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:
Arkansas Takes Steps to Help Early Educators Save for Retirement
A new law in Arkansas makes early educators eligible to participate in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, a defined benefit retirement plan established for public school and other public education employees in the state. The new law means that any early educator who is licensed by the state and receives state or federal child care funding is eligible to save for retirement through the system.
New Jersey Grantees Recreate Alliance’s “Alabama Experience” for State Lawmakers
Inspired by the Alliance’s “Alabama Experience” for grantees in 2024, New Jersey advocates brought members of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus on a similar pilgrimage to Alabama, in order to deepen relationships and advance equity-centered policy.
Missouri ECE Fellows Program Empowers Community Voices and Connects Legislators to Voices with Experience
Missouri advocates learned from Alliance network peers in Ohio as they created the grassroots network that advances an early childhood agenda by placing those most directly impacted by state policy to the forefront of advocacy.
How North Dakota Advocates Are Defeating Anti-Vaccination Bills
A health advocate and communications strategist explain how “deliberate listening” and unlikely alliances are mitigating some of the most harmful consequences of vaccine misinformation—and disinformation—in North Dakota. And they share five strategies other advocates can emulate.
South Carolina Feedback Program Lets Community Voice Shape Policy
Your Voice Matters, South Carolina’s centralized community feedback initiative, is showing impressive family response rates, shaping policies, and engaging and educating state legislators on the impact of supporting early childhood programs and services.
Montana Early Childhood Advocates Are Building Partnerships with Indigenous Communities Based on Connections, Trust, and Healing
In partnership with Salish Kootenai College, other tribal colleges, and the National American Indian/ Alaska Native Head Start Collaboration Office, Zero to Five Montana helped to launch an Early Childhood Tribal Language Summit in 2019 and recently formed a statewide Early Childhood Tribal Coalition.
North Dakota Advocates Are Logging Wins for Families by Connecting On Shared Values
Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota travels the state to meet people where they are, listen, share information, answer questions, and then helps them advocate for what they want for their communities. And the hard work is paying off.
Numerous States Are Pursuing Strategies for Creating Streamlined, Cohesive ECE Systems
In recent years, a growing number of states have moved towards unified ECE governance to help administer the variety of programs states are responsible for, including child care subsidies, child care licensing, state-funded pre-K, IDEA Part B and Part C, child care quality improvement systems, and Head Start state collaboration offices. While these states pursue consolidation to add efficiency, others pursue are trying alternate strategies to reach the same goals.
In Michigan, Early Childhood Champions Across the Aisle Are Advancing Cash Assistance for Families
Rx Kids, the nation’s first citywide cash assistance program for families, started in Flint and is spreading across Michigan. Proponents across the political spectrum agree the program gives parents choices, builds trust, reduces stigma, and eliminates administrative barriers.
Broad Coalition in Maine Puts Early Care and Education on the Agenda—and in the Budget
Maine’s Right from the Start Coalition—a diverse, bipartisan group of organizations working for high-quality and accessible early care and education—helped pass a multi-faceted child care bill and helped defeat proposed budget cuts.
Alliance West Virginia Grantee Providing Stipends to Community Organizations
TEAM for West Virginia Children is offering the community advocacy stipends to help partner organizations keep up the pressure and urge legislators to support funding for child care and other early childhood policies. Hundreds of community members and more than 50 policymakers have already participated in local events supported by the community stipends.
Four States Showcase the Power and Impact of Engaging Families and Valuing Their Stories
Statewide engagement is vital to building a strong early childhood infrastructure that is responsive to families’ diverse needs and where educators are recognized and supported. Advocates who want to see what this looks like in practice need look no further than North Carolina, Florida, Missouri, and Louisiana—where coalitions and organizations are transforming new statewide learning and relationships into tangible plans.