Historical Context Report: Early Care and Education

The majority of parents today work outside of the home; given the lack of long-term maternity and paternity leave in the U.S., many young children are in need of non-parental care. While great strides have been made to improve the early care environment overall since the 1960s, many parents still struggle to access early care and education programs that can provide opportunities for cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development. Access is particularly challenging for families with low incomes, who face numerous barriers to finding care that is affordable, convenient, and high-quality.