding our city’s economy is a priority. Under 3 DC believes it is a crucial component of our District’s education system, along with PK-12 schools and higher education that deserves ongoing support.”
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About Under 3 DC
Under 3 DC harnesses the voices and power of the District’s parents with young children, early educators, and community-based organizations to shine a spotlight on the need for more public investments in early education and health programs for infants and toddlers. Together, we can set the District of Columbia on a path to creating and sustaining a high-quality, equitable early childhood system.
