Supporting Families and Strengthening Early Childhood and Education

Guarantee access to universal childcare through school age

Universal childcare means affordable, high-quality care from infancy through school age, including after-school care and school breaks, so parents can maintain steady employment year-round. When care is stable, families are better able to stay housed, keep children engaged in school, and access preventive health care, which strengthens communities and reduces avoidable strain across public systems.

Stabilize the childcare workforce by paying wages people can live on

Childcare will not expand if the people doing the work cannot afford to stay in the profession, and low pay is a primary driver of staffing shortages that keep programs from opening classrooms and filling seats. Parents cannot absorb tuition increases large enough to fix this, and providers cannot cut costs without cutting quality, so improving wages requires stable, ongoing public funding rather than one-time bonuses.

Ensure childcare reimbursement rates and payment structures reflect the true cost of care

Reimbursement rates that fail to cover the real cost of care force providers to cap enrollment, reduce hours, or close altogether, even when demand is high. Predictable, adequate rates are essential to maintaining existing programs and expanding supply, particularly in upstate and rural communities where options are already limited.

Expand childcare options through outdoor, nature-based programs

Creating a clear certification pathway for outdoor, nature-based childcare expands provider capacity by lowering startup costs and facility barriers while maintaining quality standards. Research on nature-based early childhood settings suggests benefits for children’s self-regulation, social-emotional development, and executive function, with particular promise for some neurodivergent children.

Strengthen youth mental health through early, community-based supports

Childcare and school settings are often where early signs of stress, developmental challenges, or mental-health needs first appear. Stable, high-quality care supports early identification and connection to services before challenges escalate into crises.

Reform Foundation Aid so school funding reflects need, not local wealth

Foundation Aid is the state’s primary formula for funding public schools and is intended to ensure every student receives a sound basic education, regardless of where they live. Foundation Aid should be reformulated so low-wealth districts are not disadvantaged by weak local tax bases. It’s critical that the formula more accurately reflects student need and regional costs.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Delivered results through targeted childcare and education investments

I secured $5.4 million in state capital funding to expand the Coddington Childcare Center, increasing daily capacity by 50–60 families. Earlier, I developed and funded a grant program through the Child Development Council of Central New York to support family childcare providers serving multiple upstate regions.