(The Center Square) − A report from the Early Childhood Care and Education Commission is urging Louisiana leaders to lock in a decade of new early-childhood funding, warning that child-care shortages are sidelining parents from the labor force and dulling the state’s growth prospects. In a report titled “Building on What Works,” the panel links affordable, high-quality care for infants and toddlers to Louisiana’s ability to fill tens of thousands of anticipated jobs and sustain recent economic momentum. The document also notes that its “findings and recommendations are the Commission’s alone and do not represent the Louisiana Department of Education’s position.”
Their chief recommendation is a long-range, recurring state commitment: “Invest an additional $95 million … now and an additional $95 million annually for the next 10 years,” a ramp-up the authors say would lift access from about 18% of children under three to roughly two-thirds. The commission also urges lawmakers to “invest $30M in the Early Childhood Education Fund now and … codify the annual match into law,” citing projections that current dedicated revenues will fall short of the $30 million required to meet obligations in the next fiscal year.
The authors of the report credit lawmakers with laying groundwork since 2018, including dedicated revenues for the Early Childhood Education Fund, sharp growth in the state’s CCAP appropriation, and new Workforce Child Care Tax Credits adopted in 2025 to draw in employer dollars. But they argue those steps are not enough to meet demand or give providers the stability to open seats and retain staff. “Louisiana has already put some components of a strong ECE system in place. Now is the time to build on what works,” the report says.
Beyond direct state aid, the commission asks employers to use the new credits to reserve child care slots or otherwise underwrite employees’ access to care. Mandi Mitchell of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, quoted in the report, says that “when working parents in our communities have access to reliable ECE options, absenteeism drops, productivity rises, and businesses can retain the talent they need.”
On the ground, the report presses schools and early-learning centers to expand seats for infants and toddlers and align programs with kindergarten readiness and workforce goals. It underscores compensation and professional development as central to quality, arguing stable funding should translate to sustainable pay and training for early educators. “Louisiana’s economy needs a stable labor force to thrive. Parents of young children are a vital part of that labor force. Quality ECE is essential for parents who work,” the report states, adding that these efforts tie into existing training pipelines such as Jump Start and the M.J. Foster Promise program.
The bottom line, the authors write, is that steady public investment, a guaranteed local match, and active employer participation can expand access and stabilize providers. “When we invest in quality ECE for Louisiana’s working parents, we are building a stronger workforce for today and preparing our children for workforce success tomorrow.”
