EEC unveils draft 2026–2030 strategic action plan focused on access, quality and infrastructure

The Department of Early Education and Care presented a draft 2026–2030 Strategic Action Plan to the board on Nov. 1, outlining five priorities—family access, program stability, program quality, workforce supports and agency infrastructure—and asking board members for feedback through Nov. 26 ahead of a planned December vote to adopt the plan effective Jan. 1.

The plan, the commissioner said, responds to a statutory mandate and is “a practical representation of the work that we have been underway” while remaining a living document designed to adapt to legislative or administrative direction. Agency staff emphasized the work rests on three foundations: stakeholder engagement, strengthened research and data capacity, and major IT modernization projects, including a new family CCFA portal, an educator portal and a learning management system.

Emily Connor Simons, who led the presentation, said the plan combines current, trackable metrics with aspirational measures that EEC intends to develop during the five-year period. “We’re really thinking about how this data and research is informing the work that we're gonna be doing over the next 5 years,” she told the board, describing a public KPI dashboard and expanded research capacity.

On family access, staff outlined four goals focused on affordability and transparency—streamlining the CCFA application/enrollment process via the family portal, improving the statewide wait-list visibility for families and providers, continuing C3 and CPPI grant work, and improving the child-care search tools. In program stability, presenters highlighted continued capital grant investments, expanded business supports for program leaders and public–private partnership efforts to increase financial resources available to programs.

Program-quality work centers on regulatory updates and technical assistance. Staff said residential licensing revisions are the first of several licensing rule updates intended to improve health, safety and educational outcomes in licensed settings. Workforce strategies include a new educator credentialing system with multiple pathways and expanded apprenticeship and professional development supports.

Board members tested assumptions in the plan—asking for a clear baseline measure of children served across the mixed-delivery system, suggestions for a system “north star” (an aspirational target for families served by 2030), and how IT modernization will bring the field along without leaving providers or families behind. Staff said the portal and data upgrades will produce the improved, trusted figures the board wants before adopting long-term quantitative targets.

The agency asked the board to send feedback by Nov. 26 and signaled a formal adoption vote in December so the plan can guide work beginning Jan. 1.