Child Care

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.

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.

The lost decade: Taking a closer look at Minnesota's public investments in the 2000s

The Lost Decade looks closely at funding trends in four state budget areas that significantly impact the well-being of Minnesotans: early education and K-12 education, higher education, child care assistance, and affordable housing and homelessness prevention. As a result of funding cuts in these areas, many Minnesotans had fewer opportunities to succeed in school, in the workplace, or in providing a decent standard of living for their families.

Addressing inequality: 2007 Legislative Session still leaves many children behind