Early Childhood Advisory Councils

Congress passed the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act in 2007, which required every governor to designate a state advisory council on early childhood education and care for children from birth to school entry. The law requires councils to evaluate the availability and quality of early childhood services, identify any obstacles to collaboration between state and federal programs, and determine whether the current state higher education system can prepare and support early childhood teachers. Councils are required to develop recommendations for increasing participation in existing programs, creating a statewide early childhood data system, and improving professional development and career advancement programs for early childhood educators.