Evaluation of Child Care Subsidy Strategies Series

Multi-site, multi-year study to gather research evidence that will inform policy decision-making in states and communities and effective allocation of child care subsidy funds. In particular, the study looks at how different child care subsidy policies and procedures and quality improvement efforts help low-income parents obtain and hold onto jobs and improve outcomes for children. Study staff worked with states and communities across the country to identify significant issues and develop hypotheses about the use of child care subsidy funds that could be rigorously tested in a series of experiments. A guiding principle of the study was that state (or community) interests and preferences would play a large role in the choice of research topics and strategies. Study sites and focus of evaluation include: (1)the effectiveness of three language and literacy curricula on teaching practices and children's language and literacy outcomes (finished in 2005 in Miami, Dade County, FL); (2)the effectiveness of training on Learning Games curriculum in changing care-giving practices in family child care homes and children's developmental outcomes (Massachusetts); (3)the impact of alternative eligibility and re-determination child care subsidy policies on parental employment outcomes, choice and stability of care, and other family outcomes (Illinois); and, (4)the impact of alternative child care co-payment structures on use of child care subsidies and employment outcomes (Washington State).