Early Care and Education Consortium

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen was accompanied by lawmakers on Tuesday for the ceremonial signing of a law that eliminates a sunset date for expanded eligibility for federal childcare subsidies. The subsidies provide vouchers to families to pay some or all of the cost of childcare. Nebraska passed a law to temporarily increase household income eligibility for the subsidies in 2021, which raised the eligibility threshold from 130% of the federal poverty level to 185%.

Nebraska governor, lawmakers celebrate permanent extension of childcare subsidy eligibility Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen was accompanied by lawmakers on Tuesday for the ceremonial signing of a law that eliminates a sunset date for expanded eligibility for federal childcare subsidies.

Engaging lawmakers and their staff on the policies needed to deliver quality child care at scale across the U.S. is what we do best!

We recently held a discussion of early care and education experts on Capitol Hill, hosted by the leaders of the Congressional Pre-K and Child Care Caucus. Thank you to Reps. Bonamici, Fitzpatrick, Castro and Hinson for convening us and delivering remarks to tee up this important discussion on mixed delivery models and child care workforce issues. Our panelists represented a great cross-section of the ECE sector:

•Jorden Glaze, Sr. Director of Quality, KinderCare Learning Companies
•Paola Andujar, Senior Policy Specialist, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
•Dan Rockaway, President, North Carolina Licensed Child Care Association (NCLCCA) and Owner, Sounds and Colors Schools
•Risa May, Treasurer, Virginia Child Care Association (VCCA) and Owner, two Goddard School franchises
•Amber Horton, SVP of the North / Northeast Division, Learning Care
•Henry Wilde, CEO of Shine Early Learning and Acelero Learning
•Radha Mohan, Executive Director, Early Care and Education Consortium, moderator

Highlights: Congressional PreK Caucus Discussion on Child Care Models & Workforce Issues On May 21, a panel of experts from across the early child care and ...

Huge thanks to U.S. Congressman Ryan Mackenzie Congresswoman Susie Lee Congresswoman Ashley Hinson Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet for leading on the bipartisan, bicameral Child Care Modernization Act! ECEC is proud to endorse both the House & Senate bill to finally reauthorize CCDBG and strengthen the program overall! We look forward to continuing our partnerships on important bipartisan solutions!

Congressman Mackenzie Introduces Legislation to Modernize and Improve Childcare Washington D.C. — Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, introduced bipartisan legislation today to help working families access the child care services they count on. The Child Care Modernization Act updates and reauthorizes the Child Care and Developm...

“When we focus on ownership structure in early care and education — whether a center is nonprofit, for profit, publicly traded, or backed by private equity — we divert attention from the real levers that determine quality: adequate, sustained investment in well trained staff, low child staff ratios, evidence based curricula, and safe, stimulating environments—the elements of good care.” Read more from Art Rolnick on the red herring in child care policy discourse.

Private Equity's Role in Child Care Policy Discourse Explore how private equity influences child care policy and its implications for working families and child development.

We’re launching a spotlight series on our amazing providers delivering quality care and learning for young kids every day all around the country!

First up is New Horizon Academy, family owned and operated since 1971 out of Minnesota and now supporting about 10,000 kids across five states daily through their dedicated 3,000 teachers and staff.

Check out their short stories on preserving quality care, addressing child care deserts, and their plans for expansion in a rural community in need.

Provider Spotlight: Celebrating New Horizon Academy Discover the impactful work of New Horizon Academy in our April 2026 Provider Spotlight, showcasing their dedication to children and families.

For millions of American families, child care has become one of the defining affordability challenges of modern life. In communities across the country, the cost of care now rivals a mortgage payment or in-state college tuition. Parents are delaying having children or cobbling together unreliable arrangements simply because they cannot find affordable care that fits their family’s needs.

America’s child care crisis needs more parental freedom — not more Washington control The Administration for Children and Families outlines reforms aimed at empowering parents, cutting bureaucracy, and expanding child care access.

The Trump administration is advancing policies to reduce the burden of childcare costs on low-income families, The Daily Signal has learned. The Administration of Children and Families, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, will issue a combination of new rules and guidance to states in order to empower parents in their children’s day care options.

Trump Unveils New Plan to Lower Cost of Childcare for Low-Income Americans - The Daily Signal FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The Trump administration is advancing policies to reduce the burden of childcare costs on low-income families, The Daily Signal has

Happy Provider Appreciation Day! Across this country, millions of children spend their most formative years in the care of dedicated professionals who sing the songs, wipe the tears, track the milestones, and show up day after day with skill, with love, and with a commitment that is rarely matched and far too rarely recognized. .

Last night, the House passed the SEED Act, which allows early educators to deduct some of their expenses. Currently, many teachers pay for classroom supplies like books, learning materials, and other items with their own money. K-12 teachers can deduct those expenses on their taxes, but pre-K and early childhood educators cannot. The SEED Act would change that by giving early childhood educators the same tax deduction that K-12 teachers already receive. Thank you to Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Maggie Goodlander and Congressman David G. Valadao for introducing this important piece of legislation!