Schools Response to COVID is Harming Subsidized Families
Going on two years, the world that we all knew in 2019 exists no more.
When the COVID pandemic began, thankfully Governor Newsom and the California State Legislature responded by partnering to implement policies in a number of areas to support Californians. For families that are income eligible for a child care voucher to access child care while working, the above partnership secured emergency rules and actions that not only supported families with distance learning and shelter in place policies, but also that supported child care being funded to support essential workers and policies to keep family child care providers and centers funded and stable.
When the flexible policies needed to address the chaos created by the pandemic were implemented, most of them had an expiration date. When implemented, no one could have foreseen that COVID variants were to emerge. However, that is now the world that we live.
Public schools throughout the state began reopening this Summer. Many of the schools recognized that families still were fearful of the future and many parents wanted options to sending their children to a campus. Therefore throughout the state, many schools supported parents with choosing in person or distance learning options. Many schools supported families with choosing such options beginning last June with a notation that any choice made would remain in place for at least three months before a change could be requested.
Now the unintended harm many of our lowest income subsidized families throughout California are facing. Choose your job or your child.
Specifically, on June 30, 2021 expired a policy that supported income eligible families with a child care voucher to reimburse for child care during school hours. This policy was specifically secured to help families maneuver the chaos that erupted with COVID.
Now that most of the schools have reopened, nearly all of the schools have been dealing with COVID positive exposures. These exposures are resulting in classrooms being shut down for a couple weeks, children being sent home due to COVID positive exposure and schools supporting parents with distance learning options. However, the policy that would've continued supporting subsidized families with securing child care during school hours while a parent must work no longer exists.
Everyday, we hear that employers cannot find enough workers. We see restaurants unable to open because they are unable to hire enough staff. We know that our hospitals are once again being pushed to capacity, however many that work in those settings including janitors, administrators, nurses and more cannot report to work. Why? Because for whatever the reason, their school age child cannot go to a classroom.
We understand that Governor Newsom and State Legislators are dealing with a multitude of crisis'. However, this issue must immediately be addressed or more parents are going to have to quit their jobs. This is not a blame issue. No parent should be put in the position of choosing their child or employment. This is an easy fix. Reissue the directive,
MB 20-15a, with an expiration date of June 30, 2022 and the inclusion of a review of the policy prior to the expiration date.
Below is more information on the expired directive and a CALL TO ACTION.
