STATEMENT: SEED Act Passes Into Law

Bill Extending Educator Tax Deduction to Early Childhood Educators for the First Time

The bipartisan Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act is set to become law, marking a key bipartisan victory for early childhood educators and an important step forward for federal child care policy.

The SEED Act will, for the first time, allow early childhood educators to claim the same federal tax deduction for out-of-pocket classroom expenses currently available to K-12 teachers. The legislation was led by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA) and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH).

The following is a statement from First Five Years Fund (FFYF) Executive Director Sarah Rittling:

“The SEED Act becoming law is a bipartisan recognition of the early educators who make child care possible for millions of families and help power our economy every day. This is also an example of what Congress can accomplish when lawmakers work together. At a time when families, educators, and providers continue to face enormous challenges, this progress shows that bipartisan action on child care is both possible and achievable.

“Early educators play an essential role in giving young children a strong start and building the foundation for their future success. But for too long, they have been left out of a tax benefit available to their K-12 peers, even as they spend their own hard-earned money on books, supplies, and materials for the children in their classrooms. 

“We are deeply grateful to Senators Collins and Bennet, and Representatives Fitzpatrick, Panetta, Valadao and Goodlander, and the bipartisan lawmakers in both chambers who championed the SEED Act and helped get it across the finish line. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to advance bipartisan solutions that strengthen child care for families, educators, and communities across the country.”