early learning
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ACF Awards Approximately $115 Million in Head Start funds to Serve About 5,000 More Children
Last week, the Administration for Children and Families announced $200 million in funds for early care and education – almost $87 million in new PDG B-5 awards and almost $115 …

New Evidence Suggests Expanding Access to Pre-K is Good for the Economy
The White House Counsel of Economic Advisers recently released an issue brief presenting new findings that investing in universal pre-K has broad economic benefits. Child Care is Infrastructure: Evidence from …

Side-By-Side: Comparison of the Child Care & Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2024 to Current Law
The Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the primary federal grant program that provides child care assistance to low-income working families with children under age 13. It plays …

Child Care Choices: An Overview of Early Learning and Care Settings
Finding child care that is affordable, safe, and developmentally appropriate is critical for children and families alike. Families also need choices to meet their specific needs. Children experience both short- and …

State by State: Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
It’s a struggle for millions of hard-working American families to afford quality child care. Federal programs and policies help support working families with child care expenses, but they are limited …

Survey Finds States Make Difficult Trade-offs When Pandemic-Era Child Care Funding Runs Out
The bulk of child care relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) expired last September, and the remaining $15 billion is set to expire next week. This funding …

The First Five Things To Know About: Child Care Is Infrastructure
Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) reintroduced her “Child Care Is Infrastructure” package, two bills designed to make critical investments in child care facilities and the early education workforce. Here are …

2024 Candidate Briefing Book: Voters and Child Care
An election year provides an important opportunity to highlight issues that are top of mind for voters. In 2024, there is a growing sense of urgency around child care. Voters …

The First Five Questions for: Senators Tim Kaine and Katie Britt
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) hosted Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) in the latest segment of our First Five Question Series – a …

Head Start Final Rule Makes Big Changes to Staff Compensation, Program Eligibility, and More
The Office of Head Start (OHS) published the final rule on August 21st, titled Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming, updating the Head Start Program Performance Standards. …

Safety, Quality, and Accountability: Understanding Child Care and Early Learning Regulations
There are numerous policies in place to ensure the safety and quality of care for young children. Understanding the different levels of oversight that hold early care and education (ECE) …

State Of Play: Federal Child Care Solutions Gain Steam Going Into The August Recess
June and July brought a lot of Congressional momentum, with multiple pieces of proposed legislation that would bring better support to more working families and young children who need quality, …