Press Release

Child Care and Universal Pre-K in the BBBA

The latest iteration of the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) includes significant subsidies for child care and funding to provide universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds. In a new insight, Director of Human Welfare Policy Tara O’Neill Hayes summarizes the provisions, and notes that the BBBA’s funding to provide child care services and preschool to all young children in need of such services is likely woefully inadequate given the generosity of its subsidies and payment rate requirements.

Key points:

  • The BBBA includes $120 billion in funding for child care and more than $60 billion for universal preschool programs.
  • There are an estimated 6 million more infants and toddlers in need of child care than licensed child care spots currently available, and an additional 5 million 3- and 4-year-olds in need of preschool to achieve universal access.
  • The BBBA’s funding falls far short of what would be needed to finance its planned subsidies and provider payments.

Read the analysis

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