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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Case Study
How Santa Barbara County Made Strides in Addressing the Unmet Need for Child Care
jump to: Across California, the demand for publicly funded child care far exceeds the supply. In 2024, only 16% of children eligible for publicly funded child care were enrolled. While state spending for publicly funded child care still falls short of the need, access to child care has improved over time, largely due to the …Child Care & Preschool -
5Facts
California Families Need a Variety of Child Care Settings
key takeaway California families have diverse child care needs and preferences, making it critical to expand access to publicly funded child care across centers, family child care homes, and family, friend, and neighbor settings. Publicly funded child care promotes the healthy development of children and supports families in attending school, work, or other caregiving responsibilities. …Child Care & Preschool -
Data Hit
Federal Dollars Fund Child Care Across All California Congressional Districts
More than 300,000 eligible California children are enrolled in publicly funded child care, allowing parents with low incomes to work or attend school, while knowing their children have a safe place to learn and grow. In California, the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is the main federal funding source. It makes up one in …Child Care & Preschool -
Report
Chart Book: California’s Early Care & Education Programs
This Chart Book is designed to provide key information on California’s early care and education (ECE) programs. Inside you’ll find:Child Care & Preschool -
Q&A
Demystifying California’s Child Care Provider Rate Reform Process
key takeaway California is developing a new single rate structure to pay child care providers based on the estimated cost of care rather than what families can afford to pay, but improvements to the state’s alternative methodology will be needed to ensure the process results in fair and equitable provider pay. Child care is a …Child Care & Preschool
