CAP Early Childhood

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

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

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: https://t.co/tPnLfwIeUs
💻 Website: https://t.co/w6U9BsyzOw
🌐 Instagram: https://t.co/Qby5dx1wK0

[Center for American Progress @amprog]

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 ‼️

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

🆕 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.
https://t.co/Ib9FRSBEsa

[Center for American Progress @amprog]

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. https://t.co/fdJXZmzf7D

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

https://t.co/F0Y49Jve9w

[CAP K-12 Education @EdProgress]

"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: https://t.co/xOWdztft13

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

"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."
https://t.co/WCNMHyWiWD

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

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: https://t.co/7gFoFNYbDO

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

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: https://t.co/nIqBBN7rTg

[CLASP Child Care & Early Education @CLASPChildCare]

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. https://t.co/PQfODYiQku

[Paige Shoemaker DeMio @pbshoemaker]

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: https://t.co/Us6shD16cb

[Paige Shoemaker DeMio @pbshoemaker]

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: https://t.co/Us6shD16cb

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

“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.
https://t.co/HkzTaLVdOd

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

"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."
https://t.co/39OVfw0OPA

[CAP K-12 Education @EdProgress]

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.
https://t.co/tVnNdsGzPX

[Center for American Progress @amprog]

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.

[Center for American Progress @amprog]

"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

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

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: https://t.co/PHYBMSROQP

[Center for American Progress @amprog]

Affordable, accessible childcare is not a luxury item; it's an essential first step in our education system. Hear from @WhipKClark:

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

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: https://t.co/PHYBMSROQP

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

🚨 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!
https://t.co/PHYBMSROQP

[CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd]

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: https://t.co/PHYBMSROQP