The U.S. Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Services recently released a new report highlighting the progress of 14 states working under Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grants received in 2012 and 2013. With these funds, states are working to improve the quality of their early learning programs and increase the accessibility of those programs to children in high-needs communities. Congress authorized the RTT-ELC grants to provide states with the funding to make early learning programs and services more widely available, and to provide children with a strong foundation for their progression through early learning and eventually school. RTT-ELC grants have invested more than $1 billion in 20 states.
According to the report, RTT-ELC is succeeding. Although the report does not provide an in-depth look at all work done by all states so far, it does show excellent progress in 14 states:
- Access to high-quality early learning state-funded programs for at-risk children has increased by 175%.
- Enrollment of programs in Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (TQRIS) increased by 73%. (TQRIS evaluates early learning and development programs.)
- Professional development and higher education courses are becoming more aligned to the core competencies that states are developing for early childhood education.
- States are also working toward Kindergarten Entry Assessments that will facilitate the collection of crucial data regarding school readiness.
In addition, 10 states are working toward capacity building in specific high-need communities.
Transform Consulting Group is committed to improving the quality of early learning opportunities in communities. As part of this work, Transform Consulting Group can help you assess your organization’s programs and work with you to strengthen their impact.
