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Policy & Advocacy

At Start Early, policy and advocacy are integral parts of our mission to ensure young children and their families have access to quality, equitable early learning and care.

Our Approach

Start Early’s policy and advocacy efforts are grounded in our decades of work with children, families, the workforce and systems leaders, as well as our work to advance equity. Through systems building; legislative, administrative and grassroots advocacy; and consultation and thought leadership, we aim to:

  • Improve early childhood experiences for all young children through programs and policies that support early learning and care, maternal and child health and family engagement.
  • Sustain and increase public investments for quality, comprehensive early childhood education.
  • Support policies and service delivery systems that increase access to high-quality, affordable early childhood education and positively impact young children’s learning, health and family outcomes.

The Shaping Futures Together: An Early Childhood Research & Policy Agenda

A path forward must involve listening to and partnering with families and early childhood practitioners to prioritize the policies, research and investments needed to ensure all children thrive. That’s how the Shaping Futures Together: An Early Childhood Research & Policy Agenda was created – by identifying families’ and practitioners’ priorities.

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Our Work

Building on our expertise from decades of grassroots advocacy in Illinois, we work at local, state and federal levels with advocates, government systems, program leaders and other partners in the field.

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Illinois Policy & Advocacy

Leading the way as a voice for early learning and care

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Illinois Policy & Advocacy

We shape the state’s early childhood system through legislative, administrative and grassroots advocacy. 

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Washington State Policy & Advocacy

Enacting systems and policies that put children first

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Washington State Policy & Advocacy

We seek to create and strengthen conditions that give the state’s youngest children equitable access to quality services.

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Federal Policy

Advocating investments in early childhood and child care

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Federal Policy

We work in partnership to inform federal policies using the experiences of our front-line program partners and our research.

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Consulting

Together designing high-quality, equitable early childhood systems

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Consulting

We partner with leaders and advocates to drive ambitious change through the design and implementation of early childhood systems.

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Policy & Advocacy

Resources & News

Learn more about our work, access relevant resources and learn how to get involved below.

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Take Action

Raise your voice and encourage lawmakers to prioritize early learning and care at the local, state and federal level.

Make an Impact

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Support Our Work

Together, when we start early, we can close the opportunity gap and ensure every child has a chance to reach their full potential.

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Resources for Professionals

From interactive courses to engaging events, we support educators in building powerful practices that transform teaching and learning.

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