States Expand Free After-School Care Amid Federal Funding Cuts

New Mexico's Landmark Child Care Initiative

• 💡 New Mexico has established free universal child care for all families, making it the first state to declare child care a right.

Expanding After-School Programs Nationwide

• 🎯 Currently, 27 states provide state funding for after-school programs, spanning across red, blue, and purple states.
• 🚀 Vermont is pioneering a law that uses state funding for universal after-school and summer child care, aiming for free or low-cost programs for all students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
• 💰 In Vermont, cannabis sales tax revenues are a significant funding stream, contributing approximately $30 million to after-school programming.

Other States Investing in After-School Care

• 📈 States like California, Michigan, and New York, along with Washington D.C., are also allocating taxpayer funds towards achieving universal after-school care.
• 🧩 While universal after-school care may seem expensive, a small investment within state budgets can yield significant benefits for youth and families.