FINANCING
CURRENT BUDGET
Priority or Afterthought? Children and the Federal Budget 
A country's priorities are reflected in its budget. Most people agree that "children are our future," but there's less agreement on how well we are preparing the next generation to lead us into that future. Many argue that it is important to invest in children and youth, building their knowledge and skills so they can be productive workers and citizens. But are we investing enough in them? 
STATE FUNDING ANALYSES
Early Learning Left Out, Volume 2
This is the second study of public investments in young children as compared to school-aged and college-aged children and youth. The Child and Family Policy Center and Voices for America's Children teamed with twelve states in the first round and nine states in the second round to study expenditures by child age.
West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services 
An analysis of state and federal funding streams supporting public services for children and families.
FINANCING MODELS
The Cost of Universal Access to Quality Preschool in Illinois
The Institute for Women's Policy Research concludes that instituting high-quality preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds involves a substantial investment and a phase-in plan to reach preschool for all. This report details the estimated costs of Governor George Ryan's universal preschool plan.
MAKING THE ECONOMIC CASE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD INVESTMENT
Early Education for All: A Wise Investment
This report is the outcome of a meeting in 2004 sponsored by Legal Momentum's Family Initiative and the MIT Workplace Center. The report highlights scholarly research, economic development studies, and the experience of state-level initiatives to make the case for investing in early care and education as an economic driver.
Committee for Economic Development’s Early Education Project
Through both policy analysis and strategic partnerships, CED is mobilizing the business community to foster systemic improvements in early childhood investments and to help identify and disseminate best practices.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY
Insight Center for Community and Economic Development
The Insight Center developed the ‘Economic Power of Early Care and Education’ impact model to inform policy-makers, business leaders, and economic development leaders about the economic importance of ECE. The model demonstrates that ECE does more than provide nurturing, educational environments for children—it also plays a vital role in the economy.
FACILITIES LOAN FUNDS
First Children's Finance
The Development Corporation for Children, based in Minnesota, offers a facilities loan fund called First Children's Finance. Low-interest loans are available to family childcare providers, as well as childcare centers and early education programs, to create new child care spaces or improve existing ones.
The Child Care Facility Loan Fund
In 1997 Landmark legislation in Connecticut was created to finance three comprehensive programs – small direct loan program, guaranteed loan program and tax-exempt financing.
National Children's Facilities Network
The National Children's Facilities Network is a coalition of nonprofit financial and technical assistance intermediaries involved in planning, developing, and financing facilities for low-income childcare and Head Start programs.
ARCHIVED FINANCING MATERIALS
Leadership Matters: Governors' Pre-K Proposals Fiscal Year
Twenty governors have proposed increased investments in their state’s prekindergarten programs for FY 06, as compared to just eleven governors in the previous year. This report from Pre-K Now highlights gubernatorial leadership in the national pre-k movement, as reflected in State of the State addresses and proposed budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.
Financing Universal Pre-Kindergarten: Possibilities and Technical Issues for States in Using Funds Under the Child Care
and Development Fund and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant
In recent years, states and localities have become increasingly interested in providing universal access to pre-Kindergarten (pre-K). Two principal federal funding streams available to states that are traditionally used for child care under certain conditions may also be used for such an initiative: the Child Care and Development Fund and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant.
Finding the Funds: Opportunities for Early Care and Education
Rick Brandon discusses the advantages and drawbacks of five potential ways to direct additional revenues for early care and education: modifications to existing ECE and K-12 programs, private contributions from employers and philanthropy, general revenue funds, dedicated taxes, and loans and revolving funds.
Early Childhood Development: Economic Development with a High Public Return
Art Rolnick & Rob Grunewald of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis make the case for early investment. This opinion article was published in the March 2003 edition of the fedgazette, the regional business and economic newspaper of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank.
