These policies address a range of issues and require different levels of investment, and every one of them draws upon what we know from science.
Leaders can choose which policies to pursue based on their states’ political, social, and economic realities. The Alliance uses the Framework to guide our partnerships and investments, and it also serves as a unifying tool to help anyone interested in smart state policies make decisions and take actions that have the best possible chance for ensuring all children birth through 8 can reach their full potential.
The framework rests on five guiding principles:
1. Starting early results in better outcomes. Decades of science show that development of the brain and other critical biological systems is most rapid and sensitive in the first years of life. In the context of our Framework, early childhood spans birth through age 8, a continuum that lays the foundation for later success.
2. All children and families should have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Framework policies promote racial, social, income, and gender equity by addressing systemic barriers that prevent some from reaching their full potential. While all children benefit from smart policies, the Alliance prioritizes children at risk of poor outcomes with an approach that builds on family, cultural, and community strengths.
3. Evidence should inform state policy choices. Many states are making strides for families through data-influenced policy and practice. Policy options included in our Framework are based on the best available research, and innovative and effective practices in the states. These will be modified as more evidence emerges about what works to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.
4. Sound policy implementation requires smart funding. Policies that truly help families thrive hinge on the efficient and sufficient use of public and private funds. Strategic funding decisions should ensure that policies can achieve results over time.
5. Accountability leads to better outcomes. Policy success or failure depends on what happens in the shift from policy to program, and how policies are implemented in communities. Accountability measures, combined with a philosophy of continuous improvement, promote a culture of innovation and inquiry and increase the likelihood of achieving desired results.
Use the buttons on the right to navigate the four key components of framework.
