Upcoming: How will our local election affect child care in San Francisco?

Come learn more at our child care Mayoral and Supervisor Forums!

By Alan Wong, Director of Public Policy Communication

As we move past the budget “season” in San Francisco, it’s evident that our elected officials are pivotal in shaping child care policies and funding.

This Fall, we will have the chance to elect our leaders for Mayor and six supervisorial districts, in addition to school board and City College board members. We invite you to learn more about some of these candidates and their positions on early childhood education and child care. Who we elect, and how much they know about child care and ECE matters. 

Children’s Council of San Francisco, in partnership with Parent Voices SF and the SF ECE Advocacy Coalition, worked hard to let our elected officials know about the child care and early education needs of our community over the last few months. Here’s a summary of our key coalition successes locally because of this education and advocacy work:

• City Budget for 2024-25: Includes a new plan to allocate $120 million over the next two years from Baby Prop C funds to increase eligibility for child care financial support to families earning between 110% and 150% of the Area Median Income (up to ~$144,000 for a family of four).
• Secured Funding: Protected $32 million in Baby Prop C funding for child care over the next four years.
• Prevented Negative Impact: Ensured a proposed November 2024 tax reform ballot measure did not adversely affect child care funding.
• Resolution Passed: Urged the City to spend down Baby Prop C funds and increase investment in child care.

While some candidates have put forward specific ECE policy agendas, others are still learning more about our deep and effective system of care for San Francisco families with young children. With the November 2024 elections approaching, it’s vital for our child care community to engage with candidates and understand their positions on these important issues. To help with this, Children’s Council of San Francisco, the San Francisco Child Care Planning and Advisory Council and the SF ECE Advocacy Coalition are organizing forums for Mayoral and Supervisor candidates.

Mayoral Candidates’ Forum
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Time: 6:00pm
Location: 362 Capp Street, San Francisco, CA
Invited Candidates: London Breed, Aaron Peskin, Mark Farrell, Daniel Lurie, Ahsha Safaí

District 9 Supervisor Candidates’ Forum
Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Format: Zoom
Invited Candidates: Jackie Fielder, Trevor Chandler, Roberto Hernandez, Stephen Torres

District 11 Supervisor Candidates’ Forum
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Format: Zoom
Invited Candidates: Ernest EJ Jones, Michael Lai, Chyanne Chen

We encourage you to join us at these forums to hear directly from the candidates and advocate for the needs of our child care community.

Thank you for your continued dedication to ensuring a bright future for our children and families.