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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Federal Freeze of Child Care, TANF, other social service funding could leave Minnesotans and their families in the cold
January 15, 2026 • Carly Eckstrom
Child Care, Federal Budget, Federal Issues
On January 6, 2026, the Trump administration froze billions of dollars in federal funding for child care and social services… Continue reading Federal Freeze of Child Care, TANF, other social service funding could leave Minnesotans and their families in the cold
Brief
Funding for Early Learning Scholarships declines, making child care harder to afford
November 17, 2025 • Jessie Luévano
Child Care
Child care is one of the biggest expenses families with young children face. Affordable child care means parents can go… Continue reading Funding for Early Learning Scholarships declines, making child care harder to afford
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Governor Walz’s revised FY 2026-27 budget proposal makes some additional changes as budget conditions tighten
April 22, 2025 • Minnesota Budget Project
Child Care, Health Care, Minnesota Budget, Minnesota Taxes
In March, Governor Tim Walz released his revised budget proposal, which updates the initial budget proposal he released on January… Continue reading Governor Walz’s revised FY 2026-27 budget proposal makes some additional changes as budget conditions tighten
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Our first look at Governor Walz’s FY 2026-27 budget proposal
February 19, 2025 • Minnesota Budget Project
Child Care, Health Care, Minnesota Budget, Minnesota Taxes
For analysis of Governor Tim Walz’s revised FY 2026-27 budget proposal, see Governor Walz’s revised FY 2026-27 budget proposal makes… Continue reading Our first look at Governor Walz’s FY 2026-27 budget proposal
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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.
