February 2021 Monthly Update
Research & Reports
BPC Shares Model Standards for Child Care Facilities During COVID-19
The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) recently released a brief outlining model standards to help providers meet new health and safety protocols through infrastructure upgrades. The brief also includes a discussion of health and safety measures in family child care programs, which may diverge from recommendations for center-based programs due to different space and other constraints. Read the brief >
Resources to Support Home-Based Child Care
What is Home-Based Child Care? Read the Home Grown fact sheet >
Home-Based Child Care During COVID-19: Preliminary data from communities that received Emergency Fund resources includes data on the facility needs of home-based child care providers. Read the Home Grown brief >
Home-Based Child Care and PPP: Home Grown shares reflections on home-based child care providers’ experience with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Read the Home Grown blog >
BPC Shares Updated Findings of State Use of Supplemental CCDBG Funds
BPC has been tracking how states are using the new federal child care funding that Congress enacted in the CARES Act. A recent blog shares new findings from October – December 2020. Read the blog >
Policy Update
Congress Authorizes Reconciliation Process to Pass President Biden’s COVID Relief Bill
On Friday, February 5, Congress voted (mostly along party lines) to adopt a budget resolution that will facilitate passage of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package. Budget reconciliation allows Democrats, who hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, to pass the economic aid measure without any Republican votes. House Committees can now start drafting the massive coronavirus relief package, which is expected to be completed his week. The final bill will likely draw from the President’s American Rescue Plan.
Several House Committees have released their draft measures. Key provisions from the House committee bills that are relevant to NCFN’s center and home-based child care priorities include:
$3.5 billion for child care via Child Care Entitlement to States (CCES)
$39 billion for child care providers via the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG)
$1 billion for the Head Start program
$1 billion for a TANF Pandemic Emergency Fund to provide direct cash assistance and non-recurrent short-term benefits to low-income families with children.
$9.9 billion in homeowner assistance funding, which can be used for mortgage assistance, financial assistance, principal reduction, interest rate reduction, utility expenses, including broadband, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and condo fees.
$10 billion for the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Operated through the Treasury Department, the program supports states in establishing or expanding loan funds and access to capital programs. Of the $10 billion:
$2.5 billion is to support businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals;
$500 million is for tribal government programs; and
$500 million for small business technical assistance.
To participate in SSBCI, states and other jurisdictions are required to submit a plan on how minority depository institutions (MDIs) and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) will be encouraged to participate and how technical assistance will be provided.
Increases the minimum wage to $15 per hour, from $7.25.
Enhances the Earned Income Tax Credit for workers without children by nearly tripling the maximum credit and extending eligibility.
Expands the Child Tax Credit to $3,000 per child ($3,600 for children under 6), and makes it fully refundable and advanceable.
Expands the Child and Dependent Tax Credit (CDCTC) to allow families to claim up to half of their childcare expenses.
NCFN recently released its 2021 Policy Platform. Read the NCFN Policy Platform >
Rhode Island Voters to Consider $15 Million Child Care Capital Fund
A special election in Rhode Island next month will include a ballot measure to create a $15 million Early Childhood Care and Education Capital Fund that would allow child car providers to access funding to upgrade existing spaces and build new early learning facilities. Additional information is available in a video segment about the YES on 5 campaign. Watch the video >
News & Resources
NCFN Member Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) writes about creative capital solutions to safeguard child care. Read the blog >
New America highlights federal policies to support high-quality early learning, including investing in the construction, renovation, and expansion of facilities. Read the blog >
BPC writes about pre-K as an important but narrow sliver of the whole child care system. Read the blog >
Upcoming Events
May 2021 (every Tuesday)
Child Care Aware of America: A New Way Forward | Virtual Series Register here >