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In 1999, a number of the largest national and regional early care and education companies came together to form The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC), an alliance to influence public policy on behalf of quality care and education for children and families. Today ECEC members represent over 5,000 programs serving more than a half million children in nearly every state in the country. Becoming more active, this year ECEC set up an office in Washington and hired Dr. Eric Karolak, previously head of the National Child Care Information Center, as its Executive Director.

A policy statement of ECEC spells out these current positions....

"ECEC supports the critical investments in early childhood necessary to America’s future. Our efforts are based on the following positions:

• Ready for School: All children birth through age five should have access to quality early education
• Ready for Life: All early care and education policy and programs should recognize that school readiness is only one aspect of optimum child development
• Ready for Work: All families should have access to affordable quality child care
• Parent Choice: All families should have choice in the type of quality early care and education consistent with their needs and values

"Our public policy agenda supports policy and legislation that:

• Recognizes the interdependence of the early care and education infrastructure, including the wide variety of programs supporting young children and families in the need for care and education.
• Complements and sustains existing programs offering quality services that both supports working families and prepares children for school.
• Increases commitment to recruiting, training, and supporting early care and education professionals in order to establish and sustain high quality
• Reflects a commitment to a beneficial childhood for all children

For more information about ECEC, contact Dr. Karolak at [email protected].

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