CLASP
The Center for Law and Social Policy
Accessible, affordable, high-quality child care and early education are vital for the economic well-being of families, communities, and the nation. However, families, especially those of color with low incomes, face significant challenges in accessing these services due to systemic racial and economic barriers. Federal programs like the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Head Start help, but funding has never met the need.
Affordability remains a major hurdle, with child care costs often exceeding the federal affordability benchmark. Only a fraction of eligible children receive subsidies, with racial and ethnic disparities further limiting access. The pandemic highlighted the importance of child care, with relief funding providing temporary support. Yet, without continued investment, these gains are at risk.
Recent policy shifts, such as the Biden-Harris Administration’s Executive Order and new CCDBG rules in February 2024, show progress. However, sustained, significant public investments are needed to build a universally accessible, affordable, and equitable child care system, free from its historically racist roots.
For 25 years, CLASP’s Child Care and Early Education (CCEE) team has been instrumental in ensuring that millions of families with children have equitable access to affordable and quality care and education. We are so deeply proud of the impact CLASP’s CCEE team has had over the last 25 years.–rom leading the charge in securing billions of dollars in relief resources during the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic – to the reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) in 2014 – all the while continuing the extensive and much needed research and advocacy in the field, CLASP’s efforts have resulted in millions more children having access to affordable, high quality child care. Over the coming months, we will plan to highlight key people, including former and current CCEE staff, CLASP leadership and partners, and notable moments in the team’s history.
Mark your calendars for our culminating event – the 25th Anniversary Celebration! On Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 6:00pm ET we will bring together CLASP and the CCEE team’s alumni, friends, and partners to celebrate some of our greatest achievements, and learn about the bold vision for the work ahead.
With 25 years of experience and expertise behind us, we’re also looking ahead to the next 25, reimagining the narrative of child care in this country and what it means to have true affordable and accessible care for everyone. Our vision remains the same: to advance racial, gender, and economic justice by centering people with lived experience to advocate for equitable access to affordable child care and early education that meets families’ and providers’ needs.
RSVP below to join us this fall on Wednesday, September 25th at 6:00pm ET. We can’t wait to see you there! More details on event location and virtual options will be announced closer to the event.
The following statement can be attributed to Elizabeth Lower-Basch, deputy executive director for policy at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).
Washington, D.C., June 27, 2024–Today in a pair of cases, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority overturned a 40–year–old precedent, known as “Chevron deference,” which generally required courts to defer to the expertise of agency rulemakers. This precedent has supported tens of thousands of rules used by federal agencies to execute regulatory authority on topics from the environment to financial services to patient, consumer, and worker protections, and protected them from frivolous lawsuits. With this change, all regulations will be much more vulnerable to litigation – which will delay implementation even when the regulations are eventually upheld – and judges will be able to make decisions grounded in their personal opinions rather than the substantive knowledge of agency experts.
Exactly how damaging this decision will be remains to be seen; Justice Roberts in his decision claims that it “does not call into question prior cases that relied on the Chevron framework.” But the decisions in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce raise the stakes for judicial appointments at all levels, as well as increase the need for Congress to pass detailed legislative instructions that leave less room for judicial meddling. Because countless federal regulations support people with low incomes, these decisions have the potential to significantly affect their lives.
By Alycia Hardy, Stephanie Schmit, and Rachel Wilensky
National Report
This report analyzes variations in eligibility and access to Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) subsidies in 2020. State decisions on implementation within the CCDBG program, along with historically insufficient federal and state funding, limit parents’ access to child care assistance. We analyze state-level Administration for Children and Families CCDBG participation data by state, race, and ethnicity, with analysis on both state and federal income eligibility limits. As an update to our previous report with 2019 CCDBG data on inequitable access, this iteration includes a new analysis of data on potentially eligible children, or children who qualify for receiving CCDBG assistance based on the outlined eligibility requirements.
National State-Level Income Eligibility Fact Sheet
This fact sheet outlines CCDGB subsidy eligibility and receipt for children ages 0-13 across the country, analyzing national totals including variations by race and ethnicity, based on state income eligibility.
State-by-State Fact Sheets
Inequitable Access to Child Care Subsidies by State in 2020
These fact sheets outline CCDBG subsidy eligibility and receipt for children ages 0-13 in each state, including variations by race and ethnicity. (See note below about states marked with *, indicating data limitations.)
* Due to data limitations, including sample size limitations in the American Community Survey and/or missing and/or invalid CCDF data from the Administration for Children and Families, we were unable to conduct analyses on potential eligibility and CCDBG access for all racial and ethnic groups in the indicated states.
** Georgia, which did not report any data on race and ethnicity, is excluded from all state and national race and ethnicity analyses, and thus does not have a state fact sheet.
From May 19-22, CLASP’s Child Care and Early Education team will be presenting at Child Care Aware of America’s 2024 Symposium in Arlington, VA. The symposium is centered on the question: “How do we capitalize on our wins and lessons learned and boldly tackle our field’s hardest challenges?” In response, the team will be delivering three presentations.
On Sunday, May 19, Stephanie Schmit and Alisha Saxena will be presenting Inequitable Access to Child Care Subsidies (link forthcoming). This session will cover how limited federal investments, state funding constraints, and restrictive policies make the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) out of reach for far too many children and families. The presentation will also explain how access to CCDF subsidies has varied across all 50 states and DC by race and ethnicity. The session will be aimed at helping decision makers and advocates understand the current landscape.
On Monday, May 20, Rachel Wilensky, Alyssa Fortner, and Shira Small will be presenting Opportunities for States to Expand Access to Child Care Assistance. This session will detail the lack of a comprehensive child care and early education system and how that impacts access to child care assistance. It will review four key policy levers that can equitably increase access within the confines of the current system and highlight examples of positive state progress. The session will be aimed at leaders seeking meaningful ways to improve equitable access to child care assistance.
On Wednesday, May 22, Tiffany Ferrette and Alyssa Fortner will be presenting Centering Black Families: Equitable Discipline through Improved Data Policies in Child Care. This session will explore how enduring anti-Black racism in child care can be addressed to support systemic change in discipline policies through equitable data practices. This session will be aimed at those interested in ensuring Black children have equitable access to high-quality, affirming, and safe child care.
By Tiffany Ferrette, Diane Girouard, Maria Estlund, Rachel Wilensky, Alisha Saxena, and Karen Schulman
This resource summarizes the changes required or encouraged in the final CCDF rules and outlines encouragements to consider. We focus on requirements and encouragements and do not cover every aspect of the final rule, such as technical changes and clarifications on background checks and other provisions. However, we have provided examples from states that have already implemented key requirements as well as other information to support state efforts.
This rule is not directly attached to additional funding or higher allocations for states. However, the recent Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 includes a $725 million, or 9 percent, increase in discretionary funds to the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) above last year’s allocation. While the increase to CCDBG is needed, concerns related to economic recovery, unemployment, and inflation persist, as well as the looming expiration of American Rescue Plan funds on September 30, 2024. Some states have been able to allocate additional state resources to child care and early education. But fully supporting state implementation of the requirements outlined, in addition to implementing any of the encouraged improvements, requires significant and sustained new federal and state investment.
Last year, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) released a report, Putting the Pieces Together for Families with Young Children: Aligning State Health and Human Services, Nutrition, Child Care, and Paid Family and Medical Leave. This report highlights the challenges parents of young children face in accessing the benefits and services they need to thrive and the steps that some states are taking to make this process easier. In this webinar, CLASP staff will interview parents, advocates, and administrators from California, Washington, and Washington D.C. who will offer insight into what it takes to build an aligned system of supports for families in this critical period.
Panelists:
- Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Deputy Executive Director for Policy, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
- Alyssa Fortner, Policy Analyst, Child Care and Early Education, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
- Unique Robinson, Parent, California
- Shereese Rhodes, Parent, Washington
- Melissa Stone, Deputy Director, Disability Insurance Branch, California Employment Development Department
- Jennifer Greppi, Parent Policy Director, Parent Voices
- Ruqqiyah Ambar Shaheen, Director of Early Childhood Programs and Policy, DC Action for Children
- Babs Roberts, Director, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
By Shira Small and Stephanie Schmit
4 min read.
Now that the federal fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget is finalized, we’re moving into advocacy for FY2025, which begins on October 1. The first step in the yearly budgeting process is the release of the President’s budget, which is a mechanism for the President to share his priorities and vision for the forthcoming fiscal year. President Biden’s recently released FY2025 budget proposes bold investments in children and families. It prioritizes improved access to child care and recognizes the need for increased funding for families, providers, and the economy. While congressional action is needed to make the president’s proposals a reality, the budget’s investments make President Biden’s recognition of the value of child care clear.
Given the expiration of the final child care relief investments and the need for resources to implement the new Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) final rule, investments in child care in the FY2025 budget are critically important to ensure that positive progress made at the state level can be maintained and that more children have access to care.
The president’s budget includes both proposed investments in mandatory spending (longer-term, more sustainable funding) and discretionary spending for FY2025 (year-to-year investments approved through the appropriations process).
Affordable Child Care for America
President Biden’s Affordable Child Care for America initiative is the most notable proposed investment in child care and early education. The initiative would invest $600 billion in mandatory child care and universal pre-K over the next 10 years.
If implemented, the initiative would guarantee affordable care for families earning up to $200,000 a year from birth through kindergarten, capping the daily cost of care at $10 for most families. The budget estimates that this would extend child care access to 16 million children and save families over $600 a month on average per child, helping parents and especially women re-enter the workforce. The increased investment would also go toward raising compensation for child care providers.
The proposed budget would also fund universal preschool for four-year-olds and help expand preschool enrollment for three-year-olds. Parents would have the option to access preschool using a variety of options such as child care centers, public schools, Head Start, and more.
FY2025 Discretionary Proposals for Child Care and Early Education Programs
The following discretionary investments in child care and early education programs are included in the FY2025 budget:
- Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): CCDBG would receive $8.5 billion, an increase of $500 million from FY2023 (see note below) and nine percent of the total proposed Administration for Children and Families budget. The increased funding is part of Biden’s Affordable Child Care for America plan, which aims to raise the number of children receiving subsidies.
- Head Start: Head Start would receive $12.5 billion, a $544 million increase from FY2023. The increase is intended to support funding for upcoming Head Start Final Rule changes that aim to raise Head Start provider compensation to a level comparable to salaries received by public school teachers. The increase in funding is paired with a legislative proposal to revise American Indian and Alaska Native and Seasonal Head Start eligibility requirements in order to reach more children.
- Preschool Development Grant (PDG): The budget includes a decrease of $65 million in the PDG program. This brings the proposed PDG funding down to $250 million compared to $315 million in FY2023.
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): The budget proposes $425 million for IDEA Part B Preschool Grants, which fund special education and related services for children with disabilities ages three through five. This marks a $5 million increase over FY2023 funding levels. It includes $545 million for the IDEA Part C Infants and Families program, which is also a $5 million increase over FY2023 funding.
- Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS): CCAMPIS would receive $80 million, which is a $5 million increase to the program. This investment would provide funding for colleges and universities that provide child care for student parents with low incomes.
President Biden’s budget reflects the administration’s effort to invest in the care economy and extend affordable child care to more children and families. These investments can only be realized if Congress makes a strong commitment to creating a sustainable child care system that works for children, families, and providers. It is long past time that the child care sector receives the funding that recognizes its value to families and the economy and meets children’s needs.
Due to the timing of President Biden’s budget release, funding proposals were compared to FY2023 investments within the budget documents as FY2024 funding bills had not yet been finalized. We maintained those comparisons in this piece to remain consistent with the numbers and increases outlined in the President’s budget documents. On March 23, Congress passed the FY2024 funding bill, which included significant increases in CCDBG and Head Start. The CCDBG investment in FY2024 therefore exceeds the discretionary amounts in President’s FY2025 proposed budget. We hope Congress will recognize the ongoing need for increased funding for these important programs and deliver on the investments advocated for in our FY2025 community letter.
(EXCERPT)
As part of the federal funding package Congress approved last month, the state will receive almost $12 million more over the next year to help low-income families pay for child care, according to estimates from The Center for Law and Social Policy. That brings Washington’s total for the federal grant program this money will flow under to around $128 million.
By Liz Bell
(EXCERPT)
In North Carolina, the subsidy investment equates to about $24 million more in Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds, according to a state-by-state breakdown from the Center for Law and Social Policy, a national nonpartisan nonprofit. CCDBG is the federal source of funding for states’ subsidy assistance programs, which help low-income parents afford child care.