The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation administers the Project Pathfinders scholarship to early childhood professionals in preschool and child care settings. Recipients can use the scholarship toward community college coursework and credentials, and they must set a specific credentialing goal to be eligible for additional funds to cover the costs of books and fees. Priority is given to applicants working with at-risk children (e.g., those eligible for child care subsidies, qualifying for free or reduced lunch, or participating in public preschool programs like Head Start or Virginia Preschool Initiative). Pathfinder awards are applied to a recipient’s account after other financial aid and grants (such as Pell grants) have been applied. Funds for the program first became available in the 2019–20 biennial budget enacted by Governor Ralph Northam and the 2018 General Assembly. Learn More: Virginia Project Pathfinders Sources: Virginia Early Childhood Education. (n.d.). Project Pathfinders. Virginia Early Childhood Education. (n.d.). Project Pathfinders: Overview of Scholarship Opportunity for the Early Education Workforce. Virginia Early Childhood Education. (n.d.). Project Pathfinders Archive.

In 2020, the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, a collaboration between Pasco County and Hernando County, funded and launched the Promise Institute, a educational training platform that provides comprehensive training and educational resources for early childhood educators. The Promise Institute also includes programs such as Nemours Brightstart for Early Literacy Success which aims to improve reading readiness by offering an effective instructional curriculum for parents and educators and START Initiative which aims to provide tools and strategies for relationship-based parenting for families. In 2023, the Early Learning Coalition expanded the Promise Institute to include a new Family Education training platform for parents and caregivers. This strategy represents a collaboration between Pasco County and Hernando County. It is cross-listed under Pasco County here. Sources: Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando. (n.d.). The Promise Institute.  

In 2020, the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, a collaboration between Pasco County and Hernando County, funded and launched the Promise Institute, a educational training platform that provides comprehensive training and educational resources for early childhood educators. The Promise Institute also includes programs such as Nemours Brightstart for Early Literacy Success which aims to improve reading readiness by offering an effective instructional curriculum for parents and educators and START Initiative which aims to provide tools and strategies for relationship-based parenting for families. In 2023, the Early Learning Coalition expanded the Promise Institute to include a new Family Education training platform for parents and caregivers. This strategy represents a collaboration between Pasco County and Hernando County. It is cross-listed under Hernando County here. Sources: Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando. (n.d.). The Promise Institute.  

In November of 2023, Texas voters passed Proposition 2, approving a constitutional amendment that will allow counties or municipalities to authorize a property tax exemption on all or part of the appraised value of property used to operate child care facilities. The exemption must equal at least 50% of the property’s appraised value. Advocates for the amendment were aiming to alleviate some of the financial burdens that Texas child care facilities face. For a child care facility to be exempt, it must be both licensed and part of the Texas Rising Star Program, a quality rating and improvement system for child care programs that participate in the Texas Workforce Commission’s Child Care Services. At least 20% of the children enrolled in the facility’s child care program must receive subsidies or scholarships from the Texas Workforce Commission. Home-based child care facilities will not be eligible. Proposition 2 will go into effect in January 2024.  Learn more: property tax exemption for child care facilities amendment Sources: Ballotpedia. (2023). Texas Proposition 2, Property Tax Exemption for Child-Care Facilities Amendment. KXAN. (2023). Proposition 2: Texans vote on child care property tax exemption.

In 2014, Seattle voters passed a referendum to increase local property taxes to provide dedicated funding for the Seattle Preschool Program. The tax increase allocates 11 cents of every $1,000 in assessed value to fund the program. The measure was sent to a wider vote in 2018, where it passed to secure funding for 7 more years. The tax contributes roughly $6.8 million per year toward the preschool program. learn more: Seattle property tax referendum Sources: Seattle Times. (2018). Seattle City Council sends $600 million-plus education levy to November ballotSeattle Office of the Mayor. (2018). Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy Fact Sheet.Seattle Office of the Mayor. (2018). Mayor Jenny Durkan Statement on Voters’ Approval of Her Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Plan.

In December 2024, the City of Boise approved $925,000 in property tax relief for certain groups of residents, including licensed in-home child care providers. Providers are eligible for up to $500 in property tax relief if they are licensed, own their home, and are actively providing child care services.   The city’s Property Tax Rebate Program was authorized by the Idaho Legislature’s House Bill 550, passed in March 2022, which allows Idaho municipalities to offer property tax rebates using general funds. The program went into effect in 2023, though child care providers were not eligible during the first year.   learn more: property tax rebate for family child care providers Sources: City of Boise. (2024, December 3). Boise Property Tax Rebate Program Begins This Week, Expands To Eligible Childcare Providers. Carr Lee, M. (2024, October 29). Good Ideas for Cities: Creative Tactics Cities are Using to Address the Child Care Shortage. Mayors Innovation Project.

In November 2020, St. Louis voters approved Proposition R, a property tax referendum to create a dedicated public source of funding for the city’s early childhood education system. The proposition, passed with 56 percent of the vote, increased the property tax by 6 cents per $100 of property valuation.   Revenue from this tax is distributed through the city’s Children’s Services Fund, which is managed by the St. Louis Mental Health Board. The Board does not directly subsidize child care for families, but it provides grants to licensed early education providers in St. Louis. Grants fund a wide range of early childhood services, including professional development for teachers, data collection, and technical assistance.  learn more: proposition r Sources: North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation. (n.d.). St. Louis City Property Tax. Covert, B. (2020, December 3). Proposition R in St. Louis: Ballot Measure Creates First Public Funding Source for Education and Care for Children 0-5. Early Learning Nation.

In 2024, the Minnesota legislature passed an omnibus judiciary bill, House File 5216, that included new protections for family child care providers in communities with homeowner associations (HOAs). The measure prevents private entities, such as HOAs and condominium associations, from prohibiting or unreasonably restricting a dwelling owner from providing child care under a family child care license. These entities also cannot impose fees on dwelling owners who provide child care.  learn more: protections for family child care providers Sources: Child Care Aware of Minnesota. (2024). Final 2024 Legislative Update. Minnesota Legislature. (2024). HF 5216.

In 2002, Child Care Aware of Minnesota created the Retaining Early Educators Through Attaining Incentives Now (R.E.E.T.A.I.N.) program to help retain qualified early childhood educators across the state.   Originally funded by private donations and federal Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) funds, R.E.E.T.A.I.N. is now funded through the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), administered by Minnesota’s Department of Human Services (DHS), and through state general funds. The Minnesota legislature allocated $3.9 million in FY 2024-25 (and $750,000 per year after that) for R.E.E.T.A.I.N. bonuses.   R.E.E.T.A.I.N. offers salary bonuses to both center-based and home-based providers. Bonuses are awarded annually based on education and experience and range from $500 to $3,000. R.E.E.T.A.I.N. administrators do not require recipients to report how bonuses are spent.  R.E.E.T.A.I.N. complements Minnesota’s Teacher Education and Compensation Helps Early Childhood (T.E.A.C.H.) program by creating a professional development pathway for early childhood educators across the state. It has awarded grants to over 2,800 early childhood professionals.  learn more: R.E.E.T.A.I.N. Bonuses  Sources: Peterson, V. (2023, September 21). REETAIN Bonuses Help Child Care Professionals Stay in the Field. Child Care Aware of Minnesota. Franchett, A., Carlson, J., & Epstein, D. (2019, December). Spotlight on Minnesota’s R.E.E.T.A.I.N. Grant Program. Child Trends.

In 2023, Hawaii launched Ready Keiki, which aims to expand access to preschool for Hawaii's 3- and 4-year-olds, with the goal of creating 465 new classrooms statewide by 2032. To achieve universal access to prekindergarten, the state plans to use a mixed-delivery system that includes private providers, public preschools, family child care centers, and federally funded Head Start programs. Hawaii has allocated $200 million, as stipulated by Act 257, to create 2,000 to 4,000 prekindergarten seats over the next two years. The funds will be used to expand existing facilities and construct new ones. The School Facilities Authority (SFA) determines eligibility for and distribution of these funds, a process that includes working closely with stakeholders to maximize the reach and efficiency of the investment. Learn More: Ready keiki Pre-K Sources: Ready Keiki. (n.d.). About Ready Keiki. Office of the Lieutenant Governor. (2023). Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke unveils "Ready Keiki" plan.

In 2021, multiple Rhode Island organizations came together to announce a new Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) for Family Child Care (FCC) providers. This program represents a partnership between four parties: the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), which sets the quality standards of care; Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199 NE, which represents the bargaining unit of the FCC Providers; the SEIU Education and Support Fund, which is sponsoring the registered apprenticeship and will play an integral role as an education provider; and Family Child Care Providers, an essential representative in the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee that oversees the registered apprenticeship program, ensuring the program meets the needs of providers seeking to advance their education, professional development and earnings opportunities. FCC providers are sole proprietors that through SEIU collectively bargain with DHS on reimbursement rates. The program aims to address the significant barriers FCC providers face to earn a Childhood Development Associate certification (CDA), which helps increase providers’ earnings and QRIS ratings. RAP is an 18-month program that provides on-the-job training for new apprentices while earning a CDA and receiving incremental wage increases. The program is funded by the US Department of Labor/Employment and Training Association American Apprenticeship Initiative. Learn more: Building Futures Rhode Island Sources: Building Futures Rhode Island. (2021). New, Innovative Early Childhood Educator Registered Apprenticeship for Family Child Care Providers.

In 2022, the State of Alaska Child Care Program Office (CCPO) offered $3,000 payments to eligible early childhood teachers. To be eligible, educators were required to have a current/active membership in the Alaska SEED Registry; be employed in a licensed program; and be at any Career Ladder level (1-12). These awards represented an increase from the $500 per-person awards available in 2021. All SEED ROOTS awards were available on a first-come, first-served basis through an online application process. This program was funded by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Learn More: Alaska SEED ROOTs Award Sources: Thread. (2022). Alaska SEED ROOTs Award. Department of Health. (2023). Alaska COVID-19 Relief Timeline. US Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Examples of State and Local Early Childhood Workforce Strategies.