Child Care for Every Community Act
The Child Care for Every Community Act aims to create universal, community-driven child care and early learning programs nationwide. It would establish an entitlement for eligible children to participate and fund these programs primarily through grants to designated prime sponsors (such as states, localities, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and nonprofit groups). Programs must meet comprehensive standards, operate as full-working-day and full-year services, and coordinate with health, nutrition, and family-support services. The bill builds on Head Start and military child care experience, emphasizing local control with strong parent and community involvement, racial, linguistic, and economic equity, and a pathway for ongoing program improvement and governance. The bill designates a substantial federal role while allowing a non-federal share (including private funds and family contributions capped at 7% of income) and sets specific funding rules (generally a high federal share, with 100% funding for migrant/seasonal farmworker and Native tribal children). It also establishes a framework for approving and renewing prime sponsors, requires two phases of application review with priority for serving low-income or vulnerable groups, and includes provisions to maintain investments in communities and avoid reductions in existing state or local child care spending. The act includes definitions, authorizes appropriations for related activities, and provides an emphasis on quality, accessibility, inclusion, and accountability.
Key Points
- 1Universal, community-based child care and early learning: Creates an entitlement for covered children to participate in high-quality, comprehensive programs designed to support development, health, nutrition, and family services, with decisions made at the community level involving parents and local organizations.
- 2Funding structure and share: Generally provides a Federal share not less than 90% of program costs, with 100% federal funding for children of migrant/seasonal farmworkers and 100% for Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian children. Non-Federal share can come from public/private sources and family fees, with family fees capped at 7% of the family income. Administrative funding for sponsors is also provided.
- 3Prime sponsors and designation process: Establishes a system where eligible entities (states, localities, Tribes, Tribal organizations, and eligible nonprofits) can be designated as prime sponsors to administer the programs. The Secretary designates prime sponsors based on comprehensive plans, community engagement, and legal authority to receive funds, with two phases of review and various approval criteria.
- 4Comprehensive plans and program standards: Prime sponsors must annually submit comprehensive plans describing needs assessments, service delivery, outreach, coordination with health and education services, nonstandard hours, inclusion of diverse populations, and policies on suspension/expulsion, enrollment, and family involvement. Plans must ensure accessibility, cultural/linguistic appropriateness, and alignment with health, nutrition, and mental health services.
- 5Quality, governance, and workforce: The bill contemplates wage/benefit negotiations for staff, ongoing professional development, quality improvements, and governance structures (including a Child Care and Early Learning Council). It emphasizes equity, inclusion, and coordination with other social programs.
- 6Maintenance of effort and accountability: States and localities must maintain child care and early learning spending levels (i.e., no reduction due to federal funding), and there are performance and governance standards to maintain eligibility and renew prime sponsor designation every 3 to 5 years.
- 7Outreach to unserved areas and flexibility: If areas remain unserved or needs are not met, the Secretary can pursue outreach or appoint a national organization to serve as prime sponsor in those areas. The act allows joint designations and tribal collaboration where appropriate.
- 8Authority and scope of funding: The bill authorizes appropriations for Title activities and includes a mechanism to allocate funds to various activities (program delivery, administration, and enhancements) with specified minimum shares for different functions. It also requires publication of annual funding amounts and allows for reallocation in emergencies.
- 9Definitions and scope: The act provides detailed definitions for terms like “child care and early learning program,” “covered child,” “dual language learner,” “locality,” “migrant or seasonal child care,” “institution of higher education,” “local educational agency,” and “Tribal land,” among others, to ensure a common understanding across implementing agencies.