Guest blog post by Amanda Lopez, Transform Consulting Group.

In 2013, after a lot of advocacy of several stakeholders, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation to form the Indiana Early Learning Advisory Committee (ELAC). 

BACKGROUND

The state statute outlined specific responsibilities for ELAC: annual needs assessment on the state of early learning in Indiana, assess the collaboration and coordination of state agencies involved in early learning, advise development of a new pre-k program called Early Learning Matching Grant (EEMG) framework and make recommendations.

The Governor appointed seven members representing the public and private sector.  It did not take long for the seven appointed members to realize that their responsibilities far exceeded their capacity.  As a result, ELAC formed seven workgroups to focus on key issue areas.

By forming the seven workgroups, ELAC now includes approximately 150 members representing a variety of disciplines, experiences, expertise and communities.

PURPOSE

ELAC is working to ensure that children ages birth to 8 years and their families have access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education programs that keep children healthy, safe and learning.

All of ELAC’s work is focused on making a difference in these four community impact areas:

In order to accomplish this impact, ELAC and the workgroups are focused on five key strategies.

1. Establish baselines and future trends
2. Provide system development tools
3. Facilitate community partnerships
4. Demonstrate impact
5. Secure resources

WHY?

ELAC has spent the first few years really trying to understand the current state of early learning in Indiana.  By looking at where we currently are, ELAC has been able to make best practice recommendations for the future.  Here are some quick facts to consider:

• Indiana is home to roughly half a million of young children (ages 0-5).
• About two-thirds of those children (66%) NEED care from other adults, because their parents are part of Indiana’s workforce.
• That means about 330,000 of Indiana’s 500,000 infant to five year olds NEED care because their parents work…but only 113,393 of these kids are in known care…a formal setting licensed or registered by the state. The rest – the other 200,000 – are being cared for in an informal setting – cared for by a family, friend, or neighbor.
• But it’s not enough for kids just to be in a formal setting - in order for early childhood education investments to make a difference.  Kids need to be in a setting that is rated high-quality.
• Statewide, only 45,000 (13%) of young children who need care are getting what IN considers to be a high quality educational experience.
• Access to a high quality education varies tremendously by county, with 9 counties having no access to high quality programs (see the map).

Resources

At the beginning of 2016, ELAC launched a new website that summarizes the work completed and new resources developed.  Some resources that you may want to check out include the new ELAC County Early Childhood Profiles available here:

Other Resources to Check Out:

• 2017 ELAC Annual Report
• Indiana’s Early Childhood Program Funding Analysis
• Indiana Glossary on Early Learning Terms and Organizations
• Many more report reports and resources on the Resources page
• Latest news in early learning and funding opportunities
• Workgroup information

CONNECT

There are many ways that you can get involved.

1.      Join a workgroup.  Check out the seven workgroups and see if there are any natural connections to your work, expertise or passion.  Then contact the ELAC project management support team to learn how to get involved.

2.      Join a local coalition.  Many communities have identified early childhood education as a top economic and education priority for them. They have formed local coalitions to organize around addressing early childhood education and connecting to the resources and partners of ELAC.

3.      Attend the upcoming Indiana Summit for Economic Development via Early Learning Coalitions on Monday, June 5^th in Bloomington, Indiana at the Monroe Convention Center.  Why would business and community leaders get together to talk about early childhood education? Because they know that early education is an economic driver and workforce development strategy.  Register today to be at the forefront of great things for Hoosier economies.  http://www.elacindiana.org/indianasummit/

If you have any questions and would like to learn more / get involved, contact Amanda Lopez with Transform Consulting Group (317) 324-4070 x 5 or A.Lopez@transformconsultinggroup.com.  They provide project management support for ELAC that is funded by FSSA Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.