Child Care and Early Education Policy Update

by Helen Blank, Director of Leadership and Public Policy,  
National Women’s Law Center 

Register for a Free Conference Call: Unions Supporting Family, Friend and Neighbor Care in New York

The National Women's Law Center has scheduled the third in our series of conference calls that will examine child care unionization and other strategies for improving compensation, benefits, and working conditions for family child care and family, friend and neighbor care (FFN) providers. This call will focus on New York state and New York City, where unions representing child care and FFN providers are in the process of ratifying contracts. The call will feature representatives from unions who have made much progress in winning increased supports for providers. Presenters for this call will include Denise Dowell from the Early Learning and Care Programs, Civil Service Employees Association and Tammie Miller from United Federation of Teachers.

Register now for a free conference call on Tuesday, October 6, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.

Early Learning Challenge Fund Update

On Thursday, September 17, the House passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221) by a vote of 251 to 171. The bill includes the new Early Learning Challenge Fund which would provide competitive grants to challenge states to build comprehensive, high-quality early learning systems for children up to age five. For detailed information on the Early Learning Challenge Fund, check out NWLC's summary. We expect the Senate to consider its version of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act soon. Stay tuned!

Sen. Harkin Is New Chair of HELP Committee

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) accepted the chairmanship of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) Committee, replacing the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). The HELP committee is responsible for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Head Start, education for young children with disabilities and special needs, Title I (which can support early learning), and Higher Education. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark) will replace Sen. Harkin as Chair of the Agricultural Committee, which is responsible for child nutrition programs including the Child and Adult Care Food Program.