Analysis
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STATE OF PLAY: Federal Shutdown and Child Care/Early Learning Programs
The federal government shut down last night, with Congress unable to come to agreement over either the FY26 appropriations funding bill or a Continuing Resolution. While there are many unknowns …
New Interactive Resource Reveals Staggering Data on the Child Care Gaps Across the United States
The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska, in collaboration with Child Care Aware of America and the Bipartisan Policy Center, recently released an interactive map resource that …
Side-by-Side Analysis: Comparison of the 2025 Child Care Modernization Act to Current Law
The following is a summary of key revisions the Child Care Modernization Act of 2025 would introduce to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. Among other …
STATE OF PLAY: Appropriations
Each year, Congress determines funding levels for all federal defense and non-defense discretionary programs, including those that support the care and education of children from birth through age five. Traditionally, …
The First Five Things to Know About: Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5)
Due to limited budgets and capacity, many states struggle to support the important activities – like data collection, research, infrastructure development, and other quality initiatives – that can make their …
How Do Families Decide on Child Care? A New Study Examines Early Learning and Care Decision-Making
Without sufficient federal funding for early learning and care services, options for children and their families remain limited. Thankfully, there are efforts underway to increase access to affordable, high-quality care. …
State-By-State: A Look At How Many Families Receive the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC)
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) helps millions of working families cover a portion of their child care costs. In 2022, more than 5.7 million families nationwide benefitted …
TOPLINES: Child Care in the 2025 Tax Reconciliation Package
The final version of the 2025 tax reconciliation package (also known as H.R.1) was signed into law on July 4th, 2025. The bill permanently improves three pieces of tax policy …
Governors show support for Federal Preschool Development Grant B-5 Funding
The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program is a competitive federal grant program that plays an essential role in ensuring state child care and early learning systems …
Overview: White House Budget Request, FY2026
On May 30, the White House released its official budget request for Fiscal Year 2026, with supplemental information following a week later in the Congressional Justification for the newly renamed …
Federal Investments are the Foundation for State and Local Early Care and Education Programs
Our nation depends on child care. Today, nearly 70% of children ages five and under – 14.7 million children – have all available parents in the workforce. But the high …
New Resource Outlines Crucial Role of Head Start for Rural Communities and Children with Disabilities
In May, the Children’s Equity Project (CEP) released a new resource on Head Start’s crucial impact on access to quality early learning and related services for children with disabilities and …
