early learning
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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 …

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 …

The First Five Questions for Congressmen Joaquin Castro and Brian Fitzpatrick
This week, First Five Years Fund (FFYF) launched its new First Five Questions series which will bring interesting leaders, experts, and voices together to talk about child care challenges and …

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 …

2023 FFYF Federal Guide to Early Learning and Care Programs
The 118th Congress has the opportunity to invest in America’s children, working families, and the economy through high-quality early childhood education. This resource book is an introduction to the foundational …

Intro to Early Learning and Care in the 118th Congress
The inability to find and afford quality child care and early learning options shouldn’t be the reason parents choose not to work. Yet for years, the high cost and the …

Early Learning and Child Care: Unaffordable, Unattainable, Unsustainable
Parents and employers rely on affordable, quality child care to support a robust workforce – but it’s often out of reach for too many Child care is an integral pillar …

2023 ABCs of Federal Early Learning and Child Care Funding Streams
Every year, millions of children who range in age from birth through five benefit from an array of federal early learning and care programs. While there are different early learning …

Moving Early Learning and Care Forward: Federal Legislative Proposals from Lawmakers on Both Sides of the Aisle
While Congress has put forward numerous federal early learning and care proposals over many years, FFYF has curated a sampling of bills authored by Democrats and Republicans that work to …

FFYF’s 2022 Child Care & Early Learning State Fact Sheets
Our analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D.C. shows that the existing patchwork of federal and state early learning and care programs only reaches a fraction of income-eligible families. Federal …

Indiana — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities
High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. To …

Illinois — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities
High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. To …