Investing in Child Care and Early Education Supports Families and Strengthens Economies

Access to high-quality, accessible, and affordable early care and education is essential to the economic wellbeing of families and child care providers, who are fundamental for robust and resilient state and national economies. This blogpost notes that the lack of child care funding has led to significant tradeoffs resulting in inequitable policies and limited access for families who need it the most. Families with low incomes spend a higher percent of their income on care than high-income families. Unable to devote this share of resources, families with low incomes often face hard choices such as using lower-quality, less safe care; having to neglect other expenses like food; or even exiting the workforce completely. Investments that support a high-quality, accessible child care and early education system will pay long-term dividends for the economy.