Child care in Indiana now costs more than college tuition — and there are 31,000 kids on the waitlist for state assistance. In fact, Indiana ranks last in the country for child care access. As centers close, parents are forced to cobble together unsafe arrangements or for some the have to leave the workforce entirely, which costs the local economy $4.2 billion a year because of it.

Sara supports fully funding vouchers to clear the waitlist. She would champion universal Pre-K because every dollar invested comes back sevenfold through working parents and better-prepared kids. When child care works, everything else works better. Parents stay employed. Local businesses keep reliable workers. Kids show up to kindergarten ready to learn.

Sara sees child care as infrastructure — just like roads and broadband. District 34 families deserve solutions that treat it that way.