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:
Texas Advocates Help Reverse ECI Budget Cuts and Plan for Continued Action
Allies in Texas have successfully defeated proposed cuts to Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) respite care services. Restoring these funds will ensure that the 2,000 families that use these services annually still have access to assistance during a time of increased need due to the stresses of COVID-19.
The Alliance’s Utah Allies Help Expand Full Day Kindergarten to 3,000 More Children — In Spite of State Budget Cuts
Allies in Utah won $5 million in additional funding for full-day kindergarten in the state, only to have it threatened by budget cuts in a special session. Advocates won the fight to preserve the funding, helping districts meet the growing demand for full day kindergarten in Utah.
Virginia Allies Spur the State to Reimagine a Stronger Child Care System
Our ally in Virginia, the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, is rallying stakeholders to advocate for improvements to the state’s child-care industry during the current pandemic and beyond.
Louisiana Advocates Leverage the Alliance for Early Success to Move Early Care and Education to the Top of the State’s Priority List
In a classic example of what we call “the Alliance Effect,” state advocates and national experts — connected by the Alliance for Early Success — make bigs gains for kids in Louisiana.
Colorado Advocates Get Tobacco-Tax-Funded Universal Preschool Closer to the Finish Line
Advocates in Colorado have worked hard to secure funding for universal preschool in the state. In November, voters will decide on a tobacco tax increase and instituting, for the first time, a tax on nicotine vaping products that will generate money to provide preschool access to all Colorado children, with additional funding for those who would benefit the most.
New Mexico Opens New Early Childhood Education and Care Department
With the inauguration of the state’s new Early Childhood Education and Care Department, New Mexico has become the fourth state in the nation to have a cabinet level department dedicated to early childhood. The creation of the department reflects the Governor’s focus on improving the lives of New Mexico’s youngest children.
Proposed Pre-K Budget Cuts in Georgia Defeated through Strategic Advocacy
Using strategic communication, research, and media outreach, our ally in Georgia helped overturn proposed budget cuts to the state’s pre-k program, secured funding for a new children’s mental health position at the state department, and extended postpartum Medicaid coverage. This victory is especially significant as states face drastically falling revenues.
Maryland Legislature Passes Early Care and Education Legislation Package
Amid the most trying circumstances many can remember, the Maryland session concluded with an extraordinary flurry of activity. The sprint to the finish included not only the passage of a challenging FY 2021 budget but also the landmark “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future,” which embodies the most dramatic strides in early childhood education in decades.
Nebraska Allies Help State Win Preschool Development Grant to Strengthen Early Childhood Services
Nebraska has been awarded a Preschool Development Birth through Five renewal grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, and Alliance ally First Five Nebraska played a big role in this crucial win for their state’s children.
Tennessee Pre-K Quality Improves Again — Thanks to Policy Changes
Tennessee now meets eight out of 10 quality standards benchmarks that evaluate the effectiveness of preschool education programs, according to The State of Preschool 2019 report issued by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). This ranking comes as a result of successful policy changes that enabled Tennessee to meet the Continuous Quality Improvement System (CQIS) benchmark for the first time.
Executive Order from Nebraska Governor Offers Financial Stability to State’s Subsidy Child Care Providers
Executive Order 20-18 addresses important financial supports for child care providers and working families throughout the state by temporarily adjusting how the state manages child care subsidy reimbursements. It temporarily changes reimbursement protocols by allowing child care providers to receive subsidy reimbursements based on the enrollment of subsidy-eligible children in their programs, rather than actual attendance while that program is open for business. It also ensures that child care slots allocated to subsidy-eligible parents will still be waiting for them when they return to work.
Hard Work in California Wins Continuing Expansions of Evidence-Based Home Visiting
Alliance for Early Success’ California ally, Children Now, continues to push for expansion of voluntary evidence-based home visiting in California. Read about the state’s significant progress that is projected to double evidence-based home visiting, and about the critical work still ahead that will reduce complexity across funding streams and set the foundation for further expansion over the long term.
