Through coordination and innovation, developmental screening is happening earlier and the number of high-quality early childhood education (ECE) slots have continued to increase. However, overall ECE slots have decreased and kindergarten readiness indicators show that racial disparities persist. Districts and partners can only do so much without the resources and policies that align and fund programs to prepare our youngest learners.

The Early Childhood project team worked collaboratively to develop and advocate for a unified framework of shared policy priorities. The model builds on experience from past Generation Next initiatives, notably the Screen@3 collaborative and Pathways to Quality initiative, which identified systemic barriers and inequitable access that informed the recommendations below.