Recent State Policy Advances
Expanded investment. Restructured agencies. New caucuses, committees, and coalitions. Read about all the ways our allies on the front lines are making their state a better place for each and every child to reach their full potential.
State By State:
Virginia Coalition Turns Child Care NEXT Lessons into Big Child Care and Early Ed Wins in 2024
Virginia advocates have have turned the Child Care NEXT principles and support into a string of wins for children, including, in the 2024 session, an historic commitment by the governor and legislature that means $1.1 billion will be available for child care services for low to moderate income families over the next two years.
Alabama Advocates Tap Alliance Network for Big Child Care Tax Credit Win
Early Childhood advocates in Alabama are celebrating the creation of a new child care tax credit. As part of a “Working for Alabama” bill package, House Bill 358 provides opportunities for employers, for-profit child care providers, and nonprofit child care providers to apply for funds. The Alabama legislature unanimously passed the bill and the governor signed it into law in May, 2024.
States Playing a Role in Helping Kids Access Inclusive Pre-K
While a mixed delivery system of pre-K has many advantages, it can present significant challenges for students with disabilities when it comes to accessing early childhood special education (ECSE) services, such as those provided by occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists. So across the country, states are looking to improve collaboration between school districts and community partners.
Coalition of Idaho Policy Advocates Wins Support for Renters at the State Level
A multi-sector coalition representing different groups and industries from across the state set out to improve Idaho renter policy. By showing the impact of housing on economic mobility— especially for children—advocates are already making gains.
In Iowa, Conservative Support for Early Care and Education Gains Momentum
In Iowa, a 2024 bill introduced by Republicans in both chambers of the state legislature sought to expand pre-k access for families with lower incomes. Though it did not pass during the session, the movement on pre-k expansion has advocates throughout the state looking ahead to 2025.
Virginia Advocates’ Policy Wins Bring New Support for Children and Kinship Caregivers
For more than five years, advocates in Virginia have been advancing policies to strengthen kinship caregiving in the state and—in the past several years—have had significant success in seeing strong policies implemented. These advances support kinship caregivers and, most important, strengthen care for youth in the foster system.
New Mexico Coalition Wins Guaranteed Income Pilot for Immigrant Families
A coalition of New Mexico advocates recently launched the New Mexico Guaranteed Income Pilot Program for Immigrant Families, an 18-month initiative to address poverty and economic security. The program’s evaluations are showing participating families reporting increases in housing and job security, as well as improved education outcomes for their children.
Michigan Allies Advance Permanent Policy Solutions to Address Maternal Health Equity
Advocates in Michigan continue to fight not only for prevention resources, but for culturally congruent policies and programs aimed squarely at racial disparities in death rates. This includes advocating for an effective perinatal care quality program to be added to the state’s public health code.
In Effort to Entice Child Care Staff, More States Follow Kentucky’s Lead
While Kentucky was the first state to make child care staff automatically eligible for subsidies, about a dozen states have followed the lead of the Bluegrass State and either implemented a similar policy or are actively considering it. It is estimated that about 234,300 child care workers with children under the age of six and 294,000 children would benefit from the Kentucky model if all 50 states plus D.C. implemented a similar policy.
Communications Strategy Was Center Stage in Texas Advocates’ Win of Postpartum Medicaid Extension
The road to success for a recent 12-month postpartum Medicaid extension in Texas in 2023 was paved with years of advocacy work on the ground. For years, advocates at Texans Care for Children and other organizations have worked to build trusting and collaborative relationships among all the groups working to advance the crucial maternal health issue.
Massachusetts Shows the Power of a Big, Trust-Based Coalition
In Massachusetts, early childhood advocates across the state are collaborating like never before to build a new, stronger early childhood system. This historic project, called The Early Childhood Agenda, is a first-of-its-kind effort to bring together “hundreds of parents, providers, advocates, and community partners to discuss the state’s pressing early childhood challenges and propose effective, family-centered, sustainable solutions.”
In California, Parents and Child Care Providers Work Together to Make Meaningful Change
Things are looking up for young children, parents, and child care providers in California thanks to transformational legislative wins over the summer of 2023. These policy achievements did not happen by chance, but were the result of a coordinated effort that was fueled by the grassroots organizing of parents, providers, and thousands of organizations speaking with one voice.
