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 2018, Kent County voters approved the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage, which provides funding for programs and services that focus on improving the health and school preparation skills of children under the age of five. This program is administered by First Steps Kent, an organization focused on supporting young children in Kent County. The millage authorizes a levy of 0.2390 mills, or $0.2390 per $1,000 of taxable property value, for a 6-year term; in FY2024,  the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage generated more than $7.8 million.  Every year, over ten thousand children between birth and age five and their families gain access to community programs and services funded through this program. These programs include prenatal support, developmental screenings, play and learning groups, and more.  The Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage was renewed in 2024 for 6 years. learn more: ready by five early childhood millage Sources: Ready by 5 Early Childhood Millage. (n.d.). County of Kent, Michigan. Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage. (n.d.). First Steps Kent.

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.

Wisconsin's REWARD program provides supplemental pay to early childhood educators based on their education level and commitment to their early education program. REWARD is designed to retain and support the professional development of early childhood educators; in turn, this creates a more stable workforce with the skills needed to support young children's healthy learning and development. Supplements range from $500 to $1,900 per educator per year, with an average payment of $615. Amounts increase as educators obtain more formal education, and educators must remain in their early education program for at least six months to qualify for an award. In FY22, REWARD provided supplements to 11,381 early educators; turnover among recipients was 1%, which is much lower than the estimated 26-40% turnover rate among educators in licensed child care programs nationwide. Learn More: REWARD Program Sources:Wisconsin AEYC. (n.d.). REWARD Wisconsin.

Established in 2016, the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ Data Ecosystem is a comprehensive health integrated data system that includes vital records, child welfare services, and early childhood services (e.g., home visiting, early intervention, child care subsidy, and Head Start). The system functions as a series of data requests and data-sharing agreements across multiple programs and multiple agencies, including the Department of Education. The system shares demographic, program, and individual level data using a unique identifier. The system is funded through federal Medicaid funds, Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act funds, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grants, Preschool Development Grants Birth Through 5, CARES Act funds, and the CDC Health Disparities grant program. Learn more: About the Rhode Island Ecosystem Sources:Berkowitz, E. & Jenkins, D. (2021). AISP Case Study: How the Rhode Island EOHHS Ecosystem Leverages Federal Funding to Support State Data Capacity. Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy. University of Pennsylvania.

First in 2006, and then again in a 2014 reauthorization that extends through 2026, voters approved an allocation of 0.15 percent of sales and use taxes for the Denver Preschool Program (DPP). About 80% of the DPP funds go to families in the form of tuition credits. Learn More/source: Denver Preschool Program

In 2009, in an initiative called "SA 2020," Mayor Julián Castro asked San Antonio residents to consider what they wanted their community to look like in 10 years. To consider where the city should put its resources to achieve their collective vision, Castro established the Brainpower Initiative Task Force, composed of business and community leaders and scholars. This task force recommended that the city fund high-quality prekindergarten for children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. In 2012, 53% of San Antonio voters approved a referendum to fund Pre-K 4 SA through a one-eighth-cent sales tax. Annually, the tax raises $36 million for preschool funding each year. Learn More: Pre-K 4 SA Sources: Children's Funding Project. (November 2020). San Antonio, TX's Keep Pre-K 4 SA: A November 2020 ballot measure case study. Pre-K 4 SA. (n.d.). Program overview.

In July 2022, Mayor London Breed launched the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood (DEC), dedicating $300 million annually to support the city’s goal of providing universal early education and care to all young children. The bulk of the revenue comes from the Commercial Rents Tax (also referred to as the Early Care and Education Commercial Rents Tax). DEC is the result of a merger of two existing city departments, First 5 and the Office of Early Care and Education. Learn more/source: San Francisco Department of Early Childhood