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Early Childhood Policy Briefs

Early Childhood Policy Briefs

Policy briefs provide succinct information that typically includes compilations of empirical research presented in a narrative format. Designed for multiple audiences, policy briefs often contain the rationale and recommendations for a specific policy stance on an issue of salience related to young children and families. Moreover, if you are interested in publications that will provide persuasive evidence for advocacy purposes or policy making decisions, we invite you to explore these resources.

Currently Reading

Child Care Trust. (2026, July). What does universal child care actually mean?
National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2026, February). A year of tough choices: The child care affordability crisis is destabilizing educators and families (2026 National Workforce Survey Brief).
Stoney, J. (2026, July). The missing piece: How vacancy data completes the childcare picture. Opportunity Exchange.
The New Deal Forum. (2026). Expanding Access to Child Care.

Previously Shared

View Past Early Childhood Policy Briefs

Adams, G., Schilder, D., Wagner, L., Lou, C., & Willenborg, P. (Mar 2022). Executive Summary: What Child Care Arrangements Do Parents Want during Nontraditional Hours? Urban Institute.
Albright, K., & Stewart-Kahn, A. (2026, January). Making California’s early childhood investments work for families: Progress, implementation, and the path to a coherent early childhood system [Commentary]. Policy Analysis for California Education.
Barnett, W.S. & Espinosa, L.M. (2025). How to choose a preschool curriculum. Policy Brief. New Brunswick, NJ: National Institute for Early Education Research.
Bellino, M. J., O’Hair, L., Weiland, C., Taylor, A., Muskin, M., Sabol, T., & McCoy, D. (2026). Implementing high-quality early learning curriculum: Lessons from Mississippi (Case study). University of Michigan, Education Policy Initiative.
BUILD Initiative. Comprehensive Fiscal Strategy Infographic. BUILD Initiative: Washington, DC.
Catalina, R. G. & Coley, R. L. (June 2023). Early childhood education does not increase behavior problems: Evidence from five countries. Boston College Institute of Early Childhood Policy.
Child Care Aware of America. (2026, February). Understanding CCDF funding.
Child Care Services Association (Jun 2021). Policy brief: Retaining educated early childhood educators.
Coley, R. & Lanteri, L. (Aug 2022). Diaper Need: Recommended Strategies for Addressing this Pervasive Public Health Concern. Boston College.
Dade, A. & McLean, C. (2023). Fact Sheet: Solutions to the Early Educator Workforce Crisis, How Legislators Can Make a Difference for Kids, Families, and Educators. Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE).
Dutta-Gupta, I. (Aug 2023). The Enduring Effects of Childhood Poverty. Center for Law and Social Policy.
Douglass, A., Maxwell, K., & Tout, K (2023). A Framework for Reviewing Professional Development Strategies in Childcare and Early education. OPRE Report #2023-238. Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Ferrette, T., Girouard, D., Estlund, M. Wilensky, R., Saxena, A., & Schulman, K. (2024). The Child Care and Development Fund 2024 Rule: Detailed Summary and State Examples. The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).
First Five Years fund (Jan 16 2023). ABCs of Federal Early Learning and Child Care Funding Streams.
First Five Years Fund. (2026, April 30). Child care across America: 2026 CCDBG state fact sheets.
First Five Years Fund (Jan 18 2023). Early Learning and Child Care: Unaffordable, Unattainable, Unsustainable.
Food Research and Action Center (Aug 2022). Child nutrition reauthorization primer.
Garcia, A. & Sklar, C. (Sep 2022). Preparing Pre-K Teachers: Policy Considerations and Strategies.
Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy Center for Children and Families. Medicaid Matters for Young Children and Families.
Johnson-Green, M. (Oct 2020). Gender and racial justice in SNAP: Issue brief. National Women’s Law Center.
Kong, F. (June 2022). Three effective parenting program models that support family well-being: A guide for practitioners. Boston College Institute of Early Childhood Policy.
Lloyd, C. M., Carlson, J., & Ulmen, K. (Apr 2021). Lessons learned from virtual early care and education coaching during COVID-19. Child Trends.
National Women’s Law Center. (Apr 2021). The child and dependent care tax credit helps working families with the high cost of child care: Fact Sheet.
O’Keefe, B., Dammu, I., Harding, L., Spurrier, A., Schiess, J. O., Zamarripa, S., Kaput, K., & Bellaire, J. (2025). Splitting the bill: A Bellwether series on education finance equity. Bellwether.
Pathak, A. & Gibbs, H. (2022). Addressing the nation’s infant formula crisis. DC: Center for American Progress.
Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center. (2024, December). Funding Mechanisms for State Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs.
Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center. (2024). 5 Years of Progress on the Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap – United States Summary.
Rafa, A. (2024). 2024 prenatal-to-3 legislative highlights. Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center.
Rasmussen, J. (2022, July). When It Comes to Young Children, It’s Time for Philanthropy to Stop Thinking Small. The Center for Effective Philanthropy.
Roben, C. K. P., & Costello, A. H. (Jul 2022). Increasing Support for Home Visiting Innovation is Critical for Young Children and Their Families. Society for Research in Child Development Child Evidence, 13.
Smith, L. & Osborn, C. (Aug 2022). Why parents with multiple young kids opt out of formal child care. Bipartisan Policy Center.
TWM Center for Early Learning + Public Health. (2021, May). How a better understanding of scaling can enhance early childhood policy and improve lives.
Van Leer Foundation. (2021, February 19). The early years: Parental leave.
Zero to Three. (2025). H.R. 1: One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Big Changes Have Big Consequences for Babies and Families.
Zero to Three (Aug 2021). State Strategies to Strengthen Infant-Toddler Care as Public Pre-k Expands.

Recommended Readings from Our Advisory Committee:

Bruce Fuller,
ECPIHE Advisory Committee Member

Fuller, B. (2021, July). The 'stars aligned' in budget deal, but hurdles remain for early education. Edsource: Highlighting strategies for student success.

Helen Holtz Raikes,
ECPIHE Advisory Committee Member

Early Head Start (2006). Research to practice: Early head start benefits children and families.

Cathy Grace,
ECPIHE Advisory Committee Member

Gilbert, B. & Grace, C. (2020, September). Growing up rural: Inequity for young children and child care providers. Rural equity series.

Albert Wat,
ECPIHE Advisory Committee Member

Wat, A. (2021, July). Treating child care like early learning means funding child care like early learning. Alliance for early success.

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