Publications

The District of Columbia’s Childcare Subsidy Program is critical infrastructure for children, families, the local workforce, and the District’s early care & education system. More than 7,000 DC families currently rely on subsidies to afford childcare that would otherwise be financially out of reach.

The current budget cuts will leave thousands of working families and single parents without affordable child care and could result in higher tuition costs or early childhood workers taking their talents elsewhere.

The Honorable Phil Mendelson Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 502 Washington, DC 20005 May 13, 2026 Dear Chairman and Members of the DC Council, We urg...

My testimony will focus on the urgent need for strong and sustained funding for the early childhood education system, specifically the child care subsidy program and the Pay Equity Fund.

The Pay Equity Fund is the nation’s first dedicated public funding stream designed to close the pay gap between early childhood educators and public school teachers, reflecting a commitment to recognizing early educators—disproportionately women and women of color—as essential to the education syste

While DC Action’s policy analysts are still looking into the more granular details of each of our funding priorities, so far we see one positive investment and a number of concerning cuts to programs that youth and working families rely on.

On April 9, 2026, DC Action and DC Fiscal Policy Institute, executive committee members of the Under 3 DC Coalition, released new public polling showing overwhelming support for early education investments and innovative tax solutions, with support cutting across race, geography, and family status.

New polling shows that the District’s voters still solidly support investments in making child care more affordable for families and providing fair pay for early educators and teachers.

In 2025, we didn’t just respond to threats — we built power. We centered lived experience. We turned data and compelling storytelling into policy wins. And we showed that when communities organize, elected officials listen.

DC Action’s DC KIDS COUNT Data Trends Report offers a comprehensive, data-driven look at how children, youth, and families in the District are faring—and where persistent inequities continue to limit opportunity.

DC lawmakers did not allocate sufficient funding for the child care subsidy program for fiscal year (FY) 2026; it is our Coalition’s understanding that OSSE is developing a waitlist policy for the child care subsidy program in the event that program costs outpace program funding.