This report synthesizes information on State policies that connect professional development activities and support effective implementation of a state system of professional development in early care and education. It was designed for state policy makers, early education advocates, and program administrators working to connect professional development activities and initiatives into an integrated system. The report highlights principles and six policy areas that build or sustain an integrated system of professional development.

In this report, The Institute of Medicine and National Research Council provides recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals who work with children from birth through age 8. It includes recommendations at the local, state and national level geared toward improving higher education and ongoing professional learning; strengthening qualification requirements based on knowledge and competencies; and promoting evaluation that leads to continuous improvements in professional practices.

This issue brief argues that States can save money, decrease administrative burden, and better serve low-income families if they create integrated eligibility services for support programs that they administer. The authors describe how significant differences in eligibility rules, service delivery, funding structures, and documentation requirements have created an inefficient system that burdens States and can prevent low income families from receiving the services that they need. The brief outlines this issue and offers potential state-level solutions.

This publication outlines a collaborative and comprehensive strategic framework for building the early childhood system in Washington State in order to improve outcomes for children (Kids Matter). This plan offers a framework that supports the efforts of local and state stakeholders to coordinate, collaborate, and integrate efforts that will lead to children being healthy and ready for school.

This paper examines similarities in service integration efforts and uses this information to develop a set of organizing principles and constructs for planning a service integration initiative. First, it elaborates on two key dimensions—relationship intensity and institutional similarity—critical for understanding any particular integration effort. Second, it proposes a strategy for framing integration efforts based on these two dimensions. Third, it considers the implications of this framework for developing an integration agenda.

This final report on State Advisory Councils grants highlights general themes across the States and presents each State’s accomplishments in meeting the grant requirements. It also suggests implications for future Council work.

This blog post introduces the concept of strategic alignment and describes how alignment is related to strategic planning.

This PowerPoint reports on the capacity of the Massachusetts early education and care system to enhance the quality of programs. It outlines the Massachusetts Department of Early Care and Education’s five-part strategic framework and describes progress to date.

This toolkit provides guidance and resources related to blending and braiding early childhood funding streams. It was designed to support state advocates and policymakers with making policy choices that facilitate the blending and braiding of funding streams to improve access to and length of children’s participation in high-quality early learning programs.

This report describes States’ progress in establishing and implementing Early Childhood Advisory Councils. It is based on interviews with representatives involved in Early Childhood Advisory Council development in all 50 States. The report also offers recommendations for how to ensure that the councils make a positive impact on the lives of young children and their families.