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:
Virginia Allies Celebrate Budget Wins for Children, Families, and Early Care and Education
Alliance allies in Virginia – Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and Voices for Virginia’s Children – worked with bipartisan leaders to negotiate a two-year budget that supports children and families, including investments in early childhood education, children’s healthy development, and family support systems.
Illinois Advocates Centered Lived Experiences to Strengthen Access to Early Care and Education for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System
Illinois advocates worked with the state legislature and the Pritzker administration to pass Public Act 102-926. The approved legislation includes proposals developed by the state’s Early Learning Council, with support from Start Early and Illinois Action for Children. The Council’s recommendations were informed by the lived experiences of parents who access early childhood services for their children.
Allies Celebrate Launch of New Oklahoma Clearinghouse for Early Childhood Success
Alliance allies at the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR) manage The Oklahoma Clearinghouse for Early Childhood Success and partner with public and private organizations to ensure that there is cross-sector representation in decision-making and funding. OPSR aims to elevate best practices and inform implementation across early childhood systems in Oklahoma.
North Carolina Allies Center Lived Experience and Racial Equity to Strengthen the Early Childhood Social-Emotional Health System
Advocates at NC Child partnered with the NC Early Childhood Foundation to launch the EarlyWell Initiative in 2019 to lead the implementation of recommendations from the Pathways to Grade-Level Reading Action Framework. The EarlyWell initiative is informed by the voices of parents and caregivers to ensure that system best reflects the needs and lived experiences of North Carolina communities.
Connecticut Coalition Grabs Headlines With “Morning Without Child Care”
In this webinar, the Alliance for Early Success and Early Learning Nation bring together some of the providers and advocates behind the high-visibility “Morning Without Child Care” recently organized in Connecticut. Panelists shared how they organized the events in a short time span, the tools that made the effort successful, and their advice for advocates who want to plan a similar effort in their states.
Nevada Advocates Shift Power Dynamics to Build a More Equitable Parent Ambassador Program
Nevada allies at the Children’s Advocacy Alliance (CAA) have convened parents since 2019 through their Strong Start for Children Parent Ambassador program, which mobilizes parents to become involved in early childhood policy and advocacy. The program relaunched virtually in 2021, transforming its outreach efforts to be more equitable and representative of Nevada’s communities.
South Carolina Launches a New Human-Centered Portal to Transform Access to Early Childhood Services
First Five SC is a new comprehensive portal that aims to increase access and knowledge of South Carolina public early childhood state system programs and services. The portal is unique to the state since it was created by responding to the needs and concerns of South Carolina parents and caregivers.
The Under 3 DC Coalition Secures Large Investments Toward Provider Compensation
The Under 3 DC celebrates advocacy wins that led to $75 million that DC will use to begin to publicly fund increases in early childhood educators’ compensation. These efforts will begin movement towards a more equitable funding structure for ECE.
Oklahoma Allies Host Legislative Symposium to Educate Policymakers on the Early Childhood Crisis in Their State
To highlight the importance of investing in Oklahoma’s early childhood programs and in preparation for the upcoming legislative session, Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) invited legislators and legislative staff to an Early Childhood Policy Symposium at the Oklahoma State Capitol on January 11.
Indiana’s Early Learning Access Index Puts Child Care Supply Data at Advocates’ Fingertips
Indiana’s new Early Learning Access Index visualizes the factors that impact access to high-quality early care and education opportunities beyond the county level, down to individual census tracts, including in rural communities.
Allies and Policymakers Make New Jersey the Second State in the Nation to Offer Families Universal Home Visiting
With the passage and signing of S690 in 2021, New Jersey universal home visiting became a reality. The legislation establishes a statewide newborn home visitation program in the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, making the state the second in the nation with this level of home visitation.
Vermont Allies Make Strides Towards Economic Justice and Equity
Voices for Vermont’s Children built momentum for economic justice through their advocacy approach paired with consistent messaging. These allies work in partnership with coalitions and use outcome impact data to ensure that Reach Up will meet families’ basic needs for the well-being of Vermont children.
