The Texas Plan

NEW! THE TEXAS PLAN, EDITION 2 IS HERE!

History of The Texas Plan
The Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition (TECEC) and the Texas Program for Society and Health (TPSH) developed a formal partnership in the summer of 2003 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. The preliminary policy recommendations of The Texas Plan: Enhancing Early Childhood Education and Development 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. This broad cross section of individuals met at two statewide policy retreats in September and October 2003, while continuing their work in smaller groups in order to focus on individual policy areas and recommendations. Stakeholders served on a variety of policy work groups covering everything from governance and financing to professionalization and dual cultural affiliations. This collaboratively developed document is based on the previous work of state leaders and groups who have created plans for early childhood in Texas while informing that vision with lessons learned from others engaged in the same pursuit of quality early care and education development. The Texas Plan was unveiled publicly for the first time at a statewide summit in January 2004 at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University.

The Texas Plan, Edition 2 has been completed and is the culmination of the gathering, sorting, considering, and adapting of literally hundreds of comments on the first draft from individuals and organizations across the state of Texas as well as at the national level. A draft version of The Texas Plan, Edition 2 was presented at a series of six community meetings in the fall of 2004 in order to obtain feedback.

Thank you to EVERYONE who contributed to the completion of The Texas Plan, Edition 2. We look forward to our continued work with you and other stakeholders in the future!

The Texas Plan, Editions 1 and 2

Fall 2004 TECEC Community Meeting Tour

Zero to Three Policy Recommendations

Feedback Form
Participate in the development of The Texas Plan so we can develop a common vision and plan for early childhood in Texas. We look forward to hearing from you!