Child Care Aware® of America closely monitors the federal budget and appropriations process to ensure strong funding for federal early childhood programs. The current funding for child care is inadequate, fragmented, unpredictable and unsustainable. The child care system relies on a patchwork of funding streams that places too high a burden on families paying tuition and on educators working for low wages, creating clear inequities. High-quality early childhood education is a public good, and it must be valued as such. It contributes to stronger families, greater economic development and more livable communities. CCAoA will continue to communicate this message to policymakers, helping them understand that early childhood education deserves to be financed and sustained like the public good that it is.
In FY2021, Congress and the White House officially added more than $200 million in increased funding for federal early childhood programs, including:
- $5.911 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) — an $85 million increase from FY2020
- $10.748 billion for Head Start/Early Head Start – a $135 million increase from FY2020
Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, child care received over $50 billion in relief funding as part of the CARES Act, Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and American Rescue Plan Act.
While we welcome these increased investments, more is still needed.
Child Care Aware of America Letters, Comments and Testimony
- CCAoA’s Statement in Response to Congress Passing American Rescue Plan
- CCAoA’s Statement on FY2021 Appropriations and COVID-19 Relief
- CCAoA’s Statement on the President’s FY2021 Budget
- Children’s Budget Coalition Sign-on Letter supporting the Focus on Children Act
- National Child Care and Early Learning Coalition Sign-on Letters on FY2021 Appropriations
- CCAoA’s Statement on FY2020 Appropriations
