Early Learning

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What happens to children--especially in their early years--echoes over the long haul across a broad range of social policy areas. How children fare today will be felt in all parts of society--in schools, the economy, health, welfare and criminal justice systems. In addition, polls suggest voters are dissatisfied over governmental responses to the needs of children and families. To address these concerns and help legislators support families in their communities, NCSL tracks state and federal policies and programs in four key areas:  early childhood care and education, welfare and poverty, child welfare and youth programs. In addition, we offer resources on child support, marriage, domestic violence and family law. The human services federal affairs staff represents state legislatures on the full range of federal human service issues in Washington, D.C.
 
Child Care and Early Education has captured the attention of policymakers, researchers, educators and parents in recent years. The increase of mothers in the workforce, along with new information about brain development and the long-term benefits of early education programs, have contributed to the prominence of these issues. Sixty-one percent of children under age 6 in the United States are in some kind of care outside the home. We offer the latest information on prekindergarten programs, child care subsidy systems, and descriptions of states' funding and policy choices.

Here are some of the highlighted issues on the website:

• Human Services Overview
• Early Childhood Overview
  • Child Care
  • Preschool/Early Learning
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Early Childhood Federal Issues
• Child Welfare 
• Poverty & Hunger 
• Youth