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Committee hears bill to study ERDC enrollment and barriers for student parents
Summary
House Bill 2593 would require the Department of Early Learning and Care to report on Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) enrollment, outreach and strategies to meet enrollment targets for working families and student parents. Testimony emphasized steep childcare costs, confusing program name and long wait lists.
Representative Zach Hudson opened a public hearing Tuesday on House Bill 2593, which would require the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to report on current enrollment and changes since the ERDC wait list was implemented, and to recommend strategies to ensure enrollment includes a minimum 50% working families and 20% student parents.
Supporters including student parents, labor advocates and immigrant‑rights groups urged passage of the bill as a transparency and outreach measure. Andrea Haverkamp of AFT Oregon said ERDC was designed to support student parents but is “falling short of reaching its full potential,” and urged lawmakers to require data that will inform future policy and funding choices. Felicity…
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