About BUILD

Report February 1, 2023

The BUILD Initiative is a national effort that advances state work on behalf of young children (prenatal through five), their families, and communities. BUILD staff partner with early childhood state leaders focused on early learning, health and nutrition, mental health, child welfare, and family support and engagement to create the policies, infrastructure, and cross-sector connections necessary for quality and equity. BUILD provides consultation, planning, and tailored implementation assistance, learning opportunities, resources, and cross-state peer exchanges. These efforts help state leaders improve and expand access to quality and promote equitable outcomes for our youngest children.

Family Voice Matters: The Importance of Effective Parent Coalitions

Blog January 31, 2023

BUILD recently interviewed five parent leaders about their experience in parent coalitions. In addition to reminding us of the need to address implicit bias on behalf of all families and children, they provided their thoughts on ways to ensure the coalitions fulfill their purpose and best meet the needs of families, and whether there’s room for improvement in the way they function. Here’s what they told us.

Incorporating Montessori Programs in State Quality Improvement Systems Webinar Resources

Archived Meeting Resources January 31, 2023

States are making significant advancements in their quality improvement systems (QIS) as they look for solutions to widen the aperture and fully embrace a mixed-delivery system that will best serve children, families, and the early care and education workforce. To achieve this, QIS policies need to become more flexible and create different pathways to quality, including a variety of established, high-quality delivery models. In this session participants heard how Montessori programs are working with state leaders from Illinois, Michigan, and Washington to be part of the QIS.

Under 3 DC: Lessons in How Leading with Equity Creates Equity for Children and Families

Blog January 18, 2023

Under 3 DC Coalition members Sia Barbara Ferguson Kamara, LaDon Love, and Kim Perry contributed to this blog.

Broadening Policy for Mixed Delivery: Incorporating Montessori Programs in State Quality Improvement Systems

Report January 12, 2023

The Montessori Public Policy Initiative (MPPI) and the BUILD Initiative have partnered on this document to support states as they work toward including successful and long-standing pedagogically driven models such as Montessori. This report identifies several areas where minor modifications to QIS rubrics can ensure that quality is correctly captured for Montessori programs.

BUILD 2022 Meeting Archive