Early Childhood Education

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation publishes content on early childhood education and related issues. Find and access current and archived items in our database. 

2019 Building Bridges Report

This report brings together data, research, and lessons learned to guide the development of successful and lasting partnerships between the business and early childhood education communities. In surveys, focus groups, and interviews, we asked business leaders and early education advocates about what compels them to action. Our recommendations are grounded in that qualitative and quantitative research.

How They Built This: Early Ed Edition Webinar

Build Up SMC has partners countywide that are dedicated to solving childcare facility challenges. The Bend Chamber has hired a full time staff to focus on childcare needs in central Oregon. They're here to answer your questions on how they did it and where they're going.
Workforce Challenges Solved with Early Reading as a Priority
© 2019 Getty Images
The 2019 Nation’s Report Card, released last week, showed alarming drops in reading and disappointingly middling results in math. This has huge implications for our nation’s future workforce and heartbreaking consequences for families across the country who are trusting our public education system for the most basic of learning goals. 

Twitter Chat: Early Education Messaging

Join us at #LetsChatECE to discuss the most effective language for building successful partnerships that last, some terminology tips, data to support the most common and compelling cases for why businesses should engage in early childhood education conversations, and some case studies that provide real-world examples of partnerships gone right.
Finding a Childcare Provider, Child Care Aware of America
© 2019 Getty Images
Finding the right childcare provider for your family is a personal choice, and not one that can be outsourced very easily. Child Care Aware® of America Executive Director Lynette Fraga, PhD, spoke with Scott MacFarlane of NBC Washington about some specific questions parents can ask, ways to assess your unique family needs, and how to understand and develop an ongoing relationship with your childcare provider.
ECE is a Broken System
© 2019 Getty Images
In this country, the early childhood education system is in market failure. In recent years we have seen the greatest federal funding increases for early childhood education in history, and yet those significant investments just barely make a dent to tackle the need. In 2018, NASEM studied “how to fund early care and education for children…that is accessible, affordable to families, and of high quality, including a well-qualified and adequately supported workforce.” The report concluded that a financial windfall of around $54 billion would be required. 
Mounting Costs of Childcare in Washington State
To better understand the impact of childcare issues for working parents and the Washington state economy, the Washington State Child Care Collaborative Task Force and partners commissioned a 2019 survey of Washington parents by Elway Research and an economic impact analysis by Eastern Washington University’s Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis.
Mounting Costs of Childcare in Washington State
© Association of Washington Business (AWB)
The lack of access to affordable, high-quality childcare isn’t just a problem for families. A new report found that it’s costing Washington businesses more than $2 billion per year in employee turnover or missed work, and the total cost to the state economy tops more than $6.5 billion per year.

Early Childhood Education Oregon Roadshow

The U.S. Chamber Foundation Center for Education and Workforce senior manager of policy and programs Julia Barfield will keynote a roadshow of events with Oregon chambers of commerce highlighting the positive economic impacts of investment in early childhood education, as well as the unique challenges facing the business community in Oregon. This roadshow will preview U.S. Chamber Foundation reports scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2020 that will outline the economic impacts of childcare breakdowns on families, communities, and businesses for Oregon and three other U.S. states.

Pages