Elliot's Provocations Archives - Early Learning Nation

Principles for Implementing the Build Back Better Bill

Elliot Haspel·Nov 3, 2021·4 min read

It feels bizarre to be writing these words, but the U.S. stands on the verge of a real early learning system.

Elliot’s Provocations: “Lose Your Job, Lose Your Child Care.”

Elliot Haspel·Mar 5, 2024·5 min read

Last fall, I received an email from a distraught mother.

Child Care is Now Free for Some Families–Which Raises Some Questions!

Elliot Haspel·Aug 1, 2023·6 min read

Elliot’s Provocations unpacks current events in the early learning world and explores how we can chart a path to a...

Elliot’s Provocations: Where Have All the Child Care Lobbyists Gone?

Elliot Haspel·Apr 4, 2023·4 min read

Last month, I wrote about how child care’s lack of salience in the public imagination is holding back its political opportunities. The absence of mass public pressure is one piece of the puzzle. Another piece is that by and large, child care lacks a strong inside game.

Elliot’s Provocations: The Bay State is Becoming an Early Learning Beacon

Elliot Haspel·Feb 6, 2024·5 min read

In an era of Congressional gridlock, states are increasingly lighting the path forward around early care and education. I have been immensely impressed by the progress Massachusetts has made in recent years.

Elliot’s Provocations: 5 Early Learning Trends for 2024

Elliot Haspel·Dec 6, 2023·8 min read

Last year, I wrote a column on five trends to look for in 2023 (which I think in retrospect were mostly apt, though the answer to ‘is bipartisanship possible’ seems to have been ‘outlook not so good’), and thought it would be worthwhile to do it again as the calendar gets ready to turn.

Elliot’s Provocations: The Minimum Viable Child Care Fallacy

Elliot Haspel·Jul 6, 2023·17 min read

I dislike the economic case for child care. I’m not talking about my take on the role of employers, but the near-constant way lawmakers and advocates of both parties rest their case for supporting child care on its function as an economic driver.

Elliot’s Provocations: Employer-Sponsored Child Care is a Wrong Turn

Elliot Haspel·Nov 1, 2022·7 min read

As I travel internationally, I have been thinking a lot about how we position child care in the United States. I am increasingly concerned by an ascendant school of thought that emphasizes a role for employer-sponsored child care benefits.

The Child Care Sector Starts to Flex Its Muscles

Elliot Haspel·May 17, 2022·4 min read

Child care has traditionally been a politically quiet sector. I don’t mean there hasn’t been resolute advocacy, but that has largely (though certainly not entirely) happened behind the scenes -- at least in the U.S. there isn’t a long history of major public actions such as protests and strikes.

Elliot’s Provocations

Principles for Implementing the Build Back Better Bill

Elliot’s Provocations: “Lose Your Job, Lose Your Child Care.”

Child Care is Now Free for Some Families–Which Raises Some Questions!

Elliot’s Provocations: Where Have All the Child Care Lobbyists Gone?

Elliot’s Provocations: The Bay State is Becoming an Early Learning Beacon

Elliot’s Provocations: 5 Early Learning Trends for 2024

Elliot’s Provocations: The Minimum Viable Child Care Fallacy

Elliot’s Provocations: Employer-Sponsored Child Care is a Wrong Turn

The Child Care Sector Starts to Flex Its Muscles

Elliot’s Provocations: Care is No Ordinary Good

Elliot’s Provocations: Seizing the Reconciliation Opportunity

Companies, Stop Building On-Site Child Care Centers and Start Paying Your Taxes

Get the latest in early learning science, community and more: