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:
Riding the Texas Early Childhood Policy Roller Coaster
After 140 days of ups and downs, early mornings, late nights, and passionate debates, the 2017 Texas legislative session ended June 9th.
Louisiana Capitalizes on Sudden Focus on Child Care Work Requirements
When the Louisiana Department of Education sought to change the state’s prohibitive work 30-hour-per-week work requirement for a child care subsidy, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children quickly partnered with the Center for Law and Social Policy to make the case for a significant adjustment.
Colorado Keeps the Sun from Setting on Child Care Tax Credits
The Colorado legislative session concluded in the second week in May with a number of policy wins headed for the Governor’s signature.
New Mexico Legislative Session Review
New Mexico faces challenging economic times, yet funding for early childhood programs remained protected during the latest legislative session.
RR Roundup: Rapid Response Pays Big Dividends in Kansas
When your state faces the possibility of losing funding for your entire early childhood education system, you must pull out all the stops to protect it. For Kansas Action for Children (KAC), that included accessing Rapid Response from the Alliance for Early Success. Our partners at the Committee for Economic Development, Council for a Strong America, Center for Michigan, and Arizona’s First Things First came to our aid in our moment of crisis. Read on to learn how.
Kansas Pulls Out All the Stops to Save Early Childhood Funding Stream
When Kansas faced the possibility of losing funding for its entire early childhood education system, allies pulled out all the stops to protect it. Kansas Action for Children describes the successful rapid response in this moment of crisis.
Strong Investment in Young Children and Families Who Care for Them in California
In June, Governor Brown signed the 2016-17 California state budget—and it’s a strong investment in young children and the adults who care for and educate them!
Early Learning Fellows Convene in Chicago
It’s likely that you have already heard of National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Early Learning Fellows.
Defying Cuts, Improving Early Childhood Care Standards in Louisiana
As the new Louisiana governor and Legislature sought to address severe budget deficits in a special legislative session in 2016, the long term sustainability of pre-k investments was anything but certain.
All Dressed Up with Nowhere to Go: Massachusetts Policy Update
In Massachusetts, local communities are increasingly demanding state investment in high-quality early education. Between January and June, 13 communities developed strategic plans for preschool expansion, thanks to state-funded planning grants.
Advancing Early Learning in Washington State
Last year, Washington Legislature passed a historic $158 million investment in early learning, which included the bipartisan Early Start Act.
Working Towards a Shared Understanding of Investing in Idaho’s Young Children
Advocates in Idaho continue working to encourage greater investments in young children, and are pleased to report several policy wins for young children and their families, both in this year’s legislative session and a special session in the spring of 2015.
