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EYE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD
January 2026
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Defending Key Programs in 2026, Building on the Fight From 2025
2026 kicked off with chaos, as states navigated funding freezes [[link removed]] for child care assistance in five states and the reinstatement [[link removed]] of the 2025 “Defend the Spend” directive for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which requires states to justify their use of already allocated federal resources. This comes on top of a new CCDF proposed rule [[link removed]] that would roll back four key Biden-era requirements that intended to make care more accessible and affordable for families and ensure providers get paid on time.
These challenges only reinforce the Trump Administration’s devaluation of the child care and early education sector, building on 2025’s funding freezes [[link removed]] , federal staff layoffs [[link removed]] , stagnant investments [[link removed]] , and challenges to Head Start access and implementation [[link removed]] . Last year also saw the longest government shutdown [[link removed]] in the country’s history, with federal workers and programs grinding to a stop for 43 days. Children and their families were caught in the crossfire throughout the shutdown; in October and November, 135 Head Start programs [[link removed]] that serve over 65,000 children across 41 states and Puerto Rico did not receive federal funding, causing many programs to temporarily close.
As we’ve already seen in 2026, additional threats to affordable and accessible child care and early education remain on the horizon. The CCDF proposed rule and the upcoming Head Start final rule could further undermine children’s safety and families' access to care, as the federal government continues looking for ways to gut funding and support for key programs. CLASP remains committed to our mission to support policies that advance solutions for people with the lowest incomes and to fight against the policies that do not. No matter the changes the year may bring, some things remain the same: we believe that children, families, and child care providers deserve a country and child care system where they can thrive, and we look to facing the year ahead with that belief at the center.
EXPLORE RECENT PUBLICATIONS [[link removed]]
Featured Publication
How the Trump Administration has Undermined Child Care and Early Education Programs in 2025 [[link removed]]
Shira Small, Rachel Wilensky, and Stephanie Schmit examine how the Trump Administration has repeatedly undermined families’ access to child care and early education, which disproportionately harms families with low incomes and families of color. This fact sheet documents these actions, outlines efforts to defend critical programs, and makes clear the urgent need to protect programs and funding that support providers, children, and families.
READ REPORT [[link removed]]
Submitting A Public Comment for the CCDF Proposed Rule
CLASP has developed a public comment template [[link removed]] alongside the Center for American Progress , Child Care Aware of America, the National Association for the Education of Young Children , and the National Women’s Law Center for those who would like to respond to the CCDF notice of proposed rulemaking. For more information and instructions on how to submit a comment, please see our companion document here [[link removed]] . The 30-day comment period concludes on February 4. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] [[email protected]] .
CONTACT [[email protected]]
Recent Publications
Maternal Mental Health Equity: Policy and Program Insights from Colorado and Michigan [[link removed]]
Shira Small and Isha Weerasinghe analyze maternal mental health equity across the country, examining policies and programs in Michigan and Colorado as case studies. The findings underscore the need for policies, research, and programming that support maternal mental health and evaluate existing services, particularly for communities of color who face disproportionate barriers to accessing care.
Freezing $10 Billion in Federal Funding Will Harm Children and Families [[link removed]]
CLASP reacts to the Trump Administration’s decision to withhold child care assistance funding from five states, underscoring that blocking access to already approved federal funds is illegal, reckless, and harmful.
Child Care Providers Across Many States Attacked by “Influencers”; HHS Response Threatens Access for Children and Families [[link removed]]
CLASP responds to accusations from an ill-informed YouTube “influencer” about child care fraud in Minnesota, highlighting that the administration’s response will only disrupt critical funding and harm children, families, and providers.
CLASP Submits Public Comment: Public Charge Rule (HS Docket No. USCIS-2025-0304) [[link removed]]
CLASP submitted a comment opposing the Department of Homeland Security’s proposal to rescind the 2022 public charge regulations without replacement. In the comment, CLASP urged the Department of Homeland Security to withdraw the proposed regulation in its entirety and maintain the 2022 public charge regulations currently in effect.
Children’s Advocates Condemn ICE Abduction of Early Childhood Educator in Chicago [[link removed]]
The Children Thrive Action Network and the Child Care for Every Family Network issued a joint press statement about the abduction of a Chicago child care teacher by ICE, calling on policymakers to ensure that child care facilities and other sensitive locations remain safe and accessible for all providers and families.
Federal Shutdown Reflects Trump’s Chaotic Government; Children and Families Pay the Price [[link removed]]
Wendy Chun-Hoon warns of the gaps that will be created for children and their families at the beginning of the government shutdown, underscoring that their safety, security, and well-being should not be held hostage by a dysfunctional government.
A Guide to Creating “Safe Space” Policies for Early Childhood Programs [[link removed]]
This report, which was translated to Spanish in September 2025, provides guidance on how early educators can protect themselves and their families from immigration enforcement threats.
Public Charge Proposal Threatens the Health and Well-being of Immigrant Families and All Communities [[link removed]]
Wendy Chun-Hoon responds to the Department of Homeland Security’s proposal to repeal the 2022 public charge rule and release more restrictive guidance, targeting immigrants applying for green cards.
Recent Events Highlight
BUILD 2025: Building Community and Strong Systems for Young Children and Families [[link removed]]
* On December 2, Priya Pandey and Rachel Wilensky presented on the current policy landscape for immigrant children and their families, the impacts of harmful policies and threats on access to early care and education, and practical strategies for creating safe, inclusive, and supportive environments for immigrant communities.
* On December 2, Shira Small co-presented strategies with Susana Arreola Ponce de León from Cuenta Conmigo Cooperative [[link removed]] to support maternal mental health in communities of color through policy and practice to prioritize equity, improve outcomes, and strengthen culturally responsive maternal mental health services.
Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning: Dual Language Learner Coalition [[link removed]]
On October 30, Rachel Wilensky and Mikayla Slaydon presented on the impact of immigration policies on children and the child care and early education sector, and more broadly on the current federal landscape.
2025 National Community Leadership Summit: Unwavering Resistance: An Invitation to Beloved Community [[link removed]]
On October 24, Stephanie Schmit and Juan Carlos Gomez were presenters at a National Community Leadership Summit, hosted by the Vital Villages Network. Their presentation was titled “Care and Immigration: What Advocates Need to Know about Centering and Supporting Immigrant Children, Families, and Early Educators.”
California Early Childhood Policy Council Advisory Committees [[link removed]]
On October 22, Rachel Wilensky presented about the impacts of the government shutdown on federal programs that support child care and early education, along with related programs that families with young children and early educators rely on.
Families Separated, Futures Stolen: Exposing the Harm of Trump’s Immigration Policy on Women and Children [[link removed]]
On October 22, Wendy Cervantes participated in a roundtable hosted by the Democratic Women’s Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus about the harms of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.
Did you know?
CLASP Launches Inaugural Parent Fellowship Cohort [[link removed]]
Launched in September 2025, CLASP has partnered with United Parent Leaders Action Network to host fellows who will help us shape the work of the child care and early education team at CLASP and center parent voices in the child care and early education space. See the fellows’ introductory blogs in the “Recent Publications” section above, and follow along about their work throughout the year on the cohort website [[link removed]] .
CLASP in the News
NEW REPUBLIC | JANUARY 8
Trump’s Childcare Funding Freezes Are Going to Hit All Kids Hard [[link removed]]
“‘They’re not going to have access to health insurance, they’re not going to have access to food, and now are going to have a challenging time accessing childcare. It’s going to be multiple hits to families who already are in a position where they need support,’ said Schmit. ‘I see this as, on the whole … something that’s really aiming to undermine the needs of families with low incomes in this country.’”
THE WASHINGTON POST | JANUARY 1
Day cares say they are unfairly punished over misleading Minnesota video [[link removed]]
“That effort significantly delayed payments to providers, said Stephanie Schmit, director of child care and early education at the nonpartisan Center for Law and Social Policy. If the new documentation requirements are the same or more onerous, providers that are chronically underfunded will struggle to keep their doors open, she said. ‘We already know that child care providers don’t have a lot of additional time to do things like this,’ Schmit said.”
LA TIMES – Spanish Edition | NOVEMBER 26
New twist on the 'public charge' rule against immigrants: comments open until December 19 [[link removed]]
“Wendy Cervantes, director of Immigration and Immigrant Families at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), said the proposal is a new attack by the federal government on children, threatening their well-being and long-term development. ‘If the traumatic raids that separate families weren’t enough, this rule could force millions of immigrant families to choose between meeting their children’s needs, such as taking them to the doctor or putting food on the table and trying to obtain a more stable immigration status. As advocates for children, we will do everything in our power to stop this proposal and ensure that providers and families have access to accurate information,’ Cervantes said.”
THE 19TH | NOVEMBER 20
Child care workers are building a network of resistance against ICE [[link removed]]
“According to advocacy groups, child care providers are increasingly being asked to look after kids in case they are detained, typically because they are the only trusted person the family knows with U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residence. Parents are asking child care workers to be emergency contacts, short-term guardians and, in some cases, even long-term guardians. ‘We heard this under the first Trump administration, and we’re hearing it much more now. It’s not so much a matter of if, but when, right now, and it used to be the other way around,’ said Wendy Cervantes, the director of immigration and immigrant families at the Center for Law and Social Policy, an anti-poverty nonprofit.”
Social Media Highlights
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Meet the Team
Meet Our New Child Care and Early Education Parent Fellow: Alecia Murray [[link removed]]
In her introductory blog, Alecia Murray, one of CLASP’s new parent fellows, reflects on her work with the Ohio Parent Advocacy Network and emphasizes the importance of parents having real seats at the table—and how often their voices are missing. This desire drives her to stay active in different parent groups to learn what’s happening across communities, and to help families feel connected and supported.
Meet Our New Child Care and Early Education Parent Fellow: Lily Ana Marquez [[link removed]]
Lily Ana Marquez introduces herself as one of CLASP’s new parent fellows, highlighting her experience advocating for child care access for families who qualify for subsidies but often fall through the cracks. Lily brings a diverse educational background and professional experience to amplify parent voices in policy spaces. She is committed to using her lived experience and advocacy to push for equitable, parent-informed solutions in early care and education.

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1310 L St. NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC xxxxxx
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