Recent State Policy Advances
Expanded investment. Restructured agencies. New caucuses, committees, and coalitions. Read about all the ways our allies on the front lines are making their state a better place for each and every child to reach their full potential.
State By State:
Ohio Allies Win Big New Investments in Child Welfare and Early Education
On July 17, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed the state’s FY 20-21 operating budget. As a result of Groundwork’s Ohio’s advocacy and strong stakeholder engagement in the budget process, the budget includes a number of new investments to support quality early learning and healthy development young children.
New Jersey Advocates Help Secure $54 Million in New Funding for Child Care Subsidies
Cecilia Zalkind, President & CEO of Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), announces that their state is increasing funding for child care subsidies by $54 million this year — and she shines the spotlight on her team’s effective campaign about the need to increase subsidies to help child care programs meet the new minimum wage for staff salaries.
An Amazing Legislative Session for Young Children in Colorado
Colorado Children’s Campaign summarizes some of the big steps forward the state is taking for young children — made possible by bipartisan co-sponsorship and strong bipartisan support for early education and care.
2019 Missouri Legislative Session Shows Advocacy Translating into Success
From 2012-2016, Missouri was the only state in the country to ban quality rating systems for early childhood providers. Alliance partner Kids Win Missouri catalogs the two years of progress since the state legislature lifted the ban — and how the state is finally righting the course in early childhood policy.
Oregon Celebrates Historic Funding Victories for Young Children
Oregon early childhood advocates are celebrating passage of the Student Success Act (HB 3427) — a historic investment of $1 billion per year with 20 percent of the budget, or $200 million per year, dedicated for early childhood programs. The Children’s Institute reports on the breakdown, and the state’s five major funding victories for early childhood.
Pennsylvania Goes 2-for-3 in Early Learning in 19-20 State Budget
Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, the only statewide non-partisan advocacy organization with a public policy agenda that spans the life of a child from birth to adulthood, reports on the outcomes of the state’s FY 2019-20 state budget — which includes a $30-million increase in pre-K funding and a $5-million increase in home-visiting funding, serving in total an additional 3,000 children and families.
Short on Big Wins the 2019 Session, Kansas Allies Log Incremental Progress and Lay Foundations for a Bright Future
Kansas Action for Children set a bold agenda for the future of Kansas, one that elevated children and families, while ensuring a sound funding structure to support them for years to come. We focused on highlighting opportunities to remove barriers created by systemic racism facing communities of color.
Nebraska 2019 Legislative Update
Nebraska’s Unicameral adjourned six days early this year when senators could not reach consensus on a comprehensive property tax relief package or a business tax incentive program. Despite the contentious atmosphere at times, the session concluded with some notable successes for early childhood.
Maine Allies Win New Mental Health Program Pilot to Reduce Early Childhood Suspensions and Expulsions
After yers of research, Alliance technical assistance, planning, and advocacy, allies in Maine have won legislation to pilot a state mental health consultation program aimed at reducing early childhood suspensions nd expulsions.
Years of Early Childhood Advocacy Pay Off in Texas
Working with our supporters and partners in Texas and across the country, Texans Care for Children has had several great victories this year that will help more children and their families be healthy and thrive. But we are celebrating one of the biggest victories for Texas kids in recent memory: Governor Greg Abbott recently signed HB 3, the school finance bill that funds full-day pre-k for currently eligible four-year-olds.
Louisiana Legislators and Community Leaders Succeed in Making Young Children a Priority
For the first time in a decade, more Louisiana working families will have crucial support in sending their children to a quality early care and education program thanks to a governor and legislative-supported budget that includes an $18.8 million increase for early ed programing and seats—and this was accomplished even though the state budget bill started the legislative process with $0 new dollars for early learning for children birth through age four.
Georgia Legislators Benefit from First Early Learning Legislative Academy
The January 2019 session of the Georgia General Assembly welcomed a newly elected Governor and many new members of the legislature, and we were determined to ensure that our policy makers kept the needs of Georgia’s infants and toddlers at top of mind. Thus, on the second day of the 2019 session of the Georgia General Assembly, GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students and the Metro Atlanta Chamber worked with two early education champions, Representatives Katie Dempsey and Robert Dickey, to host our first Georgia Early Learning Legislative Academy.
