Investments in Early Childhood Development and Education Economic Impact and Federal Assistance

Early childhood, beginning in infancy, is a period of profound advances in reasoning, language acquisition, and problem-solving, and importantly, a child's environment can dramatically influence the degree and pace of these advances. By supporting development when children are very young, early childhood development and education programs can complement parental investments and produce large benefits to children, parents, and society. Federal support for child care and education comes in many forms, ranging from grant programs to tax provisions. Some programs serve as specifically dedicated funding sources for child care services or education programs. For other programs, child care is just one of many purposes for which funds may be used. In many cases, federal programs target low-income families in need of child care, but in the case of certain tax provisions, the benefits reach middle- and upper-income families as well. This book provides a funding overview and brief background information on federal child care, early education, and related programs (and tax provisions).