The Delta Issue #50

A new framework for high-quality early childhood education

NEW RESOURCE: Download the updated ECE Framework ➡️

Hey y’all, Jessica here.

Ever wonder why states as different as Colorado and Arkansas are going all in on revamping their early childhood education systems?

It’s pretty simple: those early years matter a lot, and the status quo in most places is—frankly—a mess.

It’s no secret that quality varies widely at all levels of education in the United States. But in K-12, each state at least has a consistent set of standards. We know, for example, that by third grade, students should be able to read.

We call it a “standard” for a reason. Every child is unique, but kids of the same age have some common, baseline needs—and that doesn’t start in kindergarten. A three-year-old is a three-year-old is a three-year-old—whether they’re in a home setting, a childcare center, or a school-based program.

Yet very few states have a coherent vision for what kind of early care and education kids deserve from birth to age five.

American early childhood education has traditionally been a “mixed-delivery” system, with a range of public, private, and nonprofit providers funded through a mix of federal, state, local, and private funds. Those disparate settings are often treated like entirely separate systems, and the fragmentation of funding administration creates confusion for families, makes coordination harder for providers, and prevents states from delivering high-quality education consistently across all settings.

Here’s the good news: States have both the authority and the opportunity to embrace and improve the mixed-delivery system.

In Colorado, leaders brought together school-based, center-based, home-based, and Head Start programs under a unified Department of Early Childhood to deliver universal pre-K. Arkansas took a similar path, unifying its mixed-delivery system so public, private, and nonprofit providers could work together, using blended funding, to expand access, raise quality, and offer families real options.

Today, we’re releasing a refreshed Early Childhood Framework to help more states do the same: build unified, coherent early childhood systems where every child has access to high-quality care, every family can find an affordable option, and every provider is equipped to deliver a great experience with an effective and well-compensated workforce.

Here’s what to expect from this framework:

1️⃣ Recommendations for how states can lead

We wrote a while back that early childhood is one of the rare bipartisan issues left in American politics, and it still is. To deliver for families, states have to be out front. And more and more, they are.

It’s smart policy, it’s good government, and most importantly, it’s essential for kids and families.

2️⃣ Guidance for administering an effective mixed-delivery early childhood system

In every state, early childhood education happens in a variety of settings, including public schools, private child care centers, churches, and family child care homes.

This mixed-delivery model offers families a range of care choices to best fit their unique needs, like location, hours of operation, and cost. If your state strategy doesn’t embrace that, you’re missing two-thirds of the sector.

By working with—not against—the mixed-delivery model, state leaders can turn a patchwork of programs into a strong, high-quality system.

3️⃣ Learnings and best practices from our work in more than a dozen states

Why reinvent the wheel when you can learn from other states’ successes? This refreshed framework reflects everything we’ve learned from leaders across the country who have taken steps to unify early childhood education. We share how to:

Stand up an early childhood agency at the state level
Create strong local partnerships
Structure funding
Define and measure quality
Cultivate a strong workforce
Measure and improve implementation

If your state is ready to lead, download the framework for free.

Let’s Get Muddy

Not sure where to start? Our framework includes a state self-assessment tool to help you figure out where you are and what to tackle next. Whether you’re laying the groundwork or building on existing momentum, it’s a smart way to take stock and chart a path forward.

And if you’re looking to dig even deeper, here are a few of our favorite resources: