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Committee backs ordinance to create Infant & Toddler Early Learning Scholarship Fund
Summary
Supervisors voted to forward an ordinance establishing an infant and toddler scholarship fund and approved amendments that prioritize parents attending publicly funded institutions and require OECE to submit rules to the Board; providers and advocates urged support during extensive public comment.
The Budget & Finance Committee on Oct. 26 voted to forward an ordinance establishing an Infant and Toddler Early Learning Scholarship Fund to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
Supervisor Yi, sponsor of the ordinance, said the measure creates a dedicated fund to support infant and toddler care and directs the Office of Early Care and Education (OECE) to design program rules and grant criteria. Yi described the high cost of infant care in San Francisco (which she cited at about $2,400 per month) and stressed that the fund is intended to help low‑ and moderate‑income families and bolster workforce participation.
Yi offered two amendments that the committee approved: the first clarifies that priority will be given to parents or caregivers attending publicly funded schools while not excluding parents who attend other institutions; the second requires OECE to submit initial program rules to the Board and delays grant activity under those rules until at least 90 days after submission to allow Board review.
Public comment featured providers, advocates and parents who urged the committee to pass the measure so that families can return to work and programs can expand capacity. Elizabeth Newman of the Department on the Status of Women said childcare access is a major workforce barrier for women, and multiple providers described long wait lists and high costs that limit family options. “We strongly urge you to support the early learning scholarship fund,” said Monica Walters of WES Children’s Services.
The committee approved the amendments and forwarded the ordinance as amended to the full Board for consideration.
Next steps: OECE will draft program rules, submit them to the Board within the 90‑day period set by the ordinance and return with implementation details and any appropriation requests for funding.
