Maximizing Early Care and Education Funding

Families with young children face a variety of barriers to securing convenient, affordable and high-quality child care before kindergarten. These barriers are especially pronounced for families who cannot afford the high cost of tuition. While several public funding streams exist for pre-K and child care, the demand for care far exceeds available funding.

States play a prominent role in funding early care and education systems using both federal and state funding streams. To support varying options for early care, states are exploring innovative funding mechanisms and policy approaches. This Policy Brief details federal and state funding sources and strategic approaches to increase capacity and access.