Cut Red Tape That Blocks Parent Choice
The Challenge
Lower-income parents juggling work and raising young children don’t have time to navigate bureaucratic mazes. Yet state ECE systems force them to do exactly that. Programs are siloed, applications are duplicative, and eligibility rules constantly shift.
For parents, navigating the system costs hours they can’t afford to lose. For programs, red tape discourages them from serving lower-income families, reducing the supply of affordable options. Meanwhile, public dollars are wasted on administrative complexity instead of reaching families directly.
Business as usual is both confusing and inefficient — and it holds back both families and the programs that want to serve them.
The Strategy for States
When families can navigate systems easily, more children gain access to quality programs, and more parents stay employed. Reducing red tape also helps small ECE businesses participate — expanding supply and choice for families.
Parents focus on work and family instead of paperwork
Programs focus on serving children, not navigating bureaucracy
Public dollars support families instead of expanding bureaucracy
The result: Smarter, simpler systems make government smaller, more responsive, and more effective — helping families succeed instead of creating obstacles to their success.
Why This Works
Simplify access to ECE by cutting red tape and streamlining systems. States can:
Create a single application that works across programs
Use technology to make processes faster and more transparent
Extend eligibility periods to reduce churn and confusion
Cut unnecessary regulations that discourage programs from participating
The goal: Build a system where government works for families, not the other way around.
