History

The Anchorage Child Care and Early Education (ACCEE) Fund exists to strengthen the child care and early education landscape for Anchorage families. Born from a community‑driven effort, the ACCEE Fund was established after Anchorage voters passed Proposition 14 in April 2023, dedicating local marijuana tax revenue to child care and early learning. Funds began accumulating in January 2024, with approximately $5 million available annually beginning in 2025 to build a more accessible, sustainable system for children, families, and providers. On July 16, 2024 the Assembly amended the Anchorage Municipal Code Chapter 4.6 to add a new section, amending AMC Title 16 to add a new chapter to establish the ACCEE Fund program under Chapter 16.57.

To ensure responsible, community‑guided use of these resources, the Municipality of Anchorage partnered with the Alaska Children’s Trust to convene a temporary Implementation Team. This group developed recommendations for immediate investment, long‑term system design, and drafted the ordinance that created the ACCEE Fund Board. With the submission of the team’s final report and budget recommendations, this intensive, year‑long, community-led planning process concluded, paving the way for ongoing governance and accountability.

Under the direction of the ACCEE Fund Board, the Municipality implemented its first ACCEE Fund budget in 2025, guided by the Implementation Team’s recommendations. In the process, the 2025 budget and estimated financials was created on May 2025. Throughout the year, the Board hosted listening sessions and conducted a public survey to understand community priorities. This feedback shaped the final proposed 2026 budget and an accompanying cover letter, shared with the Mayor and Assembly in August 29, 2025 and formally approved on November 18, 2025. ACCEE Fund staff are now actively implementing the 2026 budget (page 8) and the programs it supports—advancing stability and opportunity for families across Anchorage. As 2025 came to an end, the ACCEE Fund established the three-year strategic plan.

During the 2026 budget conversations, a public survey was shared within the child care community. There were 58 responses that guided the ACCEE Board budget meeting on 8/19/26 in order to prepare a letter to the mayor with a recommended budget.