“Teachers in our classrooms are warriors... and if we continue to lose our licensed teachers due to the inability to compete, we risk being able to provide for our families. And when we can't provide for our families, they can't go to work.”

Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 proposed budget includes commonsense solutions to problems facing Pennsylvanians — especially when it comes to strengthening the Commonwealth’s child care workforce.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal delivers commonsense solutions to strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce, including a $55 million investment in workforce recruitment and retention grants for child care workers in the Child Care Works (CCW) Program. The grants would provide an additional $1,000 annually per employee working for a CCW child care provider, ensuring more families can access quality child care.

Building on his commitment to making child care more affordable and accessible, the Governor has already expanded the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit – saving 218,000 families over $136 million – and created the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit to help businesses support employees’ child care needs. 

Governor Shapiro has called on the General Assembly to join him in solving workforce shortages in critical industries.

Click here to watch Michelle Dallago, Executive Director of The Perception Training Center in Schuylkill County, explain why stronger support for child care workers is essential, or read the transcript below.

TRANSCRIPT

“My name is Michelle Dellago, and I'm owner and director and head of school of The Perception Training Center. I'm here today because I was invited by the Governor.

“Teachers in our classrooms are warriors. Not only are they lesson planning, observing children, assessing them, meeting with parents for conferences — but they're also nursing them when they're sick and they're cleaning spills and they're washing bathrooms. And if we continue to lose our licensed teachers due to the inability to compete, we risk being able to provide for our families. And when we can't provide for our families, they can't go to work. 

"Today, I'm just full of hope. We spent the better part of a year and a half advocating with our local legislators. They've been so open to hearing our concerns, to hearing the need for child care reform. Not only were they interested in hearing our stories, but then it seems like they’ve gone to the next level where they're wanting to help.”