About.
Why the Early
Ed Canary?
A canary is a symbol of light, foreshadowing and promise. As a songbird, canaries also represent the power of voice, and are often associated with illuminating risks and paths towards progress and promising change.
Similar to the canary songbird, The Early Ed Canary brings voice to new ideas emerging from within the early education and care field, shines light on important developments and potential risks to the sector, and sings the praises of promising policies and practices.
About The Institute to Advance Child Care
The Early Ed Canary is powered by the Institute to Advance Child Care (IACC), a dedicated innovation arm of Child Care Associates charged with jump-starting bold solutions to advance the early education and care system in North Texas. Through the on-the-ground work of the IACC, we are moving beyond simply imagining a new sector to creating the actual blueprints needed for transformative change.
Canary Contributors
Catherine Davis
Director of Policy, Child Care Associates
Kara Waddell
CEO & President, Child Care Associates
Shawneequa Blount
Managing Director of CC Innovation, Institute to Advance Child Care
Mark Mangrum
TC Strategy Manager, Child Care Associates
Amity Halstead
Director, PreK Today
Stephania Whitehurst
Director of Child Care Quality, Child Care Management Services
Angela Lampkin
Executive Director, Head Start Child Care Associates
Karin Scott
Director of Data and Program Performance at Child Care Associates
Partners
More About Child Care Associates
The Institute to Advance Child Care is housed at Child Care Associates, the largest non-profit organization in North Texas that is committed to strategically investing in the future of young children, families, and communities through access to early care and education.
As an organization of scale, Child Care Associates directly operates several key programs and functions essential to the 0-5 early learning system in North Texas. CCA is uniquely positioned to bring forward on-the-ground perspectives critical to surfacing inequities and uncovering potential policy solutions, and has a demonstrated track record bringing forward new, innovative concepts and public policies aimed at improving the entire 0-5 system.
@EarlyEdCanary
Our Twitter Feed
The TX child care shortage is affecting families, educational outcomes, & the wider economy. #TXLege can relieve this burden by funding scholarships & replicating innovative local programs statewide.
Featured: Kara Waddell, @ChildCareAssoc | David Feigen, @putkids1st
Heading into the #txlege session, the Capitol’s interest in solving TX child care challenges feels stronger than ever. We applaud policymakers who have recognized PK Partnerships need to change & that #childcare is unequivocally part of workforce development.
📢 DFW Child Care Providers! Participate in the DFW Child Care Workforce Study to shape the future of early education.
✅ Data on educators, credentials, pay, & more will guide planning for a thriving workforce.
⏳ Deadline: Jan 6, 2025! Don’t miss out—complete the survey today!
The TX Senate made recs for improving #childcare, citing the need for solutions to make Pre-K Partnerships work better. Regional Early Learning Hubs have filled this gap in Fort Worth & Austin States like FL, MS, NC have already implemented them. #txlege