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Does preschool education policy impact infant/toddler care?

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Preschool Policy Brief, Issue 20
Author: 
Ackerman, Debra & Barnett, Steven
Format: 
Fact sheet
Publication Date: 
1 Mar 2009
AVAILABILITY

Description: Finding affordable, high-quality child care for infants (children up to 12 months old) and toddlers (1- and 2-year-olds) can be difficult. As public support for the education and care of 3- and 4-year-olds has increased, questions have arisen in the United States about the extent this has helped or hurt the provision of care for young children. Concerns have been particularly great regarding the impact of the expansion of state pre-K to serve all children. Topics addressed in this brief include: • Trends in supply and demand in the infant/toddler care market; • Current use of infant/toddler care and the cost and quality of current arrangements; • State and federal policies for infant/toddler care; • Potential influences of preschool policies on the supply of quality infant/toddler care; • Policy changes that can ensure new preschool policies benefit infant/toddler care as well and avoid unintended negative consequences.