Ashley Bolin

asbolin@ilstu.edu

October 25th, 2015

Dear Rodney Davis,

I am writing as both an Illinois citizen and a future educator. I

currently attend Illinois State University majoring in Early Childhood

Education. The purpose of this letter is to emphasize the importance of

the Child Care Assistance Program and how the current budget cuts to

the program are damaging to our society. It is my responsibility as a

future educator to advocate for children and their families. Their future,

our future, is being held hostage by our states government.

Due to the massive budget cuts thousands of children are

currently suffering. Children are being denied an education during the

most critical period in their development. Research proves that when

children from low-socioeconomic backgrounds are provided a quality

education early in life they are more likely to be academically

successful. By denying young children an education based on their

parents income the government is only widening the achievement

gap. The safety of the children is also at risk. For the parents who

continue to work, where will their children go? These children could to

placed into the care of unqualified adults, adolescents, or even worse

left home alone. Is this a risk the government is willing to take?

Parents and educators are faced with the repercussions from the

budget cuts. The current eligibility requirements for the Child Care
Assistance Program are forcing parents to make a difficult decision.

Parents must choose to either live well below the poverty line in order

to qualify or to quit their jobs to care for their children. As a result

unemployment rates will continue to rise which will only harm our

states already fragile economy. As educators it is our responsibility to

educate all children in our community, not just those that can afford it.

Childcare centers across the state have availability yet must turn

families away. Low enrollment rates are forcing hundreds of centers of

close their doors. As a result many will find themselves unemployed.

The state needs to realize the importance of the Child Care

Assistance Program and how the current budget cuts are devastating

to children, parents, and our communities. We may not be able to

prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our

children for their future. As Malcolm X once said, education is the

passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for

it today. By denying young children an education the state is

therefore denying these children an opportunity for success. What I ask

of you is to consider supporting the Child Care Assistance Program and

to fight for the children of the State of Illinois.