Build Back Better Act and How it Effects Child Care Providers

The Build Back Better Act has been a very hot topic, specifically for those working as child care providers and in early childhood professions. Many families, child care providers, head start programs and schools want to know how this particular piece of legislation will impact their organizations. With currently more than $600 billion potentially allocated to cut child care cost for many families, provide free preschool for all children in America, and increase provider wages, many families and child care professionals are anticipating it's passage. However, the Build Back Better Act is currently in limbo.

The white house issued a statement on it's benefits below: 

Preschool in the United States costs about $8,600 per year. The Build Back Better framework will enable states to expand access to free preschool for more than 6 million children per year and increase the quality of preschool for many more children already enrolled.  Importantly, parents will be able to send children to high-quality preschool in the setting of their choice – from public schools to child care providers to Head Start. (whitehouse.gov)

There are many aspects to the Build Back Better Act. However, we have listed the potential benefits for child care professionals:

Framework:

• Universal preschool for all three and four-year-olds
• Child-care cost cap of 7% of income for parents earning up to 250% of a state’s median income (including faith-based child-care that complies with ideological requirements)
• One year of expanded child tax credits

For more information on the Build Back Better Act, visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/build-back-better/