Understanding Child Care and Pre-Kindergarten Provisions in the Build Back Better Act. Brief

The most recent version of the Build Back Better (BBB) Act includes historic investments in child care and preschool totaling $390 billion. These investments create a child care entitlement for most children from birth through age five and universal pre-kindergarten for three- and four-year-olds, which would provide significant increases to access for families and children, improve the quality of the programs, and increase pay and support for providers. The U.S. House of Representatives passed this bill on November 19, 2021. The measure is now being considered by the Senate. This brief outlines key provisions of "Section 23001 Birth Through Five Child Care and Early Learning Entitlement" and "Section 23002 Universal Preschool" included in the Build Back Better Act. [For the executive summary to this brief, see ED617024.]