Federal policy should expand access to high-quality, integrated early care and education with quality assurance and adequate ECE educator compensation¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 3 claims (2 for, 1 mixed) · 3 studies (2 review, 1 associational), q2–q3 · 0 of 3 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The brief recommends building on federal ECE investments by expanding federal programs and providing matching funds to states for high-quality child care and preschool free for families making up to 200% of the federal poverty level, with sliding-scale subsidies so no family pays more than 7% of income. As a funding condition, states would implement quality assurance systems, design racially and socioeconomically integrated programs, support dual language learners and children with disabilities, and adequately compensate ECE educators.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• States receiving federal funds must implement quality assurance systems and design programs that can be racially and socioeconomically integrated

Constraints¶

• The brief notes ECE educator compensation is currently inadequate, with salaries falling even further below comparable professions than k-12 teaching

Target Learners¶

• children under age 6
• dual language learners
• children with developmental delays and disabilities
• low-income families

Target Learning Goals¶

• school readiness and foundational learning and development

Claims¶

• Black, Hispanic/Latino/a, and Multiracial preschool children were underrepresented in higher-quality (Tier 4 and 5) programs [+W]
• The ECE system is socioeconomically segregated because means-tested programs sort children by family income [~W]
• ECE programs are on average more racially segregated than elementary and high schools [+W]

Related Strategies¶

• Research and policy attention should now examine PreK program quality and equitable access across racial, ethnic, and linguistic groups, and how families choose among PreK options
• Federal strategy to expand access to integrated, inclusive ECE through child care funding, universal preschool, Head Start alignment, and inclusive special education
• Federal strategy to develop and support a well-qualified ECE workforce through compensation, career-ladder scholarships, preparation programs, and coaching
• Federal strategy for coherent ECE governance through a coordinating body, unified family referral services, and integrated data systems
• Four-part state policy agenda: coherent administration, universal affordability, a well-qualified workforce, and quality improvement for all programs
• Federal strategy to raise ECE quality by setting higher CCDBG standards, minimum quality requirements for federally supported preschool, and funding coaching
• Six-part strategy for assuring qualified teachers for all students

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• The Federal Role in Advancing Education Equity and Excellence. (2020). Learning Policy Institute. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED610926