Early Education Essentials: Illustrations of Strong Organizational Practices in Programs Poised for Improvement
This paper begins with a high-level contrast of programs with strong and weak essential supports, presented through leader, teacher, and parent perceptions and experiences of their ECE programs and researcher observations. Then for each essential, we describe the organizational structures and practices present in programs with strong essential supports and provide a table highlighting key differences in those structures and practices when the essentials are strong versus weak. We close with suggestions for ongoing discussion of implications of these findings and of the Early Education Essentials surveys for improving the performance of ECE at scale.
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Meet Monique Fountain Hanna: The BUILD Initiative’s Newest Staff Member
Blog June 30, 2025
The BUILD Initiative is thrilled to welcome Monique Fountain Hanna, MD, MPH, MBA, to our staff as Interim Director of State Services. Monique has over 23 years of experience transforming public health systems; driving health equity; overseeing the development of infant, maternal, and child health-serving systems; and advancing quality standards across the country.
Collaborative Leadership and Power Lessons on Authentic Family and Community Partnerships
Video June 20, 2024
During this one-hour webinar, hosted in partnership with Vital Village Networks, you’ll witness the limitless wisdom and leadership that lives in our communities. Hear about best practices and lessons learned from prenatal-to-three (PN3) coalitions across the country that are working to shift and share power with parents and community partners. We’ll explore what it looks like to build trust and relationships while redesigning what it means to lead together for the health and wellbeing of our children.
Rebuilding and Reinvigorating EC Leadership Capacity Post-Pandemic: Three State Action Plans
Archived Meeting Resources July 18, 2023
One of the impacts of pandemic has been the significant loss of early childhood program leaders — leaders who are critical to the success of early childhood programs and classrooms. Three states have tackled this challenge by accessing existing partnerships and funding strategies. North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina have 1) braided, partnered, and blended funding streams to pay for professional development that includes extensive provider incentives; 2) refined existing database systems by streamlining data collection and tracking, and 3) delivered an online national director credential curriculum.