Report

Comparing Early Care and Education Funding Across States: A Shortchanged Project Brief

January 2026

This brief explains how and why the Shortchanged Project ranked states using 2022 ECE budget data. By comparing per capita state and local spending on early learning to K–12 education across age groups and service types, the analysis highlights where investment gaps persist and helps policymakers and advocates identify opportunities to prioritize more equitable state funding strategies.

Read the full brief here.

 

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