Race To The Top: The Early Learning (ELC) Challenge
ZERO TO THREE has developed a number of resources related to the ELC, including a toolkit outlining how states can use the ELC to benefit infants and toddlers and articles detailing how each round of ELC grantees’ are targeting very young children. A new article analyzing the most recent grantees’ applications was released June 2014.
The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (ELC) grant program is a joint effort by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve early learning and development for young children. It does so by supporting states’ efforts to: increase the number of children with high needs, birth to 5 years old, in high-quality early childhood settings; and build comprehensive early childhood systems.
Twenty states have received 4-year ELC grants ranging from $20 to $70 million since the program was initiated in 2011. Although grantees have not dedicated significant portions of their ELC grants to initiatives targeting infants and toddlers specifically, their efforts to strengthen the systems that support all young children and families have the potential to improve outcomes for babies if their needs are intentionally addressed.
Explore all of the resources ZERO TO THREE has developed related to the ELC below.
Meeting the Challenge Articles
These articles, released in June 2014, discuss how the most recent ELC grantees (Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) are targeting infants and toddlers. The full report and shorter companion pieces examine each of the six main strategies the programs target.
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Tool
Meeting the Challenge Full Report
This article, released in June 2014, discusses how the most recent ELC grantees (Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) are targeting infants and toddlers.
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Article
This excerpt from "Meeting the Challenge: How the Newest Early Learning Challenge Grantees Can Meet the Needs of Infants and Toddlers" discusses grantees’ plans to develop and integrate Early Learnin…
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Article
Meeting the Challenge: Building Capacity in High-Need Neighborhoods
This excerpt from "Meeting the Challenge: How the Newest Early Learning Challenge Grantees Can Meet the Needs of Infants and Toddlers" discusses grantees’ plans to build capacity in high-need communi…
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Article
Meeting the Challenge: Professional Development for the Infant-Toddler Workforce
This excerpt from "Meeting the Challenge: How the Newest Early Learning Challenge Grantees Can Meet the Needs of Infants and Toddlers" discusses grantees’ plans to develop professional development op…
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Tool
Meeting the Challenge: Connecting Families to Appropriate Services
This excerpt from "Meeting the Challenge: How the Newest Early Learning Challenge Grantees Can Meet the Needs of Infants and Toddlers" discusses grantees’ plans to connect families to appropriate ser…
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Tool
Meeting the Challenge: Engaging and Supporting Families
This excerpt from "Meeting the Challenge: How the Newest Early Learning Challenge Grantees Can Meet the Needs of Infants and Toddlers" discusses grantees’ plans to engage and support families.
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Article
Meeting the Challenge: Expansion of Home Visiting
This article, released in June 2014, discusses how the most recent ELC grantees (Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) are targeting infants and toddlers.
Tools
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Tool
This PowerPoint presentation emphasizes the importance of supporting early learning beginning from birth and provides information on how the unique needs of infants and toddlers can be addressed in e…
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Tool
Early Learning Challenge Resource List
This annotated bibliography includes resources from the ZERO TO THREE Policy Center and the former National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative at ZERO TO THREE. The resources are organized by the…
Additional Articles
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How Are Early Learning Challenge Grant Recipients Targeting Infants and Toddlers?
In December 2011, nine states were awarded four-year Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (ELC) grants. Here's how they will improve early learning and development programs.
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The Early Learning Challenge Grant Is Helping States Better Serve Infants and Toddlers
Here's how grant recipients are improving the quality of care infants and toddlers receive while their parents are working, and increasing the likelihood that very young children are screened for hea…