Families & Child Care
FAMILIES & CHILD CARE
Child Care and Working Families
Child-care policy should expand the supply of safe providers without imposing one national operating model. States remain responsible for licensing and inspections. Federal support should be conditioned on transparent safety standards, provider information, and parental choice.
States receiving federal child-care funds must publish provider prices, available openings, licensing status, inspection results, substantiated safety violations, and corrective actions in a searchable system.
Licensing must focus on health, supervision, background checks, emergency planning, sanitation, and age-appropriate staffing. States may authorize home-based providers, small providers, cooperatives, faith-based providers, and employer-supported care when they meet the same core safety rules.
Complete license applications must receive a decision within 60 days. A denial must identify the rule, evidence, correction needed, and appeal process.
Any federal financial assistance should follow the eligible child and family among qualified providers rather than guaranteeing revenue to one provider or delivery model.
A provider with an immediate danger may be suspended at once, but non-emergency deficiencies normally receive notice and a reasonable correction period before closure.
Federal assistance may not become an unfunded employer mandate, and program costs, wait times, safety outcomes, and provider capacity must be reported annually.
Related policies: Workers' Rights; Cost of Living & Economic Security; Education; Public Benefits Administration & Portability.
Status: Proposed / Draft — not yet formally adopted.
Originally published: August 15, 2026.
Last updated: September 25, 2026.
Version: Draft 0.1.