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Final Rule for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Includes Early Learning and Care Among Other Purposes
Last week, the Department of Treasury published a final rule for the use of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). …
Federal Legislation Impacting Early Childhood Education Due for Reauthorization
The table that follows outlines federal early childhood programs that have expired or will expire during the 117th Congress (2021-2022), and that fall within the jurisdiction of the Senate Health, …

National Report Examines State Preschool Policies in 2020-2021
The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released the 2021 State of Preschool report, an annual survey of state preschool policies. The 19th edition of the report focuses on …

Senate Banking Subcommittee Hearing Highlights the Connection Between Child Care Access and Growing the Economy
This week, the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Economic Policy held a hearing to discuss the importance of investing in child care to help grow the economy and slow the rate …

Advocates Call for Increased Funding for Early Learning and Care Programs in FY2023 Appropriations
The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) and a coalition of national early education advocacy organizations have written to Congressional appropriators with a request for increased funding for the existing federal …

Administration Expands Eligibility Criteria for Head Start Programs
Big news for young children and their families! On April 21st, the Office of Head Start (OHS) announced it would expand categorical eligibility to include children who qualify for the …

FFYF Co-Hosts Congressional Briefing Highlighting Importance of Federal ECE Funding
On Thursday, First Five Years Fund (FFYF), together with the National Head Start Association (NHSA), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and Child Care Aware of …

Health care workforce turnover rates 43% higher among women with children under five
A new study from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on turnover rates among health care workers. Turnover rates were 43% higher among women …

House Budget Committee Report Highlights Importance of Child Care for Women to Return to the Workforce
The House Committee on the Budget recently released a report discussing the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women’s labor force participation and the need for policies that support their …

ECE Apprenticeship Grants Are an Important Piece of Supporting Child Care Workforce
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recently highlighted a grant opportunity in support of early care and education (ECE) apprenticeships. The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Apprenticeship Building America …

Ahead Of Tax Day, Critical Child Care Tax Provision Needs Updating
Tax Day 2022 is Monday, April 18th, and while much attention has been paid to the vitally important Child Tax Credit (CTC) in recent years, there’s another critical provision of …