Taken together, the harmful effects of both attacks on DC’s child care system will snowball and create cumulative harm that could upend the local early education ecosystem.
Anne Gunderson
(she/her)
Senior Policy Analyst
Anne focuses on bolstering the District’s early childhood system by conducting research and providing expertise on workforce issues facing the field. Prior to joining DCFPI, Anne worked at the Southeast Michigan Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, where she helped build a cross-state table that collaborated with state administrators on key issues affecting children and families. Before that, Anne worked at the Ounce of Prevention Fund (now Start Early), where she conducted research on early education, participated in policy campaigns, and provided technical assistance and support to states working to improve their home visiting systems. She holds Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago.
Recent posts by Anne Gunderson
Child Care Workers Deserve Quality, Affordable Health Care
The limited budget for HC4CC and the constant threats of defunding the PEF entirely are now stymieing progress towards the ultimate goal of early educators having access to health care when they choose to work in any District child care facility.
Proposed Child Care Subsidy Waitlist Could Leave District Parents and Providers Paying the Price
Mayor Bowser has proposed the idea of instituting a waitlist for the child care subsidy program for the first time since 2005 because DC lawmakers did not allocate sufficient funding to keep up with growing enrollment.
Cutting Reimbursement Rates in the DC Child Care Subsidy Program Would Cripple Budgets and Force Classrooms to Close
Cutting reimbursement rates in the DC child care subsidy program would make it harder for these small businesses to operate as well as reduce opportunities for parents to go to work or school and for children to jumpstart their education in a safe and supportive environment, harming DC’s economy.
DC Revenue Higher than Expected, But a Recession Still Looms
by Tazra Mitchell and Anne Gunderson
Although DC is not facing a budget shortfall as some expected, the CFO warns that the District is entering a moderate recession this year.
Investments in Child Care Support Inclusive Economic Growth
The mayor’s proposed budget underfunds the PEF and child care subsidy program in fiscal year (FY) 2026 and eliminates all funding for the PEF in FY’s 2027-2029. Sacrificing critical investments in programs that support workers and families to increase investments in wealthy corporations and sports teams.
The District’s Pay Equity Fund is a Success and it Deserves Full Funding
Protecting investments in PEF for the next fiscal year but eliminating it in all future years undermines the Mayor’s purported support for the program, stability in wages and healthcare for early educators, and the sustainability of child care in DC
Funding Early Childhood Education is Vital to DC’s Future
This testimony focuses on core programs that support the early childhood system and allow every family in DC to have access to high-quality, affordable care for their children, including the Pay Equity Fund (PEF), the child care subsidy program, and the Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program (PKEEP). Together, these programs ensure that DC is recruiting and retaining dedicated educators to work in classrooms that are supported by local funding to help offset the cost of child care for families with young children.
If You Build It: Recommendations for Increasing the Supply of Affordable Child Care to Meet District Demand
by Anne Gunderson and Diana Chavez Cruz
Parents need accessible, affordable child care to work, go back to school, and to ensure their children are receiving the care they need to develop. Research has shown that high-quality child care and early education programs lead to long-term learning and development...
Insufficient Funding Jeopardizes Health Care Access for Early Educators
Chairperson Henderson, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Anne Gunderson, and I am a Senior Policy Analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) and a member of the Under 3 DC Coalition (U3DC). DCFPI is a...
Budget Constraints Necessitate Changes to the PEF Formula and Structure
Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and members of the Early Childhood Educator Equitable Compensation Task Force (Task Force), thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Anne Gunderson, and I am a Senior Policy Analyst at the DC Fiscal...
Expanding Child Care Subsidies Would Boost the District’s Economy
This report was supported by the research of Allan Freyer, Ph.D., of Peregrine Strategies. DC can grow its economy through expansion of affordable child care to all families. With additional investment in its child care subsidy program, DC can offset the high cost of...
DC Council Should Restore Funding for the Pay Equity Fund, Early Learning Programs
Chairman Mendelson, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Anne Gunderson, and I am a Senior Policy Analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) and a member of the Under 3 DC Coalition (U3DC). DCFPI is a non-profit...
DC Council can Celebrate Mother’s Day by Honoring the Needs of District Moms
On Mother’s Day, the DC Council should honor moms and the commitments it made to families by restoring funding for the PEF and the child care subsidy program to ensure accessible, affordable, and high-quality child care for all District parents.
DC Council Should Restore Funding for the Pay Equity Fund
Chairman Mendelson, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Anne Gunderson, and I am a Senior Policy Analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) and a member of the Under 3 DC Coalition (U3DC). DCFPI is a non-profit...
DC Council Must Protect HealthCare4ChildCare
Chairperson Henderson, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Anne Gunderson, and I am a Senior Policy Analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) and a member of the Under 3 DC Coalition (U3DC). DCFPI is a non-profit...
Changes Needed to Boost Outcomes and Improve Implementation of the Pay Equity Fund
Chairman Mendelson, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Anne Gunderson, and I am a Senior Policy Analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) and a member of the Under 3 DC Coalition (U3DC). DCFPI is a non-profit...
Lograr la visión de una compensación justa para la fuerza laboral de educación temprana hace que sea imperativo prever el aumento de los costos: Resumen ejecutivo
Lograr la visión de una compensación justa para la fuerza laboral de educación temprana hace que sea imperativo prever el aumento de los costos: Resumen ejecutivo Costos estimados de la implementación total de la paridad salarial entre los maestros de las escuelas...
Executive Summary: Achieving Vision of Fairly Compensated Early Education Workforce Makes Anticipation of Cost Growth Imperative
Paying early childhood educators livable salaries is one step needed to boost teacher satisfaction, retention, and quality care, thereby improving DC’s early learning system.[1] Nearly 4,000 early childhood educators, most of whom are long underpaid Black and brown...
Achieving Vision of Fairly Compensated Early Education Workforce Makes Anticipation of Cost Growth Imperative
As DC local fund revenue growth slows, lawmakers must protect the PEF from another funding raid and anticipate the natural growth in cost that accompanies its successful implementation and outcomes in future years.