The Alliance for Early Success just released its annual 50-State Early Childhood Policy Progress and Landscape Report. The 2024 report, informed by a survey of advocates from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, shows that support for state early childhood policies and funding continued to be strong in the past year. In fact, all states with a 2024 legislative session reported a policy win, and 83 percent reported a win that included an increase in state funding. Many appropriated state funds to close federal funding gaps, signaling the importance of investing in the early years as a public good, worthy of state revenues.
Survey results also show the political climate for improving early childhood policies remains favorable. Governors, state legislators, and state agency administrators are overwhelmingly supportive of improving early childhood policies, and the November elections yielded very little change in political power at the state level. Combined with strong budget projections in most of the states, the climate is ripe for additional wins.
Also updated are the state policy landscape profiles which provide—for all 50 states and the District of Columbia—a comprehensive overview of the political, fiscal, demographic, and policy landscape, in addition to more details on the policy wins in the past year. Overall, the report paints a picture of opportunity for continued progress on behalf of young children and their families. While media attention in 2025 will likely be on the power shift in Washington, DC, momentum will continue in state capitals to help young children thrive and flourish. The Alliance for Early Success will continue to support and connect a network of early childhood policy advocates, so that they can build on their 2024 progress.