Laura Pryor (she/her/hers)
Research Director
Laura Pryor, Research Director, conducts research to strengthen California’s early care and education system. Foundational to this work, Laura produces analyses to support expanding opportunities for families to access the early care and education programs that best meet their needs. Laura’s work strives to center priorities most urgent for families and child care providers to contribute to an equitable early care and education system.
Prior to joining the Budget Center in 2023, Laura was an Associate Director at Social Policy Research Associates in the Equity Education and Community Change Division where she led multiple research and evaluation projects. Laura was also a middle school English Language Arts teacher in New Orleans, Louisiana. She earned a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from the University of California, Berkeley, a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in quantitative methods and evaluation from the University of California, Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education.
Laura is a lifelong Californian. She grew up in Southern California and currently resides in the Bay Area. Outside of work, Laura enjoys running and biking on the Bay Area trail systems, visiting new restaurants, and spending time with family.
meet the expert: Laura Pryor
Read more about Laura's story and the work she's doing at the Budget Center in our Q&A.
Recent posts by Laura Pryor
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Issue Brief
Two California Families, Two Futures: The Real Cost of Federal Budget Cuts
key takeaway Republican federal budget proposals threaten critical programs for California families — like Head Start and afterschool care — while offering tax breaks to the wealthiest 1%, putting children’s well-being and working parents’ economic security at risk. The federal government funds critical programs and services for California’s families that benefit children across the state, …Federal Policy -
Issue Brief
Higher Wages for Early Care and Education Workers Builds a Stronger System
key takeaway Higher wages for early care and education workers in California are essential to expanding affordable child care, supporting families’ economic security, and addressing long-standing workforce inequities rooted in racial and gender disparities. Access to affordable, nurturing early care and education (ECE) is critical for families’ economic security and positive child development. California’s ECE …Child Care & Preschool -
Fact Sheet
California Funding Trends for Early Care & Education Programs
Over the last sixteen years, California’s early care and education (ECE) system has gone through numerous milestones that have been reflected in state funding. California’s families and child care and preschool providers depend on this funding for access to affordable care and wages to sustain their businesses. Looking back at funding trends over time reveals …Child Care & Preschool -
Fact Sheet
The Unmet Need for Child Care Remains Staggeringly High
Child care and development programs administered by the California Department of Social Services are critical for supporting California’s families with affording child care that meets their needs. Funding for child care programs has increased since the Great Recession. Given this increase, a greater proportion of children eligible for subsidized child care are being served. In …Child Care & Preschool -
Fact Sheet
California at Risk: Proposed Federal Funding Cuts Jeopardize Key Services
Federal funds have long supported vital public services in California — from health care and food assistance to child care and higher education. These services are now in jeopardy due to threatened federal budget cuts and policy rollbacks, putting the health and well-being of millions of Californians at risk. President Trump and congressional Republicans are …Federal Policy
