This email highlights recent child care policy and funding developments and what states, cities, and counties are focusing on as budget and implementation decisions continue. For questions or follow-up, contact gover...@wonderschool.com |
Recent Child Care Policy & Funding Developments |
New York and San Francisco: State and Local Investment in Child Care |
Recent announcements from New York State, New York City, and San Francisco reflect continued investment at both the state and local level to improve child care affordability and access.
Why it matters: Expanding affordability initiatives increases demand for child care services, which places greater emphasis on expanding and stabilizing child care supply to ensure funding translates into available slots.
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Delaware: Modernizing the Early Childhood System
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Delaware recently announced significant statewide investments aimed at modernizing its early childhood education system. Read more here.
Why it matters: System modernization efforts can improve program oversight, data quality, and coordination across agencies, helping states manage growth and deliver services more efficiently. |
West Virginia: Workforce Constraints and Tri-Share Child Care
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West Virginia has piloted a Tri-Share child care model with Wonderschool that shares the cost of care across the state, employers, and families to help address affordability and workforce participation challenges. Read more here.
Why it matters: With more than 26,000 children estimated to lack access to child care due to limited available slots, cost-sharing models can help increase demand while highlighting the need to expand and stabilize child care supply. The pilot is currently serving a limited number of families and is set to expire unless extended or expanded.
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West Virginia piloted a Tri-Share child care model with employer participation across multiple counties
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Lawmakers are considering options to extend or scale the pilot as part of broader workforce and economic development discussions
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State and Provider Implementation Updates
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Primrose Schools expands teacher recruitment partnership
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EarlyDay, a teacher recruitment service supporting child care providers, partnered with Primrose Schools, one of the largest child care networks in the U.S., representing more than 500 franchise programs. Read more here
Why it matters: Large provider networks continue to invest in recruitment solutions as workforce shortages remain a key constraint on child care supply. |
Missouri launches statewide provider support initiative
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Missouri launched a statewide initiative in January to support child care providers with operational tools and services aimed at improving program sustainability. Implementation is now underway.
Why it matters: Provider-focused initiatives can help stabilize existing supply while states work to expand access and affordability. |
Strengthening program integrity and oversight
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States are increasingly focused on improving program integrity, oversight, and data visibility while minimizing additional administrative burden.
Wonderschool Oversight supports these efforts by providing tools designed to help agencies monitor programs and ensure compliance. More information is available on the Oversight website, recent press release, and latest white paper. |
Wonderschool is introducing a new Early Intervention module designed to support coordination across agencies by managing referrals, eligibility, services, and reporting in a single system. The module connects early intervention with child care, health, and social services and is intended to improve communication and timeliness for families and providers.
Additional details will be shared in the coming weeks and if you'd like a sneak peak, let us know! |
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