NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Rallies were held across the state to highlight the need for child care programs.
Teachers, education officials and advocates closed child care programs for a portion of the day to draw attention to the importance of day care programs, calling on more funding from the legislature.
'We really think we are key to the economy and there needs to be movement and more investment," said Allyx Schiavone, the co-director of Child Care for Connecticut's Future.
This was the third annual Morning Without Childcare rally.
Daycare programs in ten cities across the state, including in New Haven, closed their doors for about an hour to show how vital these programs are for children and families.
"They know the system they’re operating in is broken and they’re demanding the Governor and legislators invest in us," said Schiavone.
The goal is to catch the eyes of lawmakers, demanding more funding for teachers salaries, higher quality programs, and affordable rates for parents.
"Parents are dealing with a lack of access to high quality care or being on wait lists for long periods of times," said Miriam Johnson Sutton, head of programs for Friends Center for Children.
Early childhood education officials say the average daycare employee makes under 30,000 dollars a year.
With a lack of staff, there's also a lack of spots for children in programs.
Workers said additional funding will draw more employees into the profession and allow parents with quality options for their children.
"We are like children’s first role model for teaching, everything that’s bringing them into the future why not pay us what we deserve so we can implement what they need to help them in their future?" said Rondraya Barron, a daycare employee.
Advocates said there's already a bill on the table that would give early childhood programs more funding.
They're calling on the legislature to pass that legislation.
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