Social justice in our communities

South San Francisco coalition prepares for Free Early Care and Education for All ballot measure

by Doniella Maher, AFT 1493 Cañada College Chapter Co-Chair

A coalition of teachers, in-home childcare providers, parents, and community activists in South San Francisco have been preparing a ballot measure for the November 2022 election. The initiative will provide free, universal Early Care and Education for all children within the boundaries of the South San Francisco Unified School District.  It will also include a guaranteed wage increase for childcare providers and teachers who opt in to the Universal Pre-Kindergarten program.

Access to childcare has long been an issue in South San Francisco, where waiting lists for the popular Parks and Recreation childcare programs include over 700 families with waits of up to 5 years.  At the same time, South San Francisco has been a place of rapid business growth as companies take advantage of its close proximity to San Francisco and Silicon Valley. The city’s identity as a working class community that has provided relatively affordable living for folks pushed out of San Francisco and its emerging identity as a Research and Development center, have increased the visibility and the contradiction of the incredible wealth being generated while local parents and children struggle to find and pay for adequate childcare.

The campaign will officially launch its measure on January 8, 2022 and funds are needed to build the organizing effort. If you would like to donate or get involved in the campaign, please go to the Early Care and Education for All South San Francisco campaign website or contact Doniella Maher at maher@aft1493.org.