Like clean water, safe food, and good public schools, high quality, affordable child care is a national priority that benefits everyone. But right now, insufficient investments in our child care system mean it fails to meet the needs of children, families, early educators, or businesses. It is time that we provide substantial public investments in expanding equitable access to high-quality, affordable child care for all families.

To achieve this goal, the National Women’s Law Center and 28 other partners have developed a set of principles for policymakers that any child care proposal should include. A proposal should meet these principles:

  • Quality – All children can receive high-quality child care.
  • Access – Families can access the high-quality child care setting that best meets their needs.
  • Affordability – Families can get the financial support they need to afford high-quality child care.
  • Workforce – Early childhood professionals in all settings can receive the support, resources, and compensation they need to provide high-quality care and support their own families.