Child Care & Early Learning

Send a thank-you note to President Obama

President Obama announced his ambitious agenda for early care and education.

Learn more and take action...

How will the March 1st across-the-board cuts impact children?

Our interactive map shows the impact of sequestration on CCDBG and Head Start in each state.

Check it out...

Child Care Assistance Policies Are On a Downward Slide

Child Care Assistance is on a Downward Slide

NWLC's new report shows that families in 27 states are worse off than they were in 2011 under one or more child care assistance policies.

My Child Care Love Story

We don't hear enough about the good experiences parents have with child care.

Raise your voice and share your story on our new Tumblr.

Child Care & Early Learning Experts Discuss Reforms

On 9/27, NWLC's Helen Blank spoke on a NAF panel of experts in child care and early learning.

Watch now.

New Early Learning Initiative

Impact of Sequestration

Child Care Assistance

My Child Care Love Story

Reforming Child Care

Highlights

Fact Sheet | High-Quality Prekindergarten Is a Wise Investment

March 8, 2013

Early education helps prepare children to succeed in school and in life. This fact sheet summarizes the beneifts of Prekindergarten.

Fact Sheet | Expand Access to High-Quality Early Care and Education for Infants and Toddlers

March 8, 2013

High-quality early care and education is essential for children in their earliest years of life when they are first learning and exploring, yet high-quality programs are in short supply.

Fact Sheet | Governors’ 2013 State of the State Addresses: Mentions of Early Care and Education

March 14, 2013

A total of 27 governors (as well as the mayor of the District of Columbia) referenced early care and education in their 2013 state of the state addresses—an increase from 22 governors in 2012 and 17 governors in 2011. These governors recognize that early care and education helps prepare young children for future educational success, provides crucial support for parents, and strengthens our nation’s economy.

Reports & Toolkits | Downward Slide: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2012

October 11, 2012

The National Women's Law Center's 9th annual review of key child care subsidy policies in all fifty states and the District of Columbia reveals that families were worse off in 27 states than they were in 2011 under one or more child care assistance policies. Families are not only worse off in 2012 than they were in 2011, but are also worse off than a decade ago.

More Resources

Webinars & Presentations | Transcript for Early Childhood: Debt Deal's Impact on Early Childhood Programs

August 16, 2011

Helen Blank from the National Women's Law Center (NWLC), Adele Robinson from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Danielle Ewen from CLASP, and Harriet Dichter from the First Five Years Fund provided an overview of the debt deal's implications for early childhood programs and other safety net programs.

Coalition Action Materials | Coalition Letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius in Support of Early Childhood Investments in FY 2013

August 12, 2011

On August 12, 2011, the Child Care and Early Learning Coalition sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebeilus in support of increasing investments in early childhood for FY 2013.

Coalition Action Materials | Join the Fight for Increases in Head Start and Child Care

August 10, 2011

The legislation that will most affect profoundly young children and their families over the next decade is the Budget Control Act of 2011. The Act lays out a plan for deep cuts that could affect early childhood programs, including child care and Head Start. Early childhood advocates will also need to turn their attention to the FY 2012 appropriations process and ensure investments in early childhood continue.

Coalition Action Materials | Coalition Letter and Comments on Guidelines to Early Learning Challenge Initiative

July 11, 2011

On July 11, 2011, members of the Child Care and Early Learning Coalition submitted a letter and set of comments on the draft requirements, priorities, selection criteria, and definitions for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grants to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and the Administration. The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge’s goal is to incentivize states to create systems for improving the quality of early learning settings for children ages birth to five and increase disadvantaged children’s access to higher-quality early learning programs.

Download the letter and comments below for more information.

Coalition Action Materials | Letter in Support of Proposed SNAP Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions

July 05, 2011

NWLC supports the Department of Agriculture’s proposal to eliminate the cap on the deduction for dependent care expenses in determining SNAP (Food Stamp) eligibility, which has the potential to greatly expand access to benefits for low-income families.