Integrated Efficient Early Care and Education Systems R E V

The previous year the GAO issued a report responding to a Congressional concern about the “duplication, fragmentation and lack of coordination” of early care and education programs and the underlying belief that there were sufficient funds to serve children but the long waiting lists were due primarily to inefficiencies. [...] analysis of the governance structure of every state’s First, support for early childhood programs can only early care and education system and it offered a be sustained if the programs are viewed by legislators window into the opportunities—and challenges— and the broader public as effective and efficient. [...] BPC’s Early Childhood single agency administered funds from the largest Initiative has undertaken an independent analysis of federal programs, including the Child Care and federal funding for tribal child care programming, as Development Fund (CCDF), the Child and Adult well as a broader dive into the complexities of federal, Care Food Program (CACFP), and the state’s Pre-K state, and tribal partn. [...] • Identify lessons learned from the Early Head Start State policymakers should focus efforts on the Child Care Partnership grants that were awarded governance of ECE systems to promote transparency to states, and issue a report identifying barriers to and accessibility for families, while maintaining better alignment of federal and state efforts. [...] Grants to form Early Head is also administered by the Office Start-Child Care Partnerships for of Special Education Programs and infants and toddlers are awarded provides grants to states to meet the to local community organizations needs of preschool-age children and states.