A Day Without Child Care: Why We Showed Up and Why It Matters

Today, Jubilee JumpStart stood alongside child care providers across Washington, DC in a powerful act of solidarity: the Day Without Child Care. As part of this annual day of action, centers closed or reduced hours to highlight a growing crisis. This crisis impacts not only educators and providers, but also working families and our broader economy.

We joined educators, families, and advocates at the Wilson Building for the Save Child Care Rally organized by Under 3 DC, a coalition of DC Action. The message was urgent and unified. Center directors spoke about the real risk of closing their doors. Educators called for fair wages and sustainable careers. Families shared what is at stake if access to care disappears.

We are proud of our teachers, staff, and volunteers for showing up and speaking out. Their message was clear: child care is essential, and DC must invest in it.

A System Under Strain

Mayor Bowser recently announced a freeze on new enrollment in the District’s Child Care Subsidy Program, effective May 2026, due to a projected budget shortfall. This follows years of intentional underinvestment, including the diversion of tens of millions of dollars from the program. In a city where infant care already costs over $2,000 per month and affordable options are scarce, this decision will only deepen the crisis.

If implemented, families will be placed on waitlists, shutting many out of affordable care. Providers will be forced to leave seats unfilled, leading to classroom closures, staff layoffs, and higher tuition for private-pay families. The consequences are far-reaching: children losing access to early learning, parents pushed out of the workforce, and centers at risk of closing.

At the same time, the DC Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund is under threat. This program has helped stabilize the workforce by raising educator pay to levels comparable with public school teachers. Without it, wages will drop, staff will leave the field, and providers will struggle to maintain capacity.

These decisions directly impact our ability to serve families. Centers may be forced to reduce hours, lay off staff, consolidate classrooms, and serve fewer children overall. Without sustained investment, we risk losing the educators who make high-quality care possible. In a recent Jubilee JumpStart survey, teachers reported that their salaries make up 83% of their household income on average, nearly half are sole breadwinners, and 69% say they could not remain in the field without Pay Equity Fund support.

What’s at Stake

Together, the subsidy freeze and Pay Equity Fund cuts threaten to undo years of progress:

• Fewer affordable child care options for families

• Lower wages and increased turnover for educators

• Reduced capacity for providers

• A widening gap in access to early childhood education

We cannot let this moment pass without action. Join us in calling on DC leadership to protect and invest in child care:

1. Call Mayor Bowser and City Administrator Kevin Donahue and tell them: “No enrollment freeze. Fully fund child care subsidy and the Pay Equity Fund.”

2. Email Mayor Bowser and City Administrator Kevin Donahue and urge them to pass a Fiscal Year 2027 budget that fully supports affordable child care for working families.

Our children, families, and educators deserve better.