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Friends,
As the new school year approaches, many families are faced with uncertainty heading into the fall as most school systems set plans for virtual learning and some in-person learning. I understand the strain and major disruptions that potential school closures and virtual learning have placed on our children, parents, teachers, and communities in North Carolina.
It is my highest priority to ensure that schools are safely opened as soon as possible in a way that protects the overall health and well-being of all students, families, educators, and school employees by making sure schools implement proactive safety measures. When physical reopening is not possible, we need to make sure students are receiving the highest quality education possible.
We also must recognize that child care services are crucial to our economic recovery as parents begin to return to their physical workplace. We need to provide federal assistance for child care providers so they can continue to offer critical and affordable child care for working mothers and fathers in North Carolina and ensure they have the support needed to protect the health of children and staff.
That is why I recently co-introduced legislation that supports child care services by:
- Providing 9 months of financial assistance for providers to open, welcome children safely, and ensure a robust child care sector is available for families.
- Allowing states to design state-specific plans to support child care centers, operators, and providers in their state.
- Providing grants based on need and fixed costs incurred by child care providers due to COVID-19.
- Requiring all providers receiving assistance under this program to follow all state and local health and safety guidelines.
I will continue to work towards the safety and well-being of every child, parent, child care worker, and teacher in North Carolina heading into the school year.
Thank you for reading, and as always please reach out to my office if you have any questions or need help with a federal agency and please stay safe.
All the best,
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