Lightbridge Academy Director for Cranford, Amanda Jennings (on left) poses with Assemblywoman Matsikoudis (center) and Jacylyn Falzarano, a ECEA board member.

Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis (R-21st. Dist.), a member of the Assembly Education Committee, visited the Lightbridge Academy child care center in Cranford on July 1 to tour the facility and discuss key industry concerns.

The focus of discussion included:

1. Women employers/employees are (by far) the most impacted by the loss of child care because of  COVID rules. That includes quarantine, the inability to pay for childcare and the lack of available space especially for infants and toddlers. The childcare industry is unique as it is one of the few industries where women, own/operate centers and employ predominately women.
2. Legislation that puts all services for ages 0-6 children under one roof so there is one point of entry for providers and parents is ideal. This is how childcare is provided in such states as Georgia and Massachusetts.
3. There needs to be a mandate that school districts engaged in UPK must look to partner (public/private partnership) with DCF-licensed community-based child care centers prior to opening new UPK classrooms in a public school.

Photo: Lightbridge Academy Director for Cranford, Amanda Jennings (on left) poses with Assemblywoman Matsikoudis (center) and Jacylyn Falzarano, a ECEA board member.