Making affordable child care within reach for families
The Minnesota Budget Project has long sought public investments in making child care affordable to more families. To ensure the best future, we support policy changes so that all Minnesotans have affordable child care so parents can work or go to school, children get off to a strong start, and employers can attract and retain the workers they need.
We support the Great Start framework to achieve the following goals: affordable and accessible child care and early learning for families; high-quality child care and early learning for all children, regardless of race, income, or zip code; and child care and early learning system that equitably compensates and supports a diverse early childhood educator workforce.
Publications
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In 2024 session, policymakers progress toward improving health care and child care
May 29, 2024 • Jessie Luévano
Child Care, Health Care, Minnesota Budget
While 2024 was not a budget-setting year for the state, policymakers made use of the limited resources they had to build on last year’s transformational investments and took steps to set the state up for a brighter future. This blog takes a look at the policy and budget decisions made this year to make affordable health care and child care available to more Minnesotans.
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Decisions in session’s final days should strengthen health care and child care for Minnesotans
May 14, 2024 • Jessie Luévano
Child Care, Health Care, Minnesota Budget
In 2023, policymakers made transformational budget investments for the well-being of Minnesotans and their families. While 2024 is not a budget-setting year for the state, there are policy decisions at play in the final days of the legislative session that could set the stage for further progress next year.
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Powerful stories show child care is unaffordable for many; Great Start Scholarships are a solution
April 17, 2024 • Jessie Luévano
Child Care, Minnesota Budget
This legislative session, families, lawmakers, advocates, and more have drawn attention to child care affordability as an urgent problem that requires solutions.
Brief
Great Start Scholarships are an innovative policy solution for affordable child care
March 25, 2024 • Jessie Luévano
Child Care, Minnesota Budget
When Minnesotans have affordable child care, children can thrive, families are more economically secure, and employers can find and retain… Continue reading Great Start Scholarships are an innovative policy solution for affordable child care
Brief
Who receives the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit?
January 22, 2024 • Jessie Luévano
Child Care, Minnesota Taxes, Tax Credits for Minnesotans and Families
The full version of this issue brief includes a table with data specific to each Minnesota county and the state as… Continue reading Who receives the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit?