Arizona
Policy Strategies & Innovations Link copied!
| Innovation Name | Innovation Type | Innovation Subtype | Features at a Glance | Strategy Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Things First for Arizona's Children | Dedicated Funding Streams | Nicotine Tax | Bipartisan support in 2006 created First Things First |
Proposition 203 was approved by 53% of voters on November 7, 2006. It creates a state tax on tobacco products and provides program and grant proposal requirements and procedures for award of regional grants. It simultaneously established the First Things First program, a statewide organization that funds early education and health programs. Local regional councils, staffed by community volunteers, decide how funds are spent to support the healthy development and learning of Arizona’s young children. Learn More/Source: State of Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board |
Demographics Link copied!
State population
7,359,197 Source U.S. Census, 2022
Rural %
10.7% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Urban %
89.3% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Number of children age 0-4
401,856 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Poverty levels – children 0-8 below 200% poverty
42% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Median family income among households with children
$78,500.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Unemployment rate
4% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2022
Unemployment rate of parents
4% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force
64% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
29% Source 2021
Political Landscape Link copied!
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | R | R | R | R |
| House | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | R | R | R | R | R |
Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!
Public pre-K program name
Quality First Source: NIEER 2023
Universal or targeted pre-K policy
Targeted Pre-K Policy (Birth through 5) Source: NIEER 2023
Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 3-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (2%)
- 3-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (7%)
- Other/none (91%)
Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 4-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (3%)
- 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (9%)
- Other/none (88%)
Workforce Link copied!
2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source: CSCCE
Role
- Child care workers
- Preschool teachers
- Preschool or child care center directors
Funding Sources Link copied!
Funding acronyms: CCDBG: Child Care and Development Block Grant; CARES Act: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; CRRSE Act: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations; ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act; CCDF: Child Care and Development Fund; MIECHV: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
The COVID Funding Cliff
All federal COVID relief allocations, including funding authorized by the CARES, CRRSE, and ARPA bills, must be fully spent by September 2024. An analysis from the Century Foundation shows this loss of funds could cause more than 3 million children to lose access to child care nationwide – including nearly 100,000 children in Arizona.