Kentucky asked 40 people to figure out what to do about childcare. They just achieved bipartisan reform
Good Good Good · 2026-07-31
Kentucky has achieved bipartisan childcare reform following a two-year collaborative effort that began in 2024. The Kentucky Collaborative on Child Care, a partnership between Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, the Kentucky Chamber Foundation, and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Center for Policy and Research, convened 40 childcare advocates and leaders. This group met regularly in 2024 and 2025, ultimately reaching consensus on policy recommendations for the legislature to improve access to high-quality childcare.
Facilitated by Convergence, a national nonprofit, the collaborative successfully navigated polarizing issues. Key outcomes include streamlining regulations without compromising health and safety, such as allowing micro-centers serving fewer than 24 children to forgo requirements intended for larger facilities. They also ensured that 15-hour annual training requirements for providers include support for children with disabilities, and eased paperwork for the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership. The resulting bill, numbered among the House's top ten priorities, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Advocates now plan to focus on its effective implementation.
*The full article also explores the initial fragmentation of advocacy efforts and specific legislative components like wage supplementation.*