Throughout the nation, states are struggling to keep their child care industries afloat. Decades of underinvestment and a global pandemic threatened a near-total collapse of the system, held off only by temporary pandemic-era funding that
American child care has long been a broken system, despite being a critical backbone of the nation’s economy and education. When COVID hit and K-12 schools closed, many child care providers — suddenly deemed essential
In the past several months, legislatures throughout the United States passed transformative policies for children and families. This exciting, evidence-based legislation includes a historic investment in child care in Vermont, Medicaid expansion in North Carolina,
“Life is complicated, and to understand it as researchers and scholars…well, we have our work cut out for us,“ said Dr. Deborah Vandell at the Society for Research in Child Development’s multidisciplinary conference. Hundreds of
In addition to conducting research and evaluating evidence, at the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, we also track state legislation and administrative action impacting young children and their families. These efforts provide us with context to
Read about specific issues facing the child care industry and what states can do to support children and families, early childhood educators, and child care businesses.
CHILD CARE HIRING AND RETENTION CHALLENGES DRIVEN BY LOW PAY Press Contact: Molly Kramer, 615-343-8948, molly.m.kramer@vanderbilt.edu Today, we are excited to release the third of four briefs from the Child Care in Crisis: Texas Case
TEXAS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS LACK HEALTH INSURANCE AND OTHER BENEFITS Press Contact: Molly Kramer, 615-343-8948, molly.m.kramer@vanderbilt.edu A Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center survey shows that early childhood educators in Texas rarely have access to benefits such
HIGHER WAGES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS NEEDED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES Press Contact: Molly Kramer, 615-343-8948, molly.m.kramer@vanderbilt.edu Early childhood educators play an essential role in child development and the economy, but are consistently among
