At the same time, children's development and families' needs do not end when the bell rings or when they enter kindergarten; continuous afterschool programming from early childhood through adolescence is critical. To fully realize the goals of universal childcaresupport working families, advance educational equity, and strengthen the economyNew York City must extend this vision to K12 students and make universal afterschool programming a core part of the solution.
Affordable childcare means that families can stay in the city and that parents can continue to work. We know that when mothers leave the workforce to care for a child, they forgo, on average, $145,000 in earnings throughout their lifetime.