Affordable Is Not Enough: Child Care Should Be Good for Kids, Too
As the national conversation focuses on affordability, something essential should not slip out of view: the experiences of the children.
Early Childhood Education
Not All Child Care Regulations Are Red Tape
Why health and safety standards matter as policymakers consider rolling back federal child care requirements
Q&A with Elliot Regenstein About Head Start’s Next Chapter
In a new paper, Regenstein delves into the history of Head Start and sketches out a vision for the program’s future.
What the Midterm Election Results Mean for Early Care and Education
Congressional Democrats expected to push for an affordability agenda that includes child care reform.
Five Things Districts Can Do to Support High-Quality Kindergarten
District leaders hold many important levers for encouraging the adoption of high-quality, play-rich kindergarten programs.
Beyond Washington: What the 2026 State Elections Mean for Early Care and Education
ECE has emerged as a key campaign issue in several governor's races, while local ballot measures could lead to new funding
Multilingual Students with Disabilities Deserve Stronger Support
A proposed Head Start rule could harm dual-identified learners, who are underserved at every stage of school.
Americans Love Families. How Can We Make Better Policy For Them?
The Child Care Choice Guarantee is a bold proposal to increase early care options for families, and seasoned early childhood leaders can help shape implementation.
What New York City Parents Told Us About Child Care
Our 2026 survey of NYC parents finds strong demand for more leave and trusted, flexible child care, and preferences that vary widely.
Re-Scripting Early Care and Learning On Screen
Authentic representation in TV and film can help transform culture and systems for early child care and education, for the benefit of all.
Five Things Principals Can Do to Protect Kindergarten’s Three Indispensables
What young students experience in school depends heavily on decisions the principal makes.
Federal Early Education Update: September 2026
The latest in federal early education news
Five Things States Can Do to Support High-Quality Kindergarten and the Early Grades
Laws signal what matters, and funding, capacity, prepared adults, and aligned systems determine whether anything changes for children.
Changing the Narrative on Child Care and Early Education
Through reporting grants, the Better Life Lab supports storytellers to spotlight child care solutions in the national conversation.
Current Head Start Program Performance Standards Protect Children with Disabilities
The proposed rule, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs, would make it m…