University of Wisconsin–Madison
Progressive Local Government
For the 21st Century

ProGov21 Policy Library

Policy Area
Policy Area Scrollable Checkbox List
Material Type
Material Type Scrollable Checkbox List
Level
Level Scrollable Checkbox List
State
State Scrollable Checkbox List
Source
Source Scrollable Checkbox List
Year
Raising Pay in Public K-12 Schools is Critical to Solving Staffing Shortages
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2022
Level Other
State(s) All States
Source Economic Policy Institute
Policy Areas Children & Families, Education, Finance & Procurement
Public school staffing shortages have been a persistent problem across the United States, and the recent pandemic has only intensified the issue. Low pay for K-12 teachers and support staff is a long standing factor in public school staffing shortages. This report suggests ways in...
Tags
Why Do Parents Pay So Much for Child Care When Early Educators Earn So Little?
Type Fact Sheet or Infographic
Year 2018
Level City or Town, County, State
State(s) All States
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
Although the average cost of child care rivals college tuition, early educators are among the lowest-paid workers in the country. This infographic outlines the consequences of insufficient wages on early educators' livelihoods....
Tags
Early Care and Education Programs During COVID-19: Persistent Inequities and Emerging Challenges
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2022
Level State
State(s) California
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education, Finance & Procurement
This report analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on the early care and education system using data from the 2020 California Early Care and Education (ECE) Workforce Study. Findings show that the pandemic worsened existing disparities within the ECE workforce based on program type and funding....
Tags
Assessing Ohio's Child Care System
Type Fact Sheet or Infographic
Year 2017
Level County
State(s) Ohio
Source Policy Matters Ohio
Policy Areas Children & Families
Childcare for working families in Ohio is often too expensive and/or poor quality. The states childcare assistance programs have one of the most restrictive income requirements in the county, reducing their effectiveness. Further, the childcare system is difficult to navigate, and...
Tags
We Need Major Reform that Prioritizes the Needs of our Child Care Workforce
Type Fact Sheet or Infographic
Year 2021
Level City or Town, County, State
State(s) All States
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
This infographic argues that subsidized child care is ineffective until the early care and education system is reformed to ensure educators earn fair wages and benefits. Although subsidies have the potential to help low-income families afford child care, tax credits primarily benefit...
Tags
Teaching the Teachers of Our Youngest Children: The State of Early Childhood Higher Education in Maryland
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2021
Level State
State(s) Maryland
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
Early childhood education preparation varies widely across the higher education industry. Multiple programs with differing curriculums suggest similar outcomes but produce highly variable levels of preparedness. This report focuses on the education landscape of early-childhood-education...
Tags
The American Rescue Plan: Recommendations for Addressing Early Educator Compensation and Supports
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2022
Level National
State(s) All States
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
Throughout the nation, early childhood educators are struggling to meet ends meet. With the passing of the American Rescue Plan Act, unprecedented funding opportunities exist to meet the wage gap of underfunded and underpaid educators. This report contains policy suggestions that...
Tags
Early Childhood Educators Set Florida’s Kids on the Path Towards Success
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2023
Level State
State(s) Florida
Source Council for a Strong America
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
Qualified teachers are the foundation of high-quality early care and education (ECE). However, inadequate compensation and subpar working conditions for ECE workers threatens the quality of programs by leading to high levels of turnover. This report urges policymakers to invest in...
Tags
Ohio’s child care crisis: Parents and providers out of options
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2024
Level City or Town, County, State
State(s) Ohio
Source Policy Matters Ohio
Policy Areas Children & Families, Education
Child care is a necessity for millions of families but educators are underpaid and care options are unaffordable. This report examines Ohio's child care crisis and provides recommendations for supporting providers and improving accessibility and affordability. It recommends expanding...
Tags
From Unlivable Wages to Just Pay for Early Educators
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2019
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
Teaching in early care and education (ECE) programs is one of the lowest-paid occupations in the United States. This report summarizes recent research on wage standards and assesses existing initiatives intended to address the problem of low wages in ECE. It concludes that educators...
Tags
State and Local Leaders Must Act Now for Abortion Justice: State and Municipal Funding for Abortion
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2022
Level City or Town, State
State(s) All States
Source National Institute for Reproductive Health
Policy Areas Finance & Procurement, Health
When states and cities allocate funding for abortion and other reproductive health care, they can alleviate financial and logistical barriers faced by local residents and ensure that people both within and outside of their community receive essential and time-sensitive care. This...
Tags
High Quality Early Childhood Programs are Key for a Strong New Mexico
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2023
Level State
State(s) New Mexico
Source Council for a Strong America
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
This report discusses how investments in New Mexico's early care and education (ECE) programs can increase productivity, strengthen the economy, improve public safety, and enhance national security. It also outlines multiple case studies in which high-quality home visiting, child...
Tags
50-State Early Educator Policy and Practice Research
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2020
Level State
State(s) All States
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
Early childhood education across the nation varies between and within states. Level of education and qualification of staff and teachers is inconsistent within the fragmented policy landscape, resulting in inequitable levels of early childhood education. This report summarizes research...
Tags
Mayor's Advisory Council on Early Childhood Development and Early Education
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2011
Level School District, City or Town, County
State(s) Tennessee
Source Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
Policy Areas Education, Economic Justice, Children & Families
This report outlines Nashville-Davidson County's early childhood policies and identifies the shortcomings of current programming. It recommends that the city support early literacy programs, improve accountability in the school system, invest in management technology and training,...
Tags
Strengthening the Knowledge, Skills, and Professional Identity of Early Educators: The Impact of the California SEIU Early Educator Apprenticeship Program
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2019
Level State
State(s) California
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
Launched in 2016, the California SEIU Early Educator Apprenticeship Program was meant to help educators in underserved communities to build skills and knowledge, shrinking the educational equity gap in the process. This study focuses on the outcome of the various implementations of...
Tags
American Rescue Plan Act: Innovative MCH Fund Applications
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2022
Level Other, Other Boards and Agencies
State(s) All States
Source The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
Policy Areas Children & Families, Health
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allocated $1.9 trillion rescue funds to help the nation overcome the post-pandemic devastation. The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs produced this report to illustrate the ways in which they have utilized the funding provided by...
Tags
“The Forgotten Ones”—The Economic Well-Being of Early Educators During COVID-19
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2022
Level State
State(s) California
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
This report provides a closer look at the well-being of California's early educators during the COVID-19 public health crisis, using data collected from the 2020 California Early Care and Education Workforce Study. Key findings show that educators' low wages leave them vulnerable...
Tags
Supporting Early Childhood Mental Health Sets Georgia’s Kids on the Path to Success
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2021
Level City or Town, State
State(s) Georgia
Source Council for a Strong America
Policy Areas Children & Families, Health
This report discusses the social, economic, and developmental implications of Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) challenges, and outlines strategies for Georgia lawmakers to support children struggling with mental or emotional health-related issues. The report recommends lawmakers...
Tags
Recommendations for Title V Programs: Co-Creating an Equitable Future with the Wisdom of Communities
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2021
Level National
State(s) All States
Source The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
Policy Areas Children & Families, Health
Title V MCH Services Block Grant programs provide funding for three categories of essential services--direct, enabling, and public health services--but requires funded programs to be "family-centered, community-based and culturally competent." This report examines the methodologies...
Tags
Cities Supporting the Early Childhood Workforce
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2018
Level City or Town
State(s) California, Connecticut, Florida, Missouri, New York, Virginia, Washington
Source National League of Cities
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
Developing the workforce in early care and education is central to the delivery of high-quality experiences and environments for young children. This brief draws upon learnings from the Cities Supporting the Early Childhood Workforce Initiative and provides recommendations. Best practices...
Tags
Racial Wage Gaps in Early Education Employment
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2019
Level State
State(s) All States
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education
Early educators are some of the lowest-paid workers in every state, which especially burdens African American and Hispanic women in this profession. This report analyzes the racial disparities that exist in early education employment. Findings show that African American early educators...
Tags
Race in the Heartland: Wisconsin’s Extreme Racial Disparity
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2019
Level City or Town, County, State
State(s) Wisconsin
Source High Road Strategy Center
Policy Areas Civil Rights
Wisconsin ranks among the worst states in the nation for racial inequality. This report finds Wisconsin's racial disparities rank as one of the worst for infant mortality, bachelor's degrees, incarceration, and unemployment. It recommends training a diverse teaching workforce, raising...
Tags
Early Childhood Workforce Index 2020
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2020
Level City or Town, County, State
State(s) All States
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education, Public Safety
Despite their important and complex work, early educators have faced low wages and unsafe working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report demonstrates that compensation within the early childhood education (ECE) workforce is uneven across states and among different classifications...
Tags
Transforming Approaches to Qualitative and Quantitative Data for Optimal Community Impact
Type Fact Sheet or Infographic
Year 2021
Level National
State(s) All States
Source The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
Policy Areas Children & Families, Health
Organizations conducting research on and proposing policy solutions to structural inequalities in maternal and child care often fail to integrate the perspectives of the people being studied into their work. This report explores reasons to include the perspectives of research subjects...
Tags
The Early Educator Workforce Crisis: How Legislators Can Makes a Difference for Kids, Families, and Educators
Type Fact Sheet or Infographic
Year 2023
Level State
State(s) All States
Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Policy Areas Children & Families, Education
Early childhood care and education are critically underfunded, driving teachers from the field and forcing parents out of the workforce due to insufficient childcare options. This crisis necessitates sustained, large-scale public investment in the early childhood care system, including...
Tags
Displaying 25 of 63 records.

Remove Entry

Are you sure you want to remove this?

There was an error communicating with the server.

Please try again later.

There was an error while saving your data.

Please try again later.

Error

Please try again later.

Update Page Content

You are leaving the page

Please make sure you saved all of the modules to avoid losing any data.