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FY2024 Funding Bill Includes $1 Billion Increase for Federal Early Learning and Child Care Programs
The newly announced spending package for FY24 contains $1 billion in increased funding for programs that provide the foundation for child care and early learning. The following is a statement …

New BPC Report Outlines State Steps to a Competent, Stable Early Care and Education Workforce
When it comes to improving access to high-quality early care and education (ECE), strengthening the workforce must be a top priority. Teachers are instrumental to program quality— we know that …

Summary of Recent Rule to Improve Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recently finalized a new rule that will strengthen key policies in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) – the program that includes …

GAO Report: Opportunities Within Head Start to Better Align Resources with Child Poverty
Recently, GAO released a report on the availability of Head Start throughout the nation. The report finds that the availability of Head Start programs varies widely across states and counties …

2024: The State of Our Union Is Dependent On Child Care
WASHINGTON – In response to President Biden’s March 7, 2024 State of the Union address, First Five Years Fund (FFYF) Executive Director Sarah Rittling released the following statement: “Child care …
New BPC Report: A Look into Child Care Workforce Licensing Requirements
Every day, early childhood educators play a crucial role in nurturing and shaping the minds of our youngest learners. Yet, the qualifications required for this essential workforce vary drastically across …

FFYF Analysis of 2024 State of the State Addresses
Analysis of 2024 State of the State addresses given by Governors across the country found that child care, early learning, and early childhood received substantial attention across state and party …

Total Federal TANF & State MOE Expenditures for Child Care & Early Learning in FY2022
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides federal grants to states to design and operate programs that help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency. TANF plays a crucial role in …

IN CONTEXT: Child Care Costs Surpass Other Major Family Expenses
We’ve all heard that families with young children in the United States today are struggling to afford child care. Now we know just how tough it really is. According to …
New Grant Reports on PDG B-5 Show the Beneficial Impact of Federal Funds
Grants made through the federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) initiative help ensure state child care and early learning systems are as effective and efficient as possible. …

2023: A Year in Review
2023 was a big year for child care and early learning! Together, we urged Congress to prioritize the funding and policies that strengthen child care and early learning with: Thank …

How States Are Using PDG B-5 Grants to Support Career Pathways
The BUILD Initiative, ZERO TO THREE, and Start Early, recently released a new brief highlighting the strategies states are using to improve career pathways in their Preschool Development Grant Birth …