Public education; early childhood care and education, child care access calculations, report.

This legislation aims to improve early childhood education accessibility across Virginia by requiring a comprehensive state analysis of the current child care landscape. The bill mandates that the Department of Education collect and report data on child care capacity, affordability, and the specific needs of working families in various localities. By identifying "child care deserts" and evaluating existing access barriers, the state intends to develop more informed, data-driven policies to support families and providers. For Arlington residents, this move toward centralized reporting is expected to highlight local shortages and support long-term efforts to stabilize the early learning sector, ultimately making it easier for parents to balance workforce participation with reliable, high-quality care for their children.