For Immediate Release

May 17, 2021

Contact: Amanda Farnan, afarnan@dccouncil.us or (202) 355-8431

Councilmember Christina Henderson introduces legislation to ensure access to child development facilities that are high quality and affordable

Washington, DC – Today, Councilmember Henderson introduced the Facility Allowance for Child Development Centers Amendment Act of 2021. This legislation will help ensure that all 45,000 children in the District under age 5 have access to child development facilities that are high quality and affordable.

“As we work towards an equitable recovery for all District residents, we have a responsibility to promote widespread availability of high-quality childcare services and centers,” said Councilmember Christina Henderson. “With this legislation, we will create targeted supports for childcare centers striving to achieve quality or high-quality performance under the Office of the State Superintendent for Education’s assessment metrics. All District families deserve access to care that will build a solid foundation of emotional, social, and cognitive skills during early childhood – and this post-pandemic financial support would help make that a reality.”

The early years of a child’s life are critically formative. According to the Schuyler Center, 75% of brain growth and 85% of intellectual, personality, and social development occurs before age 5. Further, the Center for American Progress reports that children enrolled in high-quality early learning programs are less likely to need special education services during their K-12 years, are less likely to commit juvenile offenses, and more likely to graduate from high school. In the District, the 2013 Baseline Quality Study and Workforce Survey conducted by Great Start DC found that infants and toddlers of the District of Columbia are receiving minimal early care and education.

This legislation will establish a pilot program providing a facility allowance of $2,000 to child development centers and homes that currently hold a “progressing” or “developing” rating from OSSE. The financial enhancement must be used to help with facility costs such as rent/mortgage, utilities, facility upgrades, or maintenance. The program will require OSSE to evaluate the impact of the enhanced facility allowance, creating an opportunity for best practice sharing and enabling better assessments of the level of support necessary to achieve lasting quality improvements moving forward.

The Facility Allowance for Child Development Centers Amendment Act of 2021 was co-introduced by Councilmembers Brianne K. Nadeau, Brooke Pinto, Anita Bonds, Elissa Silverman, Mary M. Cheh, and Robert C. White, Jr..