The oversight and governance of early care and early education is critical to supporting the development of young children and their families. However, because state agencies involved in this support are often siloed, this often results in less-than-optimal coordination, alignment and ultimately, delivery of services, especially in an equitable and targeted manner. This Policy Outline provides an overview of all states' governance models along with information about the role of early childhood advisory councils.
See our 50-State Comparison: Early Care and Education Governance for data on states’ early care and education governance systems, with a focus on the agencies that oversee these programs, the level of alignment of these programs and the advisory entities for early care and education in the state.
Making Sense of Governance in Early Childhood highlights a national decision guide for policymakers considering alignment and consolidation of agencies and entities involved in early care and education.
