Child Care

Affordable, dependable child care allows children to thrive, parents to get to work or school, and employers to find and retain workers. But for too many Minnesota families, child care is out of reach due to high costs and long waiting lists for child care assistance.

Our analysis and advocacy focuses on expanding Minnesota's child care assistance so that parents can find the child care that meets their needs, children are in safe, reliable care, and to strengthen Minnesota's workforce.

Research

February 2021

Time to invest in affordable child care

Funding for Child Care Assistance has yet to recover from monumental cuts made nearly two decades ago, and the coronavirus pandemic is creating greater strain on the child care system. The strength of the state’s economy depends on greater participation of Minnesotans in the labor force, and we can’t afford to leave working parents on the sidelines because they lack access to affordable child care.

July 2018

Federal funds to Minnesota are instrumental to building shared prosperity

Partnership with the federal government allows Minnesotans to have affordable health care, strong roads and transit, supports for jobs and training, and other priorities for thriving families and communities. Close to $25 billion, or 30 percent of the state’s budget, comes from the federal government.

February 2017

Time to invest in affordable child care through Basic Sliding Fee

Affordable child care allows parents to work, children to thrive in safe, reliable care settings, and employers to hire and keep the workers they need. Basic Sliding Fee, part of the state’s Child Care Assistance Program, reduces the monthly costs for child care for families living across the state. But funding has decreased by 25 percent since 2003 in inflation-adjusted dollars and waiting lists have grown. This issue brief highlights the benefits of Basic Sliding Fee, and how increasing reimbursements to child care providers could give parents more options for care across the state.

April 2016

Dayton's FY 2016-17 supplemental budget proposal works to expand opportunity and close racial gaps

With a $900 million surplus, Governor Mark Dayton makes strategic investments that are focused on expanding opportunity for more Minnesotans, regardless of their race or where they live. The tax portion of Dayton’s supplemental budget prioritizes sustainable tax choices that move Minnesota toward a tax system that is more equitable across income levels. It is especially focused on supporting working families, particularly those with children.

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Child Care Blog Posts

April 17, 2024

Powerful stories show child care is unaffordable for many; Great Start Scholarships are a solution

This legislative session, families, lawmakers, advocates, and more have drawn attention to child care affordability as an urgent problem that requires solutions. Earlier this session, a hearing was held at the Minnesota House of Representatives where a number of testifiers spoke to the struggles with affordability they face. Parents and providers alike are looking for policy solutions; here are a few of their stories.

May 11, 2023

Cooperation paves the way for important investments in affordable child care

With a historic surplus of $17.5 billion for FY 2024-25 and $5.4 billion structural balance for FY 2026-27 , Minnesota...

February 01, 2023

Governor Walz releases FY 2024-25 budget priorities

In his proposal for the two-year FY 2024-25 budget cycle, Governor Tim Walz proposes $11.2 billion in additional funding for public services, with the largest amount of new dollars going toward education, economic development, and health and human services. He also proposes $5.4 billion in tax reductions in FY 2024-25, with the biggest component being a one-time tax rebate. Read more in our blog.

May 04, 2022

Minnesota should do more to support families and child care providers

We take a look at the Minnesota House’s proposed improvements to child care, and the actions policymakers should take this year to support Minnesota families and the “workforce behind the workforce” that allows parents to succeed at work, employers to find the workers they need, and kids to thrive.

More Child Care Blogs

Our Child Care Policy Work

issues > child care spotlight

Making affordable child care available to families

We support policies to ensure that more Minnesota families have affordable, reliable child care that meets their needs and supports their pathways to economic security. The final budget agreed to by Governor Tim Walz and the 2019 Minnesota Legislature includes important steps to bring child care assistance in Minnesota up to federal standards, which will make child care assistance work better for families experiencing homelessness and ensure families moving to another county don't lose their assistance.

Read more

Child Care

Research

Time to invest in affordable child care

Federal funds to Minnesota are instrumental to building shared prosperity

Time to invest in affordable child care through Basic Sliding Fee

Dayton's FY 2016-17 supplemental budget proposal works to expand opportunity and close racial gaps

Child Care Blog Posts

Powerful stories show child care is unaffordable for many; Great Start Scholarships are a solution

Cooperation paves the way for important investments in affordable child care

Governor Walz releases FY 2024-25 budget priorities

Minnesota should do more to support families and child care providers

Our Child Care Policy Work

Making affordable child care available to families

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