The years before formal schooling are vital for children’s physical, cognitive and social development. Providing high-quality preschool environments is a pivotal opportunity to prevent developmental disparities that are often already present when children enter kindergarten.
As many states look to expand access to high-quality early care and education (ECE) opportunities, a key consideration is how to administer the patchwork of programs for children from birth to age five. With overlapping jurisdictions and funding streams spanning federal, state and local sources, state policymakers are evaluating their governance structures to maximize efficiency and streamline services to families.
We recently updated our 50-State Comparison on ECE Governance to provide a national landscape of how states oversee agencies charged with leading in this crucial policy area.
Our database examines administration of the primary components of ECE common to nearly all states. This year, we have also included infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC), which encompasses a variety of programs and services supporting families and ECE providers across the birth-to-five system.
States vary in their approaches to governance — some coordinate program administration across many different agencies and others consolidate into fewer agencies or a single agency. Governance structures can be categorized into three major types, which are:
- Coordinated (25 states). Funding streams and functions live in multiple, distinct agencies — requiring coordination across those agencies. A centralized office may help facilitate coordination.
- Consolidated (14 states and the District of Columbia). Funding and functions are consolidated into an existing agency that has additional responsibilities. These are typically the state education agency or a human services agency.
- Created (11 states). Funding and functions are consolidated into a single agency that is created with a sole or primary focus on early childhood without other responsibilities.
Since our last database update in 2020, our data show that at least nine states have modified their governance structures: Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio and Oregon created new agencies to oversee most or all of their states’ ECE programs, while Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and Virginia consolidated multiple programs into an existing agency. States approach the creation and consolidation of agencies in different ways; for example:
- Colorado H.B. 21-1304 (2021) created the Colorado Department of Early Childhood to oversee all primary ECE programs. The bill established an advisory group to develop a transition plan for the new agency. The CDEC began operating in July 2022 and completed the transition by early 2023. The executive director of CDEC also serves as a cabinet-level position to elevate the importance of ECE within the state.
- Missouri Gov. Michael Parson signed E.O. 21-02 (2021) to establish the Office of Childhood within the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In an effort to reduce fragmentation, the new office consolidated many of the state’s ECE programs and services previously administered across multiple agencies. To facilitate the change, 13 transition teams met weekly to address the logistical challenges of shifting employees and services into the new office.
These large-scale changes represent only one policy lever states can use to impact ECE governance. Other states are trying to improve service coordination through interagency advisory bodies. At least 26 states provide staffing supports to bolster capacity for strategic planning and development. Task forces, working groups and study committees can also play a part in helping states identify the governance structure that best suits their needs.
The demand for high-quality ECE shows no signs of waning, and as states looks for ways to meet the needs of children and families, governance continues to play a role in ensuring that services are efficiently, accessibly and equitably delivered.
