West Virginia Childcare Advocates Organize as Legislature Fails to Pass Childcare BillsIn a disheartening turn of events, the West Virginia Legislature has failed to pass any childcare bills at all, notably House Bill 4797, which sought to reimburse childcare providers based on the enrollment of children rather than the daily attendance. This failure to address crucial childcare issues represents a significant setback for families across the state, particularly in the realm of workforce participation.
House Bill 4797 was a vital piece of legislation designed to reform the way childcare providers are reimbursed. By shifting reimbursement to be based on enrollment rather than attendance, the bill aimed to provide stability and financial security to childcare facilities, which in turn provides stability for workers and their respective employers. This change would have relieved providers from the burden of uncertain revenue streams, ensuring that they could continue to offer high-quality care without the fear of financial instability, closing classrooms, and closing facilities as a whole.
The importance of such legislation cannot be overstated, especially in the context of workforce participation. Access to affordable and reliable childcare is a significant factor influencing parents’ ability to join or remain in the workforce. According to Team for WV Children and Child Care Aware of America, 42.6% of children who need childcare in West Virginia cannot access it. Without adequate childcare options, many parents, especially mothers, are forced to choose between their careers and caring for their children. This dilemma often results in individuals, particularly women, being forced to exit the workforce or being unable to fully engage in their professional lives, ultimately hindering economic growth and perpetuating disparities in the workforce.
Moreover, the failure to pass childcare bills like House Bill 4797 not only impacts families and individual career opportunities but also has broader economic implications. A well-supported childcare system facilitates increased workforce participation, which in turn drives productivity and economic growth. By neglecting to address childcare issues, the West Virginia Legislature is effectively impeding the state’s economic development and perpetuating systemic barriers to prosperity.
After many years of advocating for a childcare enrollment reimbursement bill with nothing to show for it, childcare providers, families, businesses, and organizations around the state are coming together more than ever before to save the childcare industry and hold our legislators to their word. In his recent op-ed, Hoppy Kercheval stated, I distinctly remember House Speaker Roger Hanshaw saying on Talkline the first day of the session that he wanted to pass legislation expanding childcare options in the state and make it more affordable. He said businesses that are coming here or are already here and growing want affordable and available childcare for their workforce. That would have been a practical next step for state government to encourage economic growth, but nothing passed.”
The urgency of addressing child care concerns is further highlighted by initiatives like the “Day Without Childcare” scheduled for May 13th. This event aims to underscore the essential role that childcare plays in supporting working families and the economy. By encouraging parents to keep their children at home, organizers hope to draw attention to the challenges faced by families in accessing affordable and high-quality childcare. Other organizing efforts being considered are town halls, candidate forums in preparation for the upcoming primary election, and the closing of facilities for various amounts of time to demonstrate the catastrophic effect that this will have on our communities and state as a whole if our legislature does not make significant and permanent investments in childcare.
While there is a price tag attached to this legislation(as there is on most), according to James Heckman, American economist and co winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, high quality early childhood education yields a 13% return on investment. This research dives into and takes into account a plethora of life outcomes such as overall health, crime rates, income, IQ, Education, and the increase in a mother’s income after she is able to return to the workforce when she is able to access childcare. This holistic approach pushes West Virginia forward in all of the ways our legislature claims it wants to, but didn’t pass the bills to back it up.
In failing to pass critical childcare legislation, the West Virginia Legislature is not only hurting its constituents but also jeopardizing the state’s future prosperity. It is imperative that lawmakers prioritize the needs of working families and take meaningful action to reform and improve the childcare system. Investing in childcare is not just a matter of social welfare; it is an investment in the economic vitality and future success of West Virginia. As such, the legislature must reconsider its priorities and act swiftly to address the childcare crisis facing the state.
In an administration update briefing on March 14th, Governor Jim Justice stated, “I will absolutely call our legislators back into special session, and I will call them back possibly very soon.” He expressed the need to pass childcare legislation, but is focused on tax credits, which do not stabilize the childcare industry at all. Tax credits won’t help when childcare providers are forced to close classrooms and doors because the industry is unstable. Childcare providers cannot survive without enrollment based reimbursements. I urge you as workers, families, business owners, community members, and West Virginians, please contact Governor Justice and ask him to focus on enrollment based reimbursements for childcare providers.