Home Grown’s Response to the White House Student Loan Forgiveness Announcement

By: Alexandra R. Patterson

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The Biden-Harris Administration’s announced student loan relief plan has the potential to significantly aid home-based providers and the early childhood workforce. Loan forgiveness lifts the burden of student debt from a workforce experiencing a great deal of material hardship, and represents progress towards restoring dignity and economic security to early childhood professionals. As federal and state governments explore additional, comprehensive approaches to solve the workforce and child care crisis, this is an important and necessary first step.

Home Grown urges the administration to implement a process to qualify early childhood workers, including home-based child care providers, for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

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Alexandra R. Patterson

Alexandra R. Patterson is an accomplished early childhood policy and strategy leader who brings deep expertise in navigating the complex policy and programmatic landscape that shapes equitable access to high-quality care. As Senior Director of Policy and Strategy at Home Grown, she leads cross-sector initiatives that integrate research, systems change, and advocacy, translating data and community insight into actionable policy solutions for home-based child care providers. With a strong foundation in public program administration—most notably overseeing the implementation and policy alignment of Philadelphia’s $30+ million PHLpreK initiative—Alexandra has consistently driven large-scale efforts that balance fiscal accountability, regulatory compliance, and community impact. Her passion for early childhood stems from the strongly held belief that access to quality education for all is a social justice issue. Alexandra holds a Master of Science in Education from Bank Street College of Education and a Grassroots Advocacy and Lobbying Professional Certificate from the University of Richmond.

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