Dear Colleagues,

Since 2021, the Center for Early Learning Funding Equity at Northern Illinois University has focused on improving financing structures that undergird early childhood education and care systems to support more equitable access for children and families.

Early learning experiences are critical, and every child deserves to have access to high quality early education. Young families deserve the piece of mind that comes with the knowledge that their children are being enriched in a safe and nurturing environment while they work or attend school. Too often, however, families can’t access such programs because they’re unaffordable or simply not available in their communities. The most overwhelming challenge to the early childhood field remains too little public investment, but even the way existing funding gets distributed is rife with inequities.

CELFE works alongside states and communities to transform existing funding systems into ones that are simple, effective, efficient, and fair. In this work, we have partnered with states such as Massachusetts, Wyoming, Illinois, Nebraska, and Maine, and with local communities and regions, as well as with philanthropic partners.  Our decades of experience in state government and policymaking, advocacy, research, data analysis, and practice allows us to understand the complexities of the early childhood system, and how best to improve systems of financing.

Our growing team of experts bring diverse backgrounds and deep passion to this critical work. I hope you will take a few minutes to learn more about them and the work we do to redesign early learning funding with children and families at the center.

Dr. Theresa Hawley, Executive Director, Center for Early Learning Funding Equity