@CAPEarlyEd

Early childhood policy and news from the Center for American Progress @amprog

 Washington, D.C.
americanprogress.org/issues/early-childhood/view/
Joined June 2013
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Hey 👋— Here are other places you can find us and follow along to stay up to date on all things Early Childhood Policy and more at the Center for American Progress. 📰 Newsletter: americanprogress.org/stay-in… 💻 Website: americanprogress.org/team/ea… 🌐 Instagram: instagram.com/americanprogre…
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CAP Early Childhood retweeted
Center for American Progress
@amprogOct 16
The Trump administration is undermining Head Start, the gold standard program for early education that serves hundreds of thousands of families across the country. Lawmakers must defend Head Start and ensure federal funding for the program is secure ‼️
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🆕 Head Start resource: Rural kids make up 21% of those under 5 who are income-eligible for Head Start, but 73% of those for whom Head Start is the only licensed child care option available. americanprogress.org/article…

In Rural Communities, Head Start Is Often the Only Licensed Child Care Option

In rural areas, Head Start provides an indispensable lifeline for families who lack access to any other licensed early learning or child care options.

americanprogress.org
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CAP Early Childhood retweeted
Center for American Progress
@amprogOct 16
Proposed changes threaten Head Start’s proven success in a move consistent with the Trump administration’s position on the program—risking job losses, service cuts, and reduced access for vulnerable families. ampr.gs/4yXluSu

Head Start Works, but the Trump Administration Is Undermining It

Proposed changes threaten Head Start’s proven success in a move consistent with the administration’s position on the program—risking job losses, service cuts, and reduced access for vulnerable...

americanprogress.org
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the74million.org/zero2eight/…

Proposed Head Start Changes Could Cut Jobs, Raise Family Costs, Analysis Shows

The Trump administration says reducing Head Start standards will save money. Critics say it could lead to 40K job cuts and decreased quality of care.

the74million.org
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CAP Early Childhood retweeted
CAP K-12 Education@EdProgressSep 3
"Losing access to free meals could require families to spend on average nearly $1,000 per student each school year...@pbshoemaker says that cost burden comes as many families are already grappling with high living costs and steep gas prices." Read more: npr.org/2026/09/03/nx-s1-595…

As millions of kids lose SNAP food benefits, free school meals are also at risk

Food stamps have a direct link to other critical resources, such as free breakfast and lunch at school. Now, experts say they're starting to see that link break.

npr.org
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"We need to strengthen & invest in Head Start & other core services that support families... We need to finally commit to policies that support the endless potential that is there at the birth of every child." earlyopportunities.org/blog/…

A Wake-up Call for the Country — Early Opportunities

As a nation, we can do so much better for young children and families By Joan Lombardi, PhD I walked into my first Head Start classroom in 1972 . It was from that program, those families, and that...

earlyopportunities.org
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Head Start is a tried & true program - the "gold standard" for early learning - that keeps vulnerable families afloat. It meets community need, is governed in part by parents, & helps kids thrive well into adulthood. This is a program worth fighting for: americanprogress.org/article…

‘We Are the Resources’: Head Start Is a Crucial Early Learning and Community Program for Families...

Despite repeated attacks on the program, Head Start has a 60-year track record of providing high-quality services that prepare young children for school and set families up for success.

americanprogress.org
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Progress in care is happening in several states, but federal cuts are putting that progress at risk. A new report card from @TCFdotorg and @CaringAcrossGen grades all 50 states on care affordability and access See how your state scored in the report: go.tcf.org/CareReport26

Care Matters: A 2026 State Report Card on Care Affordability and Access

Download the Care Matters: A 2026 State Report Card on Care Affordability and Access PDF Care and caregiving are foundational to how society

tcf.org
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In January, the Trump Administration mandated states to "Defend the Spend" to access child care subsidy funding. After months without responding to a FOIA request about the policy, @nwlc, @ACLU, and partners have now filed a lawsuit demanding transparency. theguardian.com/us-news/2026…

Civil rights groups sue Trump administration over childcare funding restrictions

HHS failed to respond to Foia request following claims of fraud against Somali childcare providers and Democrats

theguardian.com
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CAP Early Childhood retweeted
Paige Shoemaker DeMio@pbshoemakerJul 23
1.5M children losing access to basic food access is unacceptable. These losses will only continue to grow and impact not just access to food at home but at school as well. More on the connection between SNAP cuts and school meals here: americanprogress.org/article…
Center on Budget@CenterOnBudgetJul 21
Since July 2025, at least 1.5M kids have lost SNAP, in part due to the harmful Republican reconciliation law. This unfolding emergency will worsen without immediate congressional action to delay this cost shift. cbpp.org/blog/number-of-chil…

Number of Children Receiving SNAP Continues to Drop Under Harmful 2025 Republican Reconciliation Law

In the 19 states with publicly available data or that have shared unpublished data, the harmful Republican reconciliation law has taken SNAP food assistance away from more than 1 million children...

cbpp.org
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CAP Early Childhood retweeted
Paige Shoemaker DeMio@pbshoemakerJul 23
The impact of the Big "Beautiful" Bill is already hitting school cafeterias in Miami-Dade County. Thanks to SNAP and Medicaid cuts, kids will go hungry at home and school. More on the connection between OBBBA cuts and school meals here: americanprogress.org/article…
Miami Herald
@MiamiHeraldJul 22
NEW: The Miami-Dade school board approved an item at its Wednesday meeting that would end universal free lunch for students who don’t qualify for free or reduced meals. miamiherald.com/news/local/e…

Free school lunches to end for thousands of Miami-Dade students. Here’s what to know

For four years, all public school lunches in Miami-Dade were free. Now, the full price will be $4.20 for non-free/reduced lunch students.

miamiherald.com
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“The public deserves to know why the Trump administration is restricting access to critical child care and family assistance funds that hundreds of thousands of families rely on,” said Linda Morris, senior staff attorney at the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. thehill.com/regulation/court…

Rights groups sue Trump administration over proposed childcare funding cuts

Civil rights groups sued the Trump administration on Monday, after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records rel…

thehill.com
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"In many ways, the administration’s strategy for Head Start mirrors the way it’s approached the Department of Education: unable to completely eliminate something they dislike, they instead seek to dismantle it piece-by-piece." newamerica.org/insights/the-…

The Quiet Dismantling of Head Start: How the Trump Administration Is Using Regulation to Reshape a...

In many ways, the administration’s strategy for Head Start mirrors the way it’s approached the Department of Education: unable to completely eliminate something they dislike, they instead seek to...

newamerica.org
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CAP Early Childhood retweeted
CAP K-12 Education@EdProgressJul 7
Millions of children rely on free school meals to access nutritious food during the school day. Cuts to SNAP & Medicaid under OBBBA could put that access at risk & increase costs for families already facing an affordability crisis. americanprogress.org/article…

Congressional Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill Threatens Access to Free School Meals

Students across the country could lose access to free school meals, forcing the typical family with two children to spend $1,900 to $2,200 more per year for school meals.

americanprogress.org
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CAP Early Childhood retweeted
Center for American Progress
@amprogJun 11
As a small business owner, child care provider Kiera Fernandez relies on the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund program to ensure she can provide for her teachers and keep her doors open for local families and children.
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CAP Early Childhood retweeted
Center for American Progress
@amprogJun 8
"When our kids thrive, communities thrive, and when communities thrive, we all thrive." It's time to invest in our children and build a child care system that supports our youngest learners. #UniversalChildCare
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Childcare IS early education - & children deserve the strongest possible start in life. A chronically underfunded system has left families with unaffordable options & scare supply. That's why we need bold solutions from all gov't leaders. Learn more: americanprogress.org/events/…

The Nationwide Child Care Crisis: Addressing Affordability and Supply Shortages

A discussion about new research, the impacts on families and communities, and the actions that leaders in Congress are taking now to build toward a child care system for the future that supports the...

americanprogress.org
Center for American Progress
@amprogJun 5
Affordable, accessible childcare is not a luxury item; it's an essential first step in our education system. Hear from @WhipKClark:
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How do you measure childcare supply? Our new research maps licensed availability across the country — & the gaps are everywhere. Join us TOMORROW to learn more: 📅 June 4, 2026 | 🕥 10:30am ET | 🏛️ at CAP & online RSVP here: americanprogress.org/events/…

The Nationwide Child Care Crisis: Addressing Affordability and Supply Shortages

A discussion about new research, the impacts on families and communities, and the actions that leaders in Congress are taking now to build toward a child care system for the future that supports the...

americanprogress.org
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🚨 HAPPENING IN TWO DAYS! 🚨 We're hosting a 3-panel event at CAP & online exploring our new data on licensed child care access, what Congressional leaders can do about it, & how families are navigating this system. Come and join us! americanprogress.org/events/…

The Nationwide Child Care Crisis: Addressing Affordability and Supply Shortages

A discussion about new research, the impacts on families and communities, and the actions that leaders in Congress are taking now to build toward a child care system for the future that supports the...

americanprogress.org
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Nearly 1 in 2 young children in the U.S. lives in a child care desert — a community where licensed care spots are far outnumbered by children who need them. New research, but an old problem. Join us to learn more about this work & discuss solutions: americanprogress.org/events/…

The Nationwide Child Care Crisis: Addressing Affordability and Supply Shortages

A discussion about new research, the impacts on families and communities, and the actions that leaders in Congress are taking now to build toward a child care system for the future that supports the...

americanprogress.org
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