Four Key Areas to Focus on to Transform Early Education and Childcare at the State Level
As a result of the pandemic, funding for early childhood care and education programs is now available from the federal government. And while the proposed Build Back Better bill failed to pass, there’s a likelihood that more federal funds will be available to support children and help families balance work and childhood education as parents navigate a tight labor market. However, many states are unprepared to receive the funds and distribute them effectively.
States who operate fragmented support services that cobble together programs across different state agencies are less likely to have a roadmap to guide funding decisions to ensure the right programs reach those who most need the benefits.
Increased federal funds should theoretically create systemic change in early childcare and learning, but for states with fragmented programs, even the process of deciding how to disperse funds can pose a burden for states, families and providers.
