Hundreds of Virginia parents and child care workers went to the state Capitol this week to demand that lawmakers expand access to affordable child care as the General Assembly’s 2026 session enters a key budget phase.
Parents gathered on the Capitol steps in Richmond on Thursday holding signs that read “Child Care Is Essential” and “Support Working Families” while advocacy groups met with legislators inside to push for more state funding, higher pay for providers, and longer-term support for early education programs.
The Budget Crisis Facing Families
Organizers said many families are struggling as temporary federal pandemic-era funds have expired, leaving centers with budget gaps and forcing some to raise tuition or close classrooms, according to the Henrico Citizen.
They warned lawmakers that without action this year, more parents could be forced to cut work hours or leave their jobs because they cannot find safe, stable care for their children. The collapse of federal support has created an urgent gap that state funding must fill to prevent further service disruptions…