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CAP Comments on HHS’ Notice Rolling Back Progress Toward Improving Child Care Assistance for Low-Income Families Article

CAP Comments on HHS’ Notice Rolling Back Progress Toward Improving Child Care Assistance for Low-Income Families

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter to the Department of Health and Human Services opposing the agency's efforts to roll back progress toward paying child care providers more fairly and lowering costs for families.

Hailey Gibbs, Casey Peeks

Healing America’s Spiritual Crisis: A Conversation With Sen. Raphael Warnock Past Event

Healing America’s Spiritual Crisis: A Conversation With Sen. Raphael Warnock

Please join the Center for American Progress to hear Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) speak as part of CAP's “What’s Next: Conversations on the Path Forward” series.

Center for American Progress

IDEA at 50: Resources To Support Students With Disabilities During the Week of Action Article
A special education teacher works with her kindergarten student.

IDEA at 50: Resources To Support Students With Disabilities During the Week of Action

Fifty years after the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act transformed special education services for children with disabilities, it is important to both celebrate its legacy and confront the urgent work still needed to fulfill its promise.

The Trump Administration’s Recent Special Education Layoffs Will Have Major Long-Term Impacts on Disabled Children and Students Article

The Trump Administration’s Recent Special Education Layoffs Will Have Major Long-Term Impacts on Disabled Children and Students

The Trump administration unlawful layoffs during the federal shutdown, in coordination with its policy changes and budget cuts, are intended to lead to closure of the Department of Education, leaving disabled children and students with fewer services and protections.

The Trump Administration’s Latest Staffing Cuts at the Department of Education Threaten Children’s Success Across the Country Article
A U.S. Department of Education employee leaves the building with their belongings.

The Trump Administration’s Latest Staffing Cuts at the Department of Education Threaten Children’s Success Across the Country

Cuts to staff at the Department of Education threaten the federal government’s long-term ability to ensure equal access to education for all, including children with disabilities.

How Changes to Fourth-Grade Reading Standards and Research-Backed Approaches Can Improve Reading Achievement Report
Teacher sitting at classroom table with students

How Changes to Fourth-Grade Reading Standards and Research-Backed Approaches Can Improve Reading Achievement

Four states—Alabama, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Mississippi—have shown that adopting more rigorous literacy standards and scientific approaches to reading instruction can help reverse the decline in reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Tania Otero Martinez, Weadé James

Child Care Professionals Are on the Front Lines as Climate Change Risks Children’s Health and Development Report
A teacher prepares a classroom at Woodbury Village Preschool that sustained smoke damage during the Eaton fire in Altadena, California

Child Care Professionals Are on the Front Lines as Climate Change Risks Children’s Health and Development

Amid a changing climate and federal rollbacks to disaster relief and preparedness, early educators face an increasingly untenable child care landscape that will require state and local action.

The State of Online Higher Education in 2025 Past Event

The State of Online Higher Education in 2025

Join the Center for American Progress to discuss the current challenges in monitoring and regulating online higher education.

Online

The Trump Administration’s War on Disability Report
U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order.

The Trump Administration’s War on Disability

Executive actions, budget cuts, layoffs, and legislation—all enacted in the Trump administration’s first six months—have curtailed disability rights and services, including access to Medicaid and the right to free, appropriate public education.

Fact Sheet: What To Know About the Child Care for Working Families Act Fact Sheet
A parent picks up his kids at a child care center.

Fact Sheet: What To Know About the Child Care for Working Families Act

The Child Care for Working Families Act would make child care more accessible and affordable, promote high-quality care options, and support child care workers.

The Early Childhood Policy Team

The Full Cost of Attendance: Addressing Housing, Food, and Other Barriers to Community College Student Success Report
Students walk past the library at East Los Angeles College on September 27, 2022, Los Angeles, California.

The Full Cost of Attendance: Addressing Housing, Food, and Other Barriers to Community College Student Success

Although community colleges offer low tuition, students still face steep costs for essentials such as housing, food, transportation, child care, and supplies—barriers that policymakers must address to make college truly affordable.

The Top 5 Ways the Congressional Republicans’ Budget Reconciliation Bill Will Harm Disabled Students Report
Students are seen eating lunch.

The Top 5 Ways the Congressional Republicans’ Budget Reconciliation Bill Will Harm Disabled Students

Disabled students will be disproportionately hurt by the Republican budget reconciliation bill, losing access to essential services and resources that support their education and help them become contributing members of their communities.

5 Ways Community Colleges Drive Workforce Development Report
A student stands in the shade at East Los Angeles College.

5 Ways Community Colleges Drive Workforce Development

Community colleges play a vital role in workforce development by offering accessible education, aligning programs with industry needs, providing upskilling opportunities, fostering local partnerships, and supporting lifelong learning for diverse populations.

Madison Weiss

Who Pays for Choice? The Threat Privatization Poses to Public Education Past Event

Who Pays for Choice? The Threat Privatization Poses to Public Education

Join CAP and NCLD for a virtual event about the growing trend of privatizing public education and unpack the real costs of school choice, revealing how it affects students, weakens local schools, and strains communities.

Online only

Congressional Republicans’ Proposed Budget Reconciliation Bill Imperils 4.4 Million Pell Grant Recipients Article
Students are seen walking across a college campus.

Congressional Republicans’ Proposed Budget Reconciliation Bill Imperils 4.4 Million Pell Grant Recipients

Proposed changes to Pell Grant eligibility could mean nearly two out of three recipients could lose some or all their federal grant aid and incur up to an additional total of $7,400 for a bachelor’s degree and $3,700 for an associate degree.

Sara Partridge

Stealing From Our Children: Trump’s Dismantling of Head Start Harms Children and Families Past Event

Stealing From Our Children: Trump’s Dismantling of Head Start Harms Children and Families

Join the Center for American Progress for an event about the Trump administration's serious threats to Head Start, leaving its future in peril and thousands of low-income families in fear of what comes next.

Center for American Progress | Online

Executive Summary: Differentiating Between Harmful Child Care Deregulation and Helpful Reform Fact Sheet
A preschooler is lying down on a cot and smiling up at the adult sitting in front of her. Three other children, napping on their respective cots, are in the background.

Executive Summary: Differentiating Between Harmful Child Care Deregulation and Helpful Reform

Instead of rolling back critical child care regulations, policymakers should streamline regulations and reduce administrative burdens that are not directly tied to child health, safety, and quality learning.

Allie Schneider, Hailey Gibbs, Lauren Hogan, 4 More Casey Peeks, Paola Andujar, Maria Estlund, Daniel Hains

A Path Forward on Child Care Regulation: Differentiating Between Harmful Deregulation and Helpful Reform Report

A Path Forward on Child Care Regulation: Differentiating Between Harmful Deregulation and Helpful Reform

States can and should make child care licensing reforms that ease burdens on providers and improve access—but must do so without endangering child health and safety.

Hailey Gibbs, Allie Schneider, Lauren Hogan, 4 More Casey Peeks, Paola Andujar, Maria Estlund, Daniel Hains

Introducing a Framework for Private School Voucher Accountability Report
A teacher is seen in a classroom explaining something at the board while students sit at their desks and another teacher watches.

Introducing a Framework for Private School Voucher Accountability

As privatization efforts to redirect funding from public K-12 schools to private institutions continue to expand, an accountability framework for private voucher programs must be implemented to ensure positive student outcomes and thorough oversight of taxpayer dollars.

Weadé James, Tania Otero Martinez

Understanding the Basics of Child Care in the United States Article
Children sit on the rug at the TLC for Tots daycare center in Nampa, Idaho, November 20, 2024.

Understanding the Basics of Child Care in the United States

The United States needs real solutions at all levels of government, coupled with robust public investment, to build a child care and early learning system that works for children, families, educators, and providers.

The Early Childhood Policy Team

What Will Happen to Your Student Loans if Trump Closes the Department of Education? In the News

What Will Happen to Your Student Loans if Trump Closes the Department of Education?

In an op-ed published by Teen Vogue, Stephanie Hall outlines what student loan borrowers can expect if the Trump administration successfully shutters the U.S. Department of Education.

Teen Vogue

Stephanie Hall

The Importance of Holding Microschools Accountable Report
An aerial view of a living room with four children of different ages and their parents participating in homeschooling activities.

The Importance of Holding Microschools Accountable

As school choice expands and new models such as microschools emerge, policymakers and advocates must ensure that these options adhere to accountability standards and do not divert critical resources from a universally accessible, high-quality public education system.

Tania Otero Martinez, Paige Shoemaker DeMio

A 2024 Review of Child Care and Early Learning in the United States Report

A 2024 Review of Child Care and Early Learning in the United States

Updated data on child care and early learning in the United States illustrate the urgent need for holistic public policymaking and robust investments that support young children, families, and early educators.

Allie Schneider

Reorienting Colleges Toward Student-Centered Practices Report
A student sits in a college lecture hall at the University of Texas at Austin, February 22, 2024.

Reorienting Colleges Toward Student-Centered Practices

Colleges, universities, and policymakers can draw lessons from the evolution of patient-centered care in the health care system to create a more responsive and inclusive higher education system.

Stephanie Hall, Madison Weiss

Letter to Under Secretary James Kvaal Regarding the Incentive Compensation Ban Article

Letter to Under Secretary James Kvaal Regarding the Incentive Compensation Ban

Along with other student, consumer, and labor advocates, the Center for American Progress sent a letter calling on the Department of Education to close a loophole in the federal ban on incentive compensation.

Ensuring Digital Accessibility in K-12 Schools in a Technology-Driven Era Article
Students hand on pink computer mouse

Ensuring Digital Accessibility in K-12 Schools in a Technology-Driven Era

As technology advances and becomes more integral to K-12 education, school districts and policymakers must prioritize digital accessibility to enhance the educational experiences of students with disabilities and promote equity for all learners.

Weadé James

A Progressive Vision for Education in the 21st Century Report
A student in graduation robes walks across a stage where an American flag flies.

A Progressive Vision for Education in the 21st Century

This report encompasses key recommendations for strengthening the American education system across early childhood education, K-12 education, higher education, and workforce development.

Jared C. Bass

Pandemic-Era Funding for Early Learning Programs Showcases One of the Most Important Investments the United States Can Make Report
Students sitting on rug with teacher at front

Pandemic-Era Funding for Early Learning Programs Showcases One of the Most Important Investments the United States Can Make

Actions by the Biden-Harris administration and state policymakers illustrate how early learning investments are effective and necessary, paving the way for systemic changes to the country’s child care system.

Hailey Gibbs, Allie Schneider, Bri Crawford, 1 More Casey Peeks

Veterans face hidden dangers in online learning In the News

Veterans face hidden dangers in online learning

In an op-ed published by Stars and Stripes, Stephanie Hall and co-author William Hubbard explain how the third-party contractors who manage virtual higher education programs take advantage of prospective students and can even undermine their GI Bill of Rights benefits.

Stars and Stripes

Stephanie Hall, William Hubbard

New Student Debt Relief Policies Fix Broken Promises and Benefit Borrowers Most in Need Article
A graduating student celebrates during the University of Massachusetts Boston commencement ceremony.

New Student Debt Relief Policies Fix Broken Promises and Benefit Borrowers Most in Need

The Biden-Harris administration proposed new regulations that would bring the share of student loan borrowers across the country who receive full or partial relief to about 3 in 4, targeting those who are the most likely to struggle repaying their debt.

Sara Partridge, Madison Weiss, Brendan Duke

Executive Summary: Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development Fact Sheet
The sun sets in New York City as children cool off.

Executive Summary: Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development

This fact sheet summarizes a recent Center of American Progress report highlighting the need for policymakers to take steps to develop heat standards for children and support infrastructure improvements to ensure schools, child care centers, and communities are safe and healthy places for children.

Allie Schneider, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Hailey Gibbs, 1 More Lisette Partelow

Project 2025 Would Exploit Child Labor by Allowing Minors To Work in Dangerous Conditions With Fewer Protections Article
Black and white photo of a child working in a cotton mill

Project 2025 Would Exploit Child Labor by Allowing Minors To Work in Dangerous Conditions With Fewer Protections

The elimination of protections for young workers, if enacted, would lead more children to work in dangerous workplaces such as factories and slaughterhouses—as well as increase the likelihood of injuries and death—to the benefit of greedy corporations.

Veronica Goodman

Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development Report
Children cool off by playing in a fountain in Brooklyn’s Domino Park, New York, during a heat wave.

Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development

As climate change intensifies extreme heat around the globe, policymakers must take steps to develop heat standards for children and support infrastructure improvements to ensure schools, child care centers, and communities are safe and healthy places for children.

Allie Schneider, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Hailey Gibbs, 1 More Lisette Partelow

Project 2025: Exposing the Far-Right Assault on America Past Event

Project 2025: Exposing the Far-Right Assault on America

Please join the Center for American Progress for an event discussing the implications of Project 2025 for all Americans and the ways in which its policy proposals are already having an impact at the state level.

CAP Comment Urges the U.S. Secretary of Education To Protect Student Interests Amid Potential Online Program Manager Concerns Article

CAP Comment Urges the U.S. Secretary of Education To Protect Student Interests Amid Potential Online Program Manager Concerns

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Secretary of Education highlighting concerns about the online program manager industry.

Stephanie Hall, Dr. Amber Villalobos, Dr. Edward Conroy

Data Dashboard: An Overview of Child Care and Early Learning in the United States Report
Preschool students in Washington, D.C., are joined by the interim chancellor for District of Columbia Public Schools.

Data Dashboard: An Overview of Child Care and Early Learning in the United States

The Center for American Progress has developed a data dashboard that allows users to explore national- and state-level data trends on a range of child care and early learning topics, including access to affordable care, the child care workforce, Head Start, and exclusionary discipline policies.

Allie Schneider, Hailey Gibbs

Related Resources on Child Care and Early Learning Article
A 3-year-old walks to a park with her family in Rockville, Maryland.

Related Resources on Child Care and Early Learning

This webpage offers a list of resources that can help make the case for investments in child care and early learning at the state level.

The Early Childhood Policy Team

Early Childhood Education in U.S. States Article
A preschool student raises their hand as teachers lead a class at an early learning public charter school.

Early Childhood Education in U.S. States

This toolkit provides information and resources to help state policymakers advocate for increased investments in their state child care and early learning systems.

Anna Lovejoy, Hailey Gibbs

House Republican Budget Threatens Public Education and Opportunity for Young People Article
Empty elementary school classroom

House Republican Budget Threatens Public Education and Opportunity for Young People

House Republican leadership’s proposed funding bill would vastly cut support for economically disadvantaged students and eliminate important programs in the K-12 education, youth workforce development, and higher education spheres.

Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Allie Pearce, Tania Otero Martinez, 1 More Marcella Bombardieri

The Future of Student Debt Relief: What To Expect Next Article
A “class of 2023” cap and tassel are seen.

The Future of Student Debt Relief: What To Expect Next

With the student loan payment pause ending in September 2023, this column helps to answer questions borrowers may have about what the Biden-Harris administration is doing to pursue debt relief and what to expect in the upcoming negotiated rulemaking that will take place from October through December 2023.

Challenges and Opportunities of Providing Free School Meals for All Report
Three elementary students sit and compare lunches at a cafeteria table.

Challenges and Opportunities of Providing Free School Meals for All

The Center for American Progress’ community conversations with a Colorado school district illustrate how offering no-cost school meals is critical for students’ success and opportunities.

Allie Pearce, Anona Neal

Strengthening Early Childhood Health, Housing, Education, and Economic Well-Being Through Holistic Public Policy Report
A child stacks duplo legos to make a tower in a Head Start classroom for children ages 3 to 5.

Strengthening Early Childhood Health, Housing, Education, and Economic Well-Being Through Holistic Public Policy

The preschool years present a critical developmental period sensitive to changes in public health and social policy, for which robust investments in programs that support families can improve intergenerational outcomes.

Allie Schneider, Hailey Gibbs

Federal Child Care Legislation Over the Past Decade Interactive
Children and their parents gather at a picnic on Capitol Hill.

Federal Child Care Legislation Over the Past Decade

The past decade of child care legislation illustrates an increase in bipartisan action on the child care crisis and highlights the need for Congress to enact legislation to support a federally funded comprehensive child care system.

Allie Schneider, Erin Grant, Shira Davidson

Community-Based Strategies To Reduce Gun Violence in Schools Article
Photo shows an empty basketball court facing a one-story white school, with a chainlink fence between the camera lens and the basketball court

Community-Based Strategies To Reduce Gun Violence in Schools

In addition to efforts from state and federal lawmakers, schools and communities have a critical role to play in addressing school gun violence through prevention and intervention approaches.

Allie Pearce, Akilah Alleyne

5 States Addressing Child Hunger and Food Insecurity With Free School Meals for All Report
Image showing four students seated at a cafeteria table with their backs to the camera.

5 States Addressing Child Hunger and Food Insecurity With Free School Meals for All

State governments are taking the lead in implementing no-cost school meal programs to eliminate administrative and financial burdens for students, families, and school staff.

Allie Pearce, Akilah Alleyne, Anona Neal

Funding for Federal Student Aid: A Defining Moment for Higher Education Programs Testimony

Funding for Federal Student Aid: A Defining Moment for Higher Education Programs

Jared C. Bass, senior director for Higher Education at the Center for American Progress, testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education on the importance of funding for the Office of Federal Student Aid.

Jared C. Bass

States Can Improve Child Care Assistance Programs Through Cost Modeling Report
A child care worker engages children during an activity.

States Can Improve Child Care Assistance Programs Through Cost Modeling

The current process states use for setting child care subsidy reimbursement rates only looks backward, building low wages and scarce resources into the future of child care.

Maureen Coffey

Address the nursing shortage with realistic staffing and fair contracts In the News

Address the nursing shortage with realistic staffing and fair contracts

Marina Zhavoronkova, Nicole Rapfogel, and Emily Gee argue that in order to address America's nursing shortage, policymakers must take measures to improve nurses' working conditions and keep them in the profession.

The Hill

Marina Zhavoronkova, Nicole Rapfogel, Emily Gee

CAP’s Comment on the Income-Driven Repayment Regulation Article

CAP’s Comment on the Income-Driven Repayment Regulation

In a comment letter submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, Bradley D. Custer discusses income-driven repayment regulation and the need for a student loan repayment system with a functional safety net.

Bradley D. Custer

Top 5 Actions Governors Can Take To Address the Child Care Shortage Report
Photo shows a woman in the foreground holding a baby with another teacher and toddlers in the background, in a room filled with toys.

Top 5 Actions Governors Can Take To Address the Child Care Shortage

Governors must take the lead in instituting policies that fairly compensate early childhood providers for the skilled work they perform, incentivize the creation of programs in child care deserts, and relieve families of the high cost of care.

Anna Lovejoy

At Navajo Technical University, a World-Class Laboratory Is Building Native American Manufacturing Capacity Article
2022 Navajo Tech graduate Marcie Vandever works at a computer.

At Navajo Technical University, a World-Class Laboratory Is Building Native American Manufacturing Capacity

In the third and final installment in a series on Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), the Center for American Progress and American Indian College Fund examine how a Tribal university in New Mexico is creating engineering and advanced manufacturing career opportunities on the rural Navajo Nation.

Marcella Bombardieri, Dina M. Horwedel

A Minnesota Tribal College Teaches Law Enforcement in Effort To Put More Native Americans ‘Behind the Badge’ Article
Jamie Allen of the White Earth Police Department conducts a demonstration for LLTC students.

A Minnesota Tribal College Teaches Law Enforcement in Effort To Put More Native Americans ‘Behind the Badge’

In the second installment in a three-part series on Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), the Center for American Progress and American Indian College Fund look at Leech Lake Tribal College’s law enforcement degree program and the college’s work on cultural revitalization and basic needs insecurity.

Marcella Bombardieri, Dina M. Horwedel

For Native Americans, Tribal Colleges Tackle the ‘Present-Day Work of Our Ancestors’ Article
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona  delivers the commencement address at Salish Kootenai College.

For Native Americans, Tribal Colleges Tackle the ‘Present-Day Work of Our Ancestors’

In the first installment in a series on Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), the Center for American Progress and American Indian College Fund explore the essential role TCUs play in their communities and why investing in them should be a priority for policymakers.

Marcella Bombardieri, Dina M. Horwedel

How To Make Schools Safer Without Additional Physical Security Measures Report
Photo shows several students walking in front of a colorful mural.

How To Make Schools Safer Without Additional Physical Security Measures

The newly enacted Bipartisan Safer Communities Act can help schools and districts create safer learning environments without resorting to implementing measures that harden schools.

Emily Katz, Roby Chatterji, Akilah Alleyne

After We Cancel the Debt Past Event

After We Cancel the Debt

The Future of Higher Education in a Post-Debt Cancellation United States

Online only

Teacher Preparation Shortcuts Won’t Solve the Teacher Shortage Article
Photo shows an empty classroom with chairs stacked on top of the desks.

Teacher Preparation Shortcuts Won’t Solve the Teacher Shortage

Recently passed legislation that reduces training requirements for teachers will harm student learning, weaken the profession, and ignore the systemic issues that have long contributed to teacher shortages.

Loren Welles

5 Things To Know About Debt Cancellation Article
Student loan borrowers gather near the White House to urge President Joe Biden to cancel student debt

5 Things To Know About Debt Cancellation

Student debt cancellation would help people of all ages, reduce the racial wealth gap, and help borrowers weather turmoil in the student loan system.

Ella Azoulay, Jared C. Bass, Marcella Bombardieri, 1 More Bradley D. Custer

Timeline: Federal Student Loans During the COVID-19 Pandemic Article
Students wear their graduation gowns outside of the White House.

Timeline: Federal Student Loans During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article presents a timeline of recent events related to student loans and takes a look at what’s to come for student loan borrowers.

Bradley D. Custer, Ella Azoulay

After President Biden Cancels Student Debt Report
Three borrowers holding signs that say Cancel Student Debt

After President Biden Cancels Student Debt

Meeting the urgency of the college affordability and student debt crisis will require bold action to restore the promise of opportunity for all Americans.

Jared C. Bass, Jesse O’Connell

Still Underpaid and Unequal Report
A teacher surrounded by her students leads preschoolers in dance during a class at an early childhood center in Boulder, Colorado.

Still Underpaid and Unequal

New, comprehensive data on child care workers in center-based programs—analyzing their demographics, education, experience, and wages—reveal widening pay gaps and inequality.

Maureen Coffey

Gun Violence Is Having a Devastating Impact on Young People Fact Sheet
People visit a memorial for the victims of the Robb Elementary School mass shooting.

Gun Violence Is Having a Devastating Impact on Young People

Children and teenagers are suffering from gun violence at disproportionate rates, all while some elected officials push for measures that would further endanger our young generations.

Eugenio Weigend Vargas, Allison Jordan

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