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Pre-K Now
Advisory Committees

In many states, advisory committees have been a significant first step toward a full pre-k campaign. Their recommendations address issues ranging from, program delivery and design, curriculum and expected outcomes, evaluation and quality assurance to coordination with existing early childhood programs, workforce development, best practices and cost estimates.

At least ten states have some type of advisory committee and many others are likely to follow. Though they vary from state to state, these committees typically involve senior state officials, including cabinet executives as well as non-government stakeholders like parents, child care providers, K-12 representatives, business leaders, early childhood experts, and college and university officials.

In addition, these committees sometimes create unexpected advocates who go on to become remarkable new pre-k champions. They also serve a unique role in strengthening partnerships with the non-profit and business communities. In many cases, meetings of the committees also provide an opportunity for public input.

When Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich visited a Chicago pre-k center during his campaign, he promised to bolster the state's commitment to early childhood development programs if he was elected. Nine months later, he returned to that same site to sign legislation creating the Illinois Early Learning Council. He named Harriet Meyer, president of the Ounce of Prevention Fund, and Elliot Regenstein, Director of Education Reform in the Governor's Office, as co-chairs of the new Council. The Council has come out with a report, Preschool for All: High-Quality Early Education for All of Illinois' Children, which outlines an innovative strategy to make pre-k available to all three and four year olds and to increase resources for infants and toddlers at risk. The governor has embraced the report and continues to rely on the Council for strategic advice and implementation recommendations.

To learn more about specific advisory committees, we recommend the following resources:
Illinois Early Learning Council
Florida UPK Education Advisory Council
Hawaii School Readiness Task Force
 
Resource Center
Pre-K Advocates
Policymakers
Media
Business and Community Leaders
Educators
Families
Tips & Tasks for State Advisory Councils
While reauthorizing Head Start in 2007, Congress added a new provision requiring every state to create or designate a State Advisory Council to better coordinate early education and care services. Pre-K Now has two new resources designed to help policymakers and advocates navigate the process of setting up Councils and seize the opportunities offered by them.
State Advisory Councils brief (PDF)
Council planning template (PDF)
Explore the Pre-K Evidence
Our collection of original reports and links to other studies will give you a deeper view into pre-k policy.
browse reports on pre-k
Video: Briefing on America's Pre-K Movement
Pre-K Now held a briefing for congressional staff, cosponsored by Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Kit Bond, on October 1. Hear what a governor, three superintendents, two directors of early childhood programs, and a national teacher of the year think Congress should do to increase families' access to quality, state-funded pre-k.
watch and learn more
How Do States
Pay for Pre-K?
To help policymakers and advocates answer that question, Pre-K Now offers "Funding the Future," a report examining the range of pre-k funding options.
learn about the answers
Tour a Pre-K Classroom
Through our virtual classroom tour and our short video following real children through their pre-k year, we will help you recognize high quality, understand why it makes a difference, and show you how children benefit.
take the tour
watch our video
We've underestimated young children for too long. If we want better students, we must begin by strengthening pre-k.