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:
After Two Years of Work in Missouri, Allies Win Executive Order to Merge State Offices Serving Youngest Children
Missouri’s governor has announced the formation of the Office of Childhood, and advocates around the state celebrated the move as a monumental step towards creating a comprehensive vision and program alignment of Missouri’s early childhood system.
Delaware Early Childhood Advocates Turn Planning and Persistent Advocacy into Governance Consolidation Wins
Years of work by early childhood advocates in Delaware continue to pay off in important structural changes in the way state agencies serve young children — including the recent creation of a new associate secretary position to oversee the Office of Early Learning.
Ohio Allies Launch Innovative Center for Family Voice as Part of Ongoing Work on Race and Rural Equity
Groundwork Ohio has announced plans to build a “center of excellence” dedicated to authentically engaging Ohio parents and families in the policies and practices that impact the healthy development of their children. The Center for Family Voice will explore best practices across the state and nation that successfully engage families in public services delivery to inform state, local, and programmatic policy development.
Oregon Voters Deliver Big Wins for Kids on Medicaid Expansion and Universal Preschool
Oregon voters delivered big wins for early childhood issues on ballot measures in the 2020 election — including a a tax increase on tobacco that will provide the last piece in the puzzle in fully funding the expansion of Medicaid eligibility. Both of these victories highlight the power of creating a broad coalition for developing and campaigning for policies that benefit children.
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.
