Today, early care and education consists of separate programs and services with different funding streams, eligibility requirements, and quality standards. Families bear much of the burden of paying for these services, and many families that qualify for subsidized programs don’t receive assistance because of inadequate funding. Even families with moderate incomes often can’t afford high-quality services.
More resources for early care and education would not only reach more families but could also improve the quality of programs. Increased funding, if managed through an integrated framework, could better support the workforce, apply more consistent standards, and boost accountability.