The U.S. Department of Labor’s recent approval of teaching as an apprenticeable field offers an exciting opportunity for teacher preparation. Programs are now eligible to become Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) — federally recognized career pathways that offer paid on-the-job training linked with coursework, culminating in credentials for practice. As an…

If we’re serious about appreciating teachers, then it’s time to take their well-being seriously. — Another Teacher Appreciation Week has come and gone — cards and gifts were sent to schools, preschools, and child care centers — but teachers have been in overdrive since the pandemic’s beginning over two years ago. …

Long before the COVID-19 pandemic piled new financial pressures on families across the United States, anti-poverty advocates circulated this sobering statistic: over a quarter of individuals or families could not pay for an emergency $400 expense without sacrificing other bill payments. It is clear why limited cash reserves can complicate…

As the fate of Build Back Better hangs in an uncertain balance, it is time for all educators — including in K-12 and higher education — to come together to support crucial investments to the early care and education system. As a whole, our education system struggles with inequitable outcomes…

As Congress comes closer to passing the Build Back Better Act, states have an unparalleled opportunity to build infrastructure that establishes child care as a public good, supporting the well-being of all children and families and society as a whole. This summer, Bank Street convened a group of one dozen…

While Congress determines how much money to invest in child care, families across the country face the challenge of seeking any kind of care for their children. Waiting lists are long, and even if parents are able to obtain care, finding a place they feel comfortable leaving their children is…

Imagine a world where new parents welcome an infant into their family and have the space and support to form a secure relationship with their child, free from stress and worry. Imagine that, when ready to return to work, parents or caregivers can easily enroll their child in a center…

For decades, our country has faced a national child care crisis, which has only become more urgent in the wake of the pandemic. The consequences are far-reaching: families are grappling with a lack of affordable, high-quality care as they return to the workplace; early child care providers are struggling to…