About Us

The Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition (TECEC) was created out of interest from a set of meetings hosted by the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health in the spring and summer of 2002. Participants from 23 organizations were in attendance and identified their overarching goal as working to ensure access to quality early childhood education for all children in Texas.

At the same time, Children’s Defense Fund, along with 27 groups organized a statewide conference called “Child Care: Because We All Do!” on October 23, 2002 in order to capture the local needs and priorities for quality early childhood education programs in Texas and to further investigate potential support for a statewide Coalition.

In January 2003, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health awarded a grant to Children's Defense Fund Texas to house TECEC in order to develop a statewide Coalition with a mission of building a system of quality early care and education that prepares children in Texas for success in their education and life.

In the summer of 2003, TECEC developed a formal partnership with the Texas Program for Society and Health in order to create a long-term public policy agenda to improve early childhood education and development in Texas to ensure that every child entering kindergarten is well prepared for school. Preliminary policy recommendations for The Texas Plan were developed over a six-month period through the work of many early childhood, education, and health professionals; elected officials; and community and business leaders throughout the state and were unveiled at a statewide summit at Rice University in January 2004.  Edition 2 of The Texas Plan will be ready for distribution in early 2005.

During the 78th Legislative Session, TECEC played a critical role in the passage and implementation of Senate Bill 76 , which represents a significant first step towards integration of Pre-Kindergarten, Head Start, and Child Care through community partnerships in the state of Texas. Currently, the Coalition is represented on committees to guide implementation.

Since the inception of TECEC more than 130 organizations across the state have signed on as members and over 1,500 individuals receive the TECEC E-Newsletter . During 2004, TECEC partnered with Texans Care For Children to conduct five advocacy trainings to raise awareness about the needs of children in Texas, opportunities for change, and necessary tools for effective advocacy.  TECEC also facilitated six community meetings in order to obtain feedback on Edition 2 of The Texas Plan and collaboratively identify initial implementation steps. In 2004 TECEC staff conducted more than 40 presentations in 13 communities throughout the state.

In 2005, TECEC will focus on the 79th Legislative Session , fundraising, and working with early childhood advocates across the state on behalf of children and families in Texas. We look forward to working with all of you!