Early Learning & Care

Advocacy & Resources

Shaping Policy for California’s Children, Families & Providers

EveryChild California tracks legislation, shapes ECE policy, and connects providers to the tools they need to advocate at every level.

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Join ECE VoicesAdd your voice to the statewide network

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EveryChild California shapes public policy through grassroots activism, our programmatic committees, and our Educators Voice Network — tracking legislative, regulatory, and legal issues impacting ECE providers, families, and children birth through 12.

Public Policy Platform 2025–26

Approved by membership on October 28, 2025. Our platform reflects current budget realities, the rate and quality reform transition, and direct member feedback — shaped through collaboration with statewide and community partners.

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Pillar 1

Funding

Pay the true cost of care — cost-based reimbursement covering all allowable costs, not just classroom ratios.

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Pillar 2

Access

Put families first — grow slots, preserve parental choice, fix pricing barriers in the mixed-delivery system.

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Pillar 3

Workforce

Competitive wages, career pathways, and paid professional development integrated into the funding model.

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Pillar 4

Quality

Practical, aligned, supported — reduce duplicative compliance, align CDE and CDSS, invest in coaching.

Resources & Toolkits

Tools, guides, and materials to support your advocacy and program operations — updated regularly throughout the legislative year.

Policy Document

PDF

Policy Platform 2025–26

Full member-approved platform covering Funding, Access, Workforce, and Quality.

Download PDF →

Bill Status Tracker

Updated weekly

Legislative Grid

Track ECE-relevant bills updated each week during the legislative session.

View grid →

ECE Voices

ECE Voices Toolkit

Messaging guides, story prompts, and advocacy templates for Leads and members.

Access toolkit →

2026 Session

Calendar

Hearing Calendar

Upcoming legislative hearings where ECE issues will be on the agenda.

View calendar →

Public Testimony

How-to guide

Testimony Guide

How to prepare and deliver public testimony at committee hearings — step by step.

Read guide →

TAKE ACTION

URGENT

Alert Archive

Action Alert Archive

Past alerts and advocacy campaigns organized by topic and date.

Browse archive →

ECE Voices Network

ECE Voices

Your Voice Shapes California’s Early Learning Policy

ECE Voices is EveryChild California’s member-driven advocacy network — amplifying the voices of early learning and care providers across the state, connecting local stories to statewide policy change.

Join ECE Voices

Leads

Local organizers & connectors

Serve as communication bridges between EveryChild CA and their communities
Help shape messaging, strategies, and outreach
Coordinate local advocacy — legislator visits, testimony
Mentor and recruit members
Participate in statewide leadership development

General members

Action-takers & experience experts

Share stories and perspectives from the field
Participate in accessible advocacy opportunities
Support campaigns, petitions, and events as available

What ECE Voices does

Clear, jargon-free policy updates through email, text, and social media
Local meetups, event tabling, and public testimony at hearings
Coordinated advocacy campaigns at the district and state levels
Webinars, trainings, and peer learning for leadership development
State Capitol representation, coalition participation, and storytelling

Weekly during session

Legislative Weekly Update

Stay Informed. Stay Ready to Act.

Sign up for our Legislative Weekly Update — bill tracking, budget news, and hearing information delivered to your inbox every Friday during session.

Weeks of legislative updates annually

Programmatic committees advising on ECE policy

80+

Bills tracked each legislative session

What’s in each update

Bill status updates for legislation affecting subsidized ECE programs
Budget news and fiscal committee activity
Upcoming legislative hearings and how to participate
Action alerts when your voice is needed immediately
Links to the full legislative grid for deeper tracking

Programmatic committees

Direct contracting — CSPP (California State Preschool) and General Child Care (CCTR)
Indirect contracting — Alternative Payment (CAPP) and Resource & Referral
Committees advise on legislation and proposed regulatory activity
Develop policy recommendations that shape EveryChild CA’s positions

Questions?Nina Buthee, Executive Director — nina@everychildca.orgAlicia Hatfield, Government Relations — alicia@everychildca.org

News & Impact

The latest updates, member stories, and policy wins from EveryChild California — showing the real-world impact of advocacy on providers, families, and children across the state.

80+

Bills tracked each legislative session on behalf of ECE providers

30+

Years advocating for subsidized early care and education in California

1,000s

Of providers connected to policy updates, training, and advocacy tools

Legislative Update

March 2026

Federal funding freeze notice and California’s response

EveryChild CA monitors federal ECE funding developments and what they mean for California providers.

Member Story

February 2026

ECE Voices providers testify at budget subcommittee hearing

Providers from across California shared their experiences with the rate reform transition directly with legislators.

Policy Win

January 2026

Administrative definitions package advances in budget process

Key provisions from EveryChild CA’s platform — including the 85% contract-earning benchmark — move forward.

Member Story

December 2025

Provider spotlight: Advocating for fair wages in the Central Valley

An ECE Voices Lead shares how connecting her story to state policy helped drive real change.