Early Learning Challenge Grantees and Child Care Assistance Policies

Last week the winners of the first round of the Early Learning Challenge grant competition were announced.

The 9 states selected to receive the grant awards (California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Washington) have laid out comprehensive, collaborative strategies to achieve stronger early learning systems that increase low-income children’s access to high-quality early care and education.

We hope that the states’ efforts will include steps to address continuing gaps in their child care assistance policies. Because according to our analysis of data from our recent report, many of these states are falling short in providing the help low-income families need to afford reliable, high-quality care. Be sure to check out the highlights of our analysis here!

All 9 of the states have gaps in one or more policy areas, such as:

• Reduced income eligibility limits
• Long waiting lists for child care assistance
• Relatively high copayments for parents
• Inadequate reimbursement rates to child care providers
• Or shortfalls on other policies.

We hope that this analysis will help inform efforts to improve early learning systems in the states. Child care assistance allows low-income women to work and support their families during these difficult economic times and helps children have the early learning experiences they need to enter school ready to succeed. This support for women and families is critical to meeting the Early Learning Challenge.

Please take a moment to check out our analysis and be sure to share it with your friends and colleagues! For more information about child care assistance policies in these 9 states—and all 50 states—also see our new state fact sheets.