Why States Must Lead
Federal programs can help — but real solutions for families and state economies are created by states.
Early care and education (ECE) policy matters for states. Getting it right means more children ready for school, more parents able to work, businesses with the workforce they need, and a stronger state economy.
But effective ECE policy doesn’t come from Washington. It’s built by states.
While federal funds provide critical support, states — not Washington — have the authority and best tools to lead on ECE:
States control what matters most. States make the funding, licensing, and program design decisions that give parents real choices, ensure quality for young children, and enable businesses to keep workers on the job.
States can act quickly and innovate. They can pilot solutions, adapt quickly to changing needs, and scale what works more effectively than centralized federal systems.
Community solutions work best. States understand local needs, values, and economies better than distant federal agencies.
Education is a state responsibility — and ECE is the first step of that pipeline. Getting ECE policy right means more children start kindergarten ready to succeed.
Finally, when parents work, states benefit. Helping lower-income parents enter the workforce boosts tax revenues, reduces welfare costs, and strengthens local economies.
Empowering Parents is the Key
Unlike K–12, the ECE market is decentralized and diverse. Parents choose among public, private, faith-based, home-based, and nonprofit programs. This market diversity is a strength to protect and expand — not replace with one-size-fits-all government systems.
Effective ECE policy doesn’t aim to replace this private market. It aims to expand choice for families with the fewest resources, by giving parents:
Quality options
The purchasing power to access them
Clear, usable information to guide decisions
When parents can access programs that reflect their values and meet their children's needs, they’re able to work steadily — staying financially self-sufficient, while ensuring their child gets a strong start during the critical early years.
Why Focus on Lower-Income Families?
Higher-income parents already have access to quality for their children. They may prefer to spend less, but they can afford good programs if they choose to. Lower income parents can’t, without state help.
And while all children benefit from strong early environments, for those in unstable or under-resourced homes, access to high-quality ECE can change their lives. State action during these critical years shapes outcomes for decades.
That's why policy should target the lower-income families for whom it makes a true difference:
Parents who can’t work because they lack access to programs they trust.
Families eligible for help but still priced out of quality.
Families earning too much for assistance but too little for market rates.
Targeting policy here delivers the biggest gains — for families, businesses, and your state.
Policy should expand access to choice — not limit it.
The Opportunity for States
Expanding access to quality ECE isn’t just good for families, it’s good for states. When parents can count on quality programs, they work steadily and build self-sufficiency — and states grow stronger as a result.
States that get ECE policy right see clear returns:
Children start school better prepared to succeed
More parents enter and stay in the workforce.
Welfare dependency drops and tax revenues rise.
Businesses keep the reliable workers they need
That means steadier work for parents, healthier development for children, and a stronger workforce for your state.
Washington Won't Fix This,
But You Can
Federal program help — but states play the key role in early care and education policy.
Only states can deliver responsive, solutions that empower lower-income parents, support young children, and build a more competitive state economy.
You control the levers that matter. We're here to help you use them well.
Next step ⟶ See ECE Policy Priorities to begin
