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Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

The Hunt Institute鈥檚 Early Efforts series of webinars is moderated by Dan Wuori, who is not only unfailingly eloquent but also thoroughly well-versed in the nuances of policy and the implications for young learners.

The Dec. 7 event brought together an especially wide-ranging panel of experts and leaders from across the country. The conversation focused on advances at the state level during 2021. Here are our takeaways:

1. There is power in the network. Helene Stebbins, executive director of The Alliance for Early Success, introduced the recently released 2021 edition of the on Early Childhood Policy. In her introduction, she writes that the report 鈥渢ells the story of a national community of state advocates who leaned on their networks and each other to effectively pursue two goals at once: shepherding relief funds intended for young children and their families while, at the same time, working aggressively on their strategic agendas.鈥�

2. Conservative states chalked up significant wins. Alabama (which is featured in the documentary Starting at Zero) saw one of the largest ever increases for its top-quality First Class Pre-K program ($24.4 million), bringing the program鈥檚 level of funding to $151 million and access to 42% of the state鈥檚 4-year-olds. Dr. Barbara Cooper, secretary of the state鈥檚 Department of Early Childhood, emphasized the mixed-delivery nature of its landscape and prioritization of the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS).

• Advocates in Georgia are celebrating the launch of a new task force for .
• Advocates and policymakers in South Carolina worked together to champion expansion of its pre-K program.
• Georgia Mjartan, executive director of South Carolina First Steps, mentioned the involvement of corporate titan Boeing in the campaign.
• Sometimes victories lie in stopping harmful policies. Activists in West Virginia helped to defeat a proposal to eliminate the state personal income tax, which eventually would have resulted in a loss of over 40% of state revenue.

3. Prenatal is the new early childhood. The latest California state budget features new reimbursements for Community Health Workers, doula services, access to telehealth and dyadic (mother-infant) care benefits to serve Medi-Cal members.

• Ted Lempert, president of the advocacy group Children Now, said policymakers are increasingly viewing their work through a racial equity lens.
• Virginia鈥檚 budget reflected an unprecedented emphasis on maternal health and prenatal health care benefits, particularly for women of color. Among other provisions, a Medicaid-funded doula benefit is now available for eligible moms. Stephanie Spencer of Urban Baby Beginnings said the commitment stemmed from Governor Ralph Northam鈥檚 personal experience as a pediatric neurologist.

4. Governance matters. Each state has its own constitution and administrative structure, and adjustments that prioritize early childhood can improve delivery of services.

• Colorado elevated early childhood to a cabinet-level department, advanced family child care, removed barriers to opportunity for families who lack proper documentation and expanded early childhood mental health systems and access. Bill Jaeger of the Colorado Children鈥檚 Campaign praised the leadership of Emily Sirota鈥攎other, social worker and state representative.
• North Dakota consolidated early childhood programs into one division.聽In his emotional remarks, Chris Jones, director of the state鈥檚 department of Human Services, hailed the Aspen Institute and the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation for introducing him to innovations in Alabama and Georgia. 鈥淥rganizational structure and what鈥檚 on paper are one thing,鈥� he said. 鈥淐ulture and empathy are what count. We stand in the shoes of parents and families.鈥�

5. New laws make a difference.

• In New Jersey, a new universal home visiting law guarantees all new parents at least one free home visit from a nurse within two weeks of the child鈥檚 birth, with the option of receiving two more within the next three months.
• Washington State鈥檚 Fair Start for Kids Act enhances families鈥� access and affordability for high-quality early learning programs, including child care and the state鈥檚 pre-K program. Additional provisions include subsidized health care for workers playgroups for family, friend and neighbor (FFN) networks and extra pay for multilingual workers. 鈥淭o make an entire industry work, it takes many levers,鈥� said Tana Senn of the Washington State House of Representatives.

The fate of the child care provisions in the Build Back Better Act loomed heavily over the event, because a great deal of future progress at the state level hinges on potential federal support. Since we can鈥檛 see the future, however, the recent past is an important guide.

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 麻豆精品. Learn more here.