Lawmakers hear testimony on bill to keep Working Connections Child Care eligibility at 60% of SMI, change payment rules Substitute House Bill 2,689 would keep WCCC income eligibility at 60% of state median income, set reimbursement rates at the 70th percentile, cancel a planned shift to enrollment-based payments, and alter attendance-based payment rules; witnesses debated implementation and survey response requirements.

Lawmakers are shaking up Washington's child care subsidy program with proposed changes that could impact eligibility and payment structures—what does it mean for families and providers?

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#WA #IncomeSupport #CitizenPortal #ChildCarePolicy #AdministrativeBurden

Data advisory commission reviews revised research agenda and nine draft recommendations for legislative report The commission reviewed an updated research agenda focused on workforce questions and cross-cutting analysis, discussed data gaps (retention, compensation, family childcare), and heard a proposed report structure and nine recommendations that staff will flesh out before a draft is circulated ahead of April.

The EEC commission is rethinking its research agenda to tackle urgent workforce questions, but what themes are emerging as priorities?

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#MA #CitizenPortal #ChildcarePolicy #DataQuality #WorkforceDevelopment

Urayasu to Become First in Chiba Prefecture with Free Daycare for Infants A Historic Expansion of Childcare SupportUrayasu City in Chiba Prefecture is preparing to eliminate daycare fees for children aged two...

Urayasu to Become First in Chiba Prefecture with Free Daycare for Infants #Japan #ChildcarePolicy #FreeDaycare

Childcare policy updates in 2026 highlight rising costs, workforce shortages, and expanding access efforts nationwide. Social workers continue advocating for affordable, equitable care for families and providers.
tinyurl.com/3zwsyjn8
#ChildcarePolicy #SocialWork #FamilyWellbeing #EarlyChildhood

Mamdani’s Free Child Care Plan – Weiss Speaks with Commercial Observer Mamdani’s Free Child Care Plan Raises More Questions Than Answers – good news about site selection, zoning laws give a wide berth to potential new child care sites.

Howard S. Weiss Chair of NYC Land Use and Admin Law at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, breaks down Mamdani’s free child care plan in Commercial Observer, explaining why zoning supports new sites—but licensing and code compliance will be the real test.
#NYCLandUse #ChildCarePolicy #PublicPolicy #DHCLegal

a girl in a blue jacket is talking to a teacher in a hallway with hap pily written in the corner ALT: a girl in a blue jacket is talking to a teacher in a hallway with hap pily written in the corner

Only 15% of programs meet all 10 quality indicators. The difference makers:
• Low ratios + stable teachers
• Adults follow kids' lead, not scripts
• Play is the curriculum, not filler
#ECEData #DataVisualization #EarlyEducation #ChildcarePolicy

Screenshot this: 90% of brain development happens before age 5, but only 3% of education funding goes to early childhood. We're investing in the wrong end of the pipeline.
#ECEData #InvestInChildren #EarlyEdMatters #ChildcarePolicy

New Mexico's free childcare initiative sparks a vital Hacker News discussion. It explores potential benefits for working families, economic implications, historical context, and critical concerns about care quality and child development. A real-world test for universal programs. #ChildcarePolicy 1/6

Financial sustainability of universal childcare was a major concern. The HN discussion underscores that there's no single "best" solution, but a complex balance of economic, social, and family goals. #ChildcarePolicy 6/6

PPA is proud to share a new #childcare dashboard! It displays eligibility and enrollment data for the Child Care and Development Fund from 2009 to 2019. It includes data on the 50 states as well as Washington, D.C. Here- publicpolicy.com/featured-wor...

#childcarepolicy #childcareprovider

5/7
Alberta wants to move away from universal $10/day care toward "a fully income-tested system" with targeted subsidies for low-income families. The province also rejects requirements to prioritize non-profit spaces over for-profit providers.

IT'S ALL ABOUT PRIVATISATION!
#ABpoli #ChildCarePolicy

I'm working with CCDF administrators to protect child care for families with low income. If anyone else is in the #childcarepolicy world let me know!