Welcome to the ECE State Policy Center

Creating ECE policy that works  —  for children, families, and your state

Every child deserves a strong start in life. But too many lower-income families can't access the quality early care and education (ECE) their children depend on to thrive. Current policies often fall short for the families who need help most.

Federal programs haven't solved the problem. State leaders can — with the right approach.

This site shows state leaders how to expand access to quality early care and education while empowering parents to make the best choices for their children.

When parents can't find affordable, high-quality ECE programs, they miss work or leave jobs altogether. Families lose income and risk ending up on welfare, while businesses struggle to keep reliable workers. This is more than a family challenge — it's a workforce and economic challenge, too.

That’s where state leadership comes in. You can take practical action that empowers parents, improves access to quality programs for young children, and builds your state's economy. This site is designed to help you do exactly that.

You don't need to start from scratch.
Smart, effective models are already working in states like yours.

Who This Site Is For

We created this site for state legislators, policy staff, and other leaders who want to:

  • Empower parents to make the best choices for their young children

  • Strengthen community-based solutions to challenges facing families and employers

  • Build their state's workforce and economy

If you believe parents — not one-size-fits-all programs — should drive decisions about their children’s early care and education, you're in the right place.

You can make a real difference in this vital area of state policy — and we want to help you succeed.

What You'll Find Here

We offer:                

  • Clear, jargon-free guidance grounded in evidence and real-world practice

  • Practical tools and examples that show you what’s working in states like yours

  • Data and insights to help you quickly understand issues and solutions in your state

Everything here is designed to support smart, state-level leadership — with practical steps you can use now.

Our Approach to ECE Policy

We believe the central goal of effective ECE policy is to help the lower-income families who can't afford high-quality programs for their children. Every parent wants to raise their child well. They need steady work, financial self-sufficiency, and peace of mind to do it.

Children’s brains grow most rapidly in the earliest years, so the quality of programs where they spend long hours matters for their healthy development. When lower-income parents can access quality programs they trust, they see their children thrive — and they can stay in the workforce, supporting their families and avoiding dependence on welfare.

We focus on two key goals that drive maximum results for expanding access and improving quality:

  • Empower Lower-Income Parents: Boost parents’ access to high-quality ECE so they can enter the workforce, keep steady work, and stay financially self-sufficient.

  • Build the ECE Workforce: Develop the skilled, sustainable workforce that makes high-quality ECE possible.

This doesn’t require creating new government programs. Smart state policy can achieve both goals through targeted, family-centered, market-based solutions that build on what's already working.

Five Core Principles to Guide Policy

Our approach is grounded in five practical principles:

  1. Target support where it's needed most.
    Focus public dollars on families who can't access quality programs on their own.

  2. Put families first.
    Empower parents, not government, to choose what’s best for their child.

  3. Strengthen markets, don't replace them.
    Expand access and improve quality by making markets work for all families.

  4. Empower communities to lead.
    Support community-driven initiatives from employers, non-profits, and faith-based groups.

  5. Focus on cost-effective results, not spending.
    Track results to ensure public dollars achieve what matters most.

The Families We Focus On

States make the biggest difference for young children and families by focusing ECE policy on those with the greatest need.

We recommend that state policy target families who earn below 85% of the State Median Income (SMI). These are the families that face the most difficult choices, and benefit most from targeted support.

How to Get Started

Use the navigation bar to explore the site's resources and tools:

  • New to ECE? Start with ECE Essentials to learn what ECE is and why it matters.

  • Want to understand why state leadership is crucial? See Why States Must Lead for a clear explanation of why states — not Washington — are best positioned to lead on ECE.

  • Ready to explore policy solutions? Visit Policy Priorities and see Solutions in Action for concrete options that states are using now.

  • Have quick questions? Check FAQs and our Glossary to get the answers you need.

As a state leader, you’re uniquely positioned to shape ECE that empowers lower-income families, advances children’s healthy development, and strengthens your state’s economy.

You have the tools and the opportunity to drive real change — we’re here to help with clear, practical guidance.

Learn why ECE policy matters ⟶ ECE Essentials