Frequently Asked Questions

Click to view the final program implementation design

The Need

Our city has a child care crisis. Too many of our kids can't access the early education programs they need to succeed. For the average Saint Paul family, childcare is more expensive than housing. Over 50% of children in Saint Paul live below 185% of the poverty line. Hundreds of children are on waitlists for childcare because current funding levels don’t meet the need. Without childcare and early learning opportunities, kids are starting kindergarten behind, parents can’t enter the workforce, and our state’s education inequities worsen.

Minnesota has the seventh-least affordable childcare in the nation. The average family in our state with two kids in childcare pays nearly $36,000 for that care. That’s 152% more than that same family pays in rent. It’s unsustainable for family budgets, a drain on our economy, and damaging to the thousands of kids who are priced out of early learning opportunities.

The Benefits

Everyone benefits because the program will build a better Saint Paul. When fully funded, the program will supplement existing funding so that 0-5 year olds in Saint Paul, who live at or below 185% of poverty, would be able to attend an early learning program for free. While more state funding is needed to fully address the issue, this program would be an incredible community benefit.

All families seeking to access care will benefit from the one stop shop online platform the city will create that will have postings for available spots and simplify the application process.

Our education systems have been historically underfunded by state and federal governments. Having our students entering kindergarten ready to learn will decrease the amount of money our district spends on special education mandates. Even after a statewide effort to cover more of the costs of special education, SPPS still spends nearly $40 million more than it receives to help kids catch up.  We can eliminate much of that spending by investing in early education programs. Education isn't just about funding schools — it's the gateway for people to join the workforce, the housing market, the economy, and contribute to the community in countless ways. We can't improve the health of Saint Paul without addressing education — especially early learning.

A Better Saint Paul

Getting children on the path of success at an early age ensures the success of our city's future workforce, economy, and overall well-being. Children entering kindergarten today are tomorrow's essential workers, healthcare professionals, business owners and civic leaders.

There is no more powerful tool for achieving equity than to give children equal access to early learning programs. Access to early learning correlates to increases in graduation rates, college enrollment, and property values.

The program will alleviate the burden on other public expenditures that increase when early learning is not adequately funded, such as medical and public assistance programs, special education programs, and unemployment. In addition to long-term returns on early learning funding, providing greater access to childcare and education keeps more families in the workforce right now.

According to the Center for American Progress, American businesses lose an estimated $12.7 billion annually because of their employees' child care challenges. Nationally, the cost of lost earnings, productivity and revenue due to child care challenges totals an estimated $57 billion each year. Research from the Federal Reserve has shown that there is a 16:1 return on investment for early learning programs - that is, for every dollar spent, there are sixteen dollars of economic development and growth.

We’ve seen in recent years that even modest investments in families can make a big difference in keeping our city running. We have an opportunity to apply that lesson and come together as a community stronger than ever. We can build a better Saint Paul for everyone.

The Program

If approved by voters, funding will supplement existing sources so that Saint Paul children from birth to five years old who live at or below 185% of poverty will be able to attend an early learning program at zero cost. Children could attend any program in a mixed delivery system, including school-based programs, HeadStart, childcare centers, and family and neighborhood care. The program will cover a variety of service levels, up to full-day, full-year programming. An online platform will allow families to view all available programs, and staff navigators will help families find programs and apply for funding. 

The Cost

The program will be funded by a small, incremental, annual increase to property taxes over the next 10 years. The average home will pay an additional $16.00 in the first year, less than $2 a month. After the 10th year, when the program is fully funded, the average home will pay $160.00 each year. This small price will fund a program that will ensure opportunity and equitable access to early learning opportunities for children across the city.

How Did We Get Here?

A dedicated group of early learning advocates has been working on this initiative for years.  After gathering information about the need, the cost, and the benefits of a childcare and early education benefits program, and researching models across the country, they brought the idea to the City Council.  

In 2022, the Council appointed an Early Learning Legislative Advisory Committee to study the idea and make formal recommendations.The Committee included government officials, childcare providers, parents, and early education experts. They developed a series of recommendations for a potential program and the Council put funding for the program on the ballot. Currently, the Council is working with experts and stakeholders to fully design the program to best serve our city’s children and families.

This November, St. Paul voters get to decide whether to make this historic investment in our kids and our community.

How Can I Help?

We are a grassroots, people-powered campaign, dedicated to building the support necessary to invest in our children and families. If you’d like to get involved, you can sign up for our volunteer and mailing list here. If you’d like to make a contribution you can donate here. We believe in complete transparency in our fundraising. You can view our campaign finance documents here.