According to a recent National Public Radio poll, across regions and family types, the cost of child care is the greatest source of financial stress for families today. In Florida, as in many other states, it is less expensive to send a child to a state university than it is to pay for child care for an infant. Why? Because child care and early education is a labor-intensive industry, requiring a low student-to-teacher ratio.

For the last four years, the First Five Year’s bipartisan poll shows a majority of voters want greater access to affordable, quality early childhood education. Even in the midst of a polarized campaign season, 90 percent of voters agreed on one thing: Congress and the president should work together to make quality early childhood education more accessible and affordable for low- and moderate-income families.