Public Policy Essentials for the Ideal Child Care System

The future is already happening.

– Trista Harris

The WeVision EarlyEd initiative is committed to demonstrating that the child- and quality-centered child care system that families and early childhood professionals — what we call “proximity experts” — want is within reach. Public funding and policies must be designed and reengineered to make their ideal real.

Every day, the conversation about child care in this country grows, shifting from merely acknowledging the “child care crisis” to exploring new public policy solutions. We see new child care proposals from policymakers across the political spectrum and at every level of government (like here and here).  Longstanding programs like Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) have implemented regulatory changes to increase quality, accessibility, and affordability. Trusted caregivers, like stay-at-home parents and community members, are increasingly recognized as options that need to be included in child care public policies. Early childhood educator competence, compensation, and well-being are becoming child care non-negotiables.

In this moment of heightened interest and visibility, we are often asked:

1. What does the ideal child care public policy look like? Are we there yet?
2. How can we start moving in that direction?
3. How do we know if child care public policies are aligned with what families and early childhood education professionals want?

Rooted in data from proximity experts and the WeVision Early Ed mindset shifts needed to pave the way for the ideal child care system, we are offering a new resource to guide advocates and policymakers at all levels of government. The WeVision EarlyEd Policy Essentials are five crucial policy considerations that will move us toward child care public policies intentionally designed to make the ideal child care system real.

We encourage you to reflect on the WeVision EarlyEd Policy Essentials, share them with colleagues, and use them to guide your work.

Download the WeVision EarlyEd Policy Essentials

As one proximity expert shared, “I don’t want to be a victim of the future of child care. I want to shape it.” Families and early childhood professionals have been clear about what they want —  and their data is enough to shape the future of child care. Let’s make their ideal real — it is within our reach.

Questions, comments, or feedback? Let us know by emailing info@wevisionearlyed.org.