As the child care crisis deepens, policymakers are searching for solutions to expand access, reduce costs, and support the workforce. While some policymakers, providers, and program administrators advocate for deregulation as a potential solution to the child care crisis, others—including advocates and experts—warn that loosening standards could lead to unintended consequences such as compromised safety, increased educator burnout, and a failure to address deeper systemic issues.”
Below, we synthesize key recommendations from two leading reports, NAEYC’s “A Path Forward on Child Care Regulation” and Home Grown’s “Building Belonging”, to guide thoughtful reform of child care licensing systems. Both reports advocate for evidence-based changes that protect children, support providers, and promote equity. Note that while the NAEYC report addresses regulations for all types of providers, the Home Grown report specifically addresses the problems and issues experienced by Family Child Care Home providers.
The Problem with Deregulation
NAEYC makes it clear: deregulation doesn’t increase supply or reduce costs. In fact, unless these changes are approached thoughtfully, it can:
- Jeopardize child safety by increasing group sizes and lowering educator qualifications.
- Drive up liability insurance costs, forcing programs to close.
- Worsen workforce burnout and turnover.
- Undermine public trust in early learning programs.
Research shows no correlation between stricter regulations and reduced child care supply; however, it is critical to reduce bureaucracy and streamline processes to bring relief to the struggling child care market.
What Real Reform Looks Like
Both reports advocate for intentional reform, as well as obtaining significant provider input that strengthens—not weakens—the child care system. The overarching principles for reform are two-fold:
- Focus on regulations promoting Child Health, Safety, and Development.
- Ensure that regulations are child-focused, achievable, and clearly communicated. Providers want standards that reflect best practices in infant care, emergency planning, and family engagement.
- Reduce unnecessary paperwork and make sure state data systems are flexible enough to accommodate new streamlining processes that can unburden providers.
Streamline and Simplify
States should reduce administrative burdens by:
- Aligning licensing with quality improvement systems.
- Offering materials in plain language and multiple languages.
- Providing checklists and clear pathways to providers for promoting compliance.
Respect Provider Expertise
While both reports emphasize the importance of including providers in regulation reform, Home Grown’s report emphasizes the need to engage family child care providers in every stage of the licensing lifecycle—from design to implementation. This includes:
- Creating permanent provider review panels.
- Ensuring feasibility of new standards.
- Avoiding ‘aspirational’ language that creates confusion around requirements.
In addition, Home Grown’s recommendations highlight the unique challenges and strengths of family child care providers, who often operate alone, serve diverse communities, and face barriers to licensing. Their voices reveal a deep commitment to quality and a desire for systems that see, support, and respect their work.
Support the Workforce
Licensing reform must go hand-in-hand with:
- Fair compensation and benefits.
- Professional development tailored to all types of care.
- Recognition of provider rights and access to legal support during appeals.
Invest in Equity and Access
If financially possible, states could:
- Fund start-up costs and infrastructure upgrades.
- Cover background check fees.
- Provide navigation support for new providers.
- Ensure licensing doesn’t exclude providers due to language, geography, or income.
The Takeaway
Licensing reform isn’t about lowering standards—it’s about raising the bar for how we support providers and protect children. It is recommended that policymakers:
- Listen to providers.
- Invest in the workforce.
- Streamline systems without sacrificing safety.
- Build licensing frameworks that promote equity, trust, and professionalism.
Bill Gates once said, “As we look into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” If states empower all the stakeholders at the table – providers, parents, policymakers, advocates, and program administrators – revised regulations are far more likely to reflect the desires of their citizens. It won’t be easy, and it will take a lot of compromise, but together we can achieve so much more.