Implications for Racial Equity Leadership Development: Lessons from the Equity Leaders Action Network
This document reflects the collective learning gleaned from three years of creative work within the Equity Leaders Action Network (ELAN) learning community. In it, we describe foundational concepts that we believe need to shape racial equity leadership efforts, core racial equity leadership competencies, and racial equity leadership capacities that need to be nurtured in racial equity leaders. There were many lessons learned in designing and implementing the ELAN. The energy, wisdom, and collaborative spirit racial equity fellows and faculty brought to the ELAN community helped enormously to refine, amend, and improve what we learned about ourselves, each other, and how to carry out racial justice and equity leadership development.
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Leading an Early Childhood Team Through the Quality Improvement Process
Article October 7, 2026
Published in Young Children, this 2024 article provides an operational guide for aligning state QIS requirements with broader national standards, quality grants, and staff incentives.
Much-Needed Changes in Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement Systems Should Promote Equity
Blog October 7, 2026
Blog authors Gina Adams and Danielle Ewen outline systemic flaws in traditional models. This 2024 blog details how traditional QRIS frameworks often inadequately support parents, underinvest in actual center improvement, and inadvertently exacerbate funding inequalities among diverse childcare providers.
Four Trends in Early Care and Education Quality Rating and Improvement Systems
Fact Sheet October 7, 2026
This 2024 brief evaluates Parent Aware (Minnesota's system) and synthesizes interviews across six states (Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington). It identifies critical, modern pathways for administrators looking to overhaul and redesign state frameworks.