The cost of raising a family has grown exponentially since I was a kid in the 90s. Parents are having to spend more and more time working just to make ends meet and are consequently missing out on valuable time actually raising their children. Even worse, childcare costs have gone through the roof, rivaling or even surpassing the costs of attending a four-year university.

Progressive values are family values.

We can make early childhood education affordable for all. We can make having children a gift instead of a financial burden. We can empower parents to provide the best possible outcomes for their children so they show up to school able and ready to learn.

Here’s how:

• Universal Federally funded Pre-K

• Universal free lunch at public schools

• $6,000 child tax credit

• SSN credits to stay-at-home parents