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From Ballots to Budgets: How Communities Are Funding Early Learning

With early education so vital to working parents as well as to the nation’s economy, the future of child care will require a strong partnership at the federal, state, and local levels (as well as the philanthropic community). thoughtful examples of states and local leaders contributing funding to pay for early education services.  States and their local communities have shown great willingness to be a part of the solution.

More recent trends indicate that many have proposed or implemented truly innovative and creative financing solutions, as they strive to support families and stabilize the child care provider community. Below we highlight some of these initiatives in state and local communities.

Legislated State Endowments

Legislated state endowments refer to endowments that are established and regulated by state legislation. These endowments are typically awarded by trusts, private foundations, or public charities and are designed to benefit nonprofit educational institutions, cultural institutions, and service-oriented organizations. They are subject to legal frameworks that govern their use and impact, ensuring that they are administered according to state laws and regulations.

Connecticut Early Childhood Education Endowment

Connecticut established an early childhood fund with an initial investment of $300 million; it aims to enhance access to affordable childcare and improve the quality of early childhood education for families across the state.

Goals: The endowment aims to provide free childcare for families earning under $100,000 per year and cap childcare costs at 7% of household income for families making more than that threshold. It also focuses on increasing the number of childcare slots, particularly for infants and toddlers, and improving the quality of early childhood education programs.

Nebraska Early Childhood Education Endowment

The Nebraska Legislature established the Nebraska Early Childhood Education Endowment, which is a public-private partnership aimed at funding high-quality early childhood education programs for children from the prenatal period through age three. This endowment is managed by the Nebraska Department of Education and is supported by private endowments. The Endowment provides grants to schools and community partners to support programs serving at-risk children. The endowment’s commitment to early childhood education is reflected in its funding sources, which include tax incentives and other public and private contributions. The endowment’s goals are to support the healthy cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development of children, especially those most likely to encounter developmental obstacles early in life.

Montana Endowment for Early Childhood

In Montana, the legislature has established a permanent endowment for early childhood to support programs and services for young children and their families. This initiative includes a $10 million initial investment and aims to create a sustainable funding source for long-term strategic investments in early childhood education. The endowment is designed to ensure that every child in Montana has access to necessary early childhood supports.

Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund

The Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund is a state matching fund that offers local entities in Louisiana a dollar-for-dollar match on investments made to expand access to quality early care and education for children who need it most.

The fund is financed through appropriations, public or private grants, gifts, or donations, excluding federal funds for the Child Care and Development Fund Program. Monies in the fund are managed by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), which administers the distribution of funds to approved local entities.

Ballot initiatives

Ballot initiatives give communities the power to directly shape public policy by voting on state or local legislation. While the process varies by state, all initiatives require strong public support to make it onto the ballot—and even stronger support to pass. For early childhood advocates, ballot initiatives can be a powerful tool to secure long-term, dedicated funding for programs that support young children and their families.

Children’s Funding Project is a national organization that helps communities and states expand equitable opportunities for children and youth through strategic public financing.

Their expertise in fiscal mapping and cost analysis and modeling equips local leaders with the data and tools needed to build compelling, transparent funding proposals—especially those that go before voters.

As Kate Ritter, Senior Manager, cost modeling at the Children’s Funding Project, explains: “Ballot initiatives succeed when communities can clearly see both the need and the solution. Cost modeling can support ballot initiatives by offering some clarity – it shows what quality early learning truly costs, how many children and families will benefit, and the real fiscal impact of policy decisions. It transforms advocacy into action by grounding campaigns in transparent, data-driven analysis that helps voters understand exactly how their investment will support children and families in their community.”

To support this work, Children’s Funding Project offers a range of resources, including an interactive map of voter-approved children’s funds that highlights successful initiatives across the country, a national cohort that supports localities pursuing the creation of voter-approved children’s funds via ballot measure, and the only community of practice for leaders of existing funds. These examples demonstrate how communities can turn strong data and public will into lasting investments in early learning. Below we highlight examples of successful ballot initiatives in some of these communities.

Cincinnati, Ohio

  • The Cincinnati Preschool Promise, first passed in 2016 and renewed, directs $15 million annually toward preschool slots for ~5,000 children—demonstrating sustained community commitment.

Denver, Colorado

  • The Denver Preschool Program was established in 2006 through a voter approved $0.15 sales tax to fund early childhood tuition credits and quality improvement initiatives. Annual revenue is more than $20M/year.

Kent County, Michigan

  • In 2023, voters approved to a six-year extension of $0.25/1,000 property tax to fund services for children 0–5, including support for childcare quality and availability. The county anticipates an almost $9M/year taxpayer investment.

Miami-Dade County, Florida

  • Miami-Dade County has a long history of supporting early childhood using local funds. In 2002, voters approved $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property tax to establish The Children’s Trust, generating more than $100 million each year for children’s services including early earnings.

San Antonio, Texas

  • Established in 2012, San Antonio voters approved a one‑eighth-cent sales tax dedicated to Pre‑K 4 San Antonio which offers a full-day preschool. Over 13,000 children have benefited, with more than $21 million in grants issued to providers.

 

As states and communities continue to explore creative financing strategies, their efforts demonstrate a growing commitment to making early childhood education more accessible, equitable, and sustainable. Whether through legislated endowments or voter-approved initiatives, these models offer powerful examples of how local leadership and public will can drive lasting change. By investing in young children today, we lay the foundation for stronger families, a more resilient workforce, and a brighter future for all.

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