Policy Framework
From big-picture goals to practical policies.
Too often, states spend scarce resources on well-meaning initiatives that don't connect to larger goals or produce measurable outcomes.
That’s why our framework provides a clear hierarchy that connects big-picture outcomes to strategic approaches and specific policy options.
This structured approach ensures that every policy action and every public dollar advances core objectives: More parents working, businesses growing, children ready to succeed.
At a glance
Goals: the outcomes you aim to achieve.
Strategies: the approaches that move you toward those outcomes.
Policies: the specific levers that put strategies into practice.
How it works
Our framework organizes ECE policy into three levels — goals, strategies, and policies — with goals driving strategies and strategies determining the policy options states choose to pursue:
Each level flows from the one above, creating a path from vision to implementation.
Goals set the destination. Strategies map your route. Policies are the concrete steps you take to move forward.
Why this structure matters
Coherence: Every policy flows from a strategy, and every strategy advances a goal.
Accountability: Clear lines from action to outcomes make progress measurable.
Efficiency: Fewer scattered initiatives; more targeted, high-yield steps.
Throughout this site, you'll see this structure in action, helping transform good intentions into meaningful results.
Related pages: Policy Priorities · Key Policy Goals · Five Core Principles
