1. Unprecedented Opportunities New Challenges Diverse Perspectives M.-A. Lucas, Executive Director, Early Care and Education Consortium 2015 ECEC Invest in Us Forum

2. The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) “We can either be reactive to early care and education industry trends and government regulations, or we can be pro-active and help shape them in a way that improves the outcomes and opportunities for children, families and providers” Dave Vinson, CEO Kids"R” Kids

3. The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) Established as the non-profit alliance/trade association committed to high quality early childhood education Acknowledged as the collective, unified national voice of – Premier Large Non- Profit and Tax-Paying Multi Site / Multi- State/International Providers – Impactful State Child Care Association Providers – Leading National Educational Services Providers Supports a Membership that – operates over 9100 centers across all 50 states/DC / PR and international locations – serves more than 1 million children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds – provides far-reaching national/international professional dev & program services Helps shape Federal and State public policy by exclusively representing Members on Capital Hill, in States and with National Advocates Partners ECEC is the “go to” voice of choice for policy makers!!!

4. ECEC Members Believe: High Quality Early Childhood Programs Focus on the health, safety, and well-being of children in care Have strong accountable, management systems Employ qualified leaders and teachers who effectively engage children and parents Promote school readiness through developmentally appropriate practice Provide on-going workforce development Use evidence based program and child assessment tools to measure outcomes Give parents “peace of mind” that their children are thriving in safe, nurturing settings Support employers by increasing the productivity of working parents State Licensing Standards provide the foundation for child care excellence Programs that participate in State Quality Improvement Rating Systems (QRIS) and achieve nationally /internationally recognized Accreditation status are high performers We are helping bring Quality to Scale by investing in: Children, Families, Providers and Communities!

5. ECEC Members

6. ECEC is a… unique, influential, credible Provider Voice … At Many Tables!!!!!

7. National Advocacy Group Partners National Black Child Institute National Head Start Association National Women’s Law Center ReadyNation Teach for America Zero To Three Center for American Progress Child Care Aware Children’s Leadership Council Council for Strong America First Five Years Fund Grow America Stronger Coalition National Association for the Education of Young Children National Association of Family Child Care Providers

8. ECEC Strategic Partners

9. Early Care and Education … This is a time of unique opportunities Strong Public Support 2014 First Five Years Fund poll found 71 percent of voters – including 60 percent of Republicans – support greater federal investments in early childhood education Bi-Partisan Congressional Support Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) passed with an overwhelming majority in the 113 th Congress Surprising State and Local Support Majority of Governors now support state pre-kindergarten programs serving 4 year-olds City Mayors are joining in Mainstream Media interest

10. Emerging Focus on Middle Class Economics Congressional Interest in Child Care Tax Credits Advocates considering a “Child Care Campaign” 2016 Politics Partnerships with Charter Schools ? A solution to narrowing the Achievement Gap ? Pay for Success initiatives Public Investment for all families in the True Cost of Quality Economic Inequality Issues Early Care and Education … Can we take advantage of these unique opportunities?

11. ECEC Key Messages ECEC is committed to providing ALL families improved access and affordability to high quality early childhood services from middle income families paying on their own to low-income families needing government financial assistance. State Child Care Associations raise state and local issues (opportunities and challenges ) that have the potential become a multi- state or national trend Dual Service Community Providers increase the productivity of the workforce of today and prepare the workforce of the future Educational Services Providers strengthen the ECEC Brand by supporting the infrastructure that creates and sustains high quality programming High Quality Community Child Care Providers maximize taxpayer investment Investing in innovative early care and education models helps ensure Viable Parent choice options for high quality care Options to address high cost of care

12. And One Last Reminder… Chance favors the prepared mind. ~ Louis Pasteur Chance also favors the prepared advocacy community We are ready !!!