June 26, 2025
This May, the Stanford Center on Early Childhood, The Hunt Institute, and the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation co-hosted the 2025 Early Childhood Policy Academy (ECPA), an in-person convening where policymakers and senior-level staff can hear from experts in the early childhood field and discuss strategies to move the needle for early learning and care policy.
Early Edge California’s Executive Director, Patricia Lozano, was invited to moderate a panel titled, Funding the Early Childhood System, on May 13th at the 2025 ECPA about sustainable funding models, public-private partnerships, and the role of government investments in creating equitable access to high-quality early learning. Panelists included Olivia Allen, Vice President of Strategy and Advocacy for the Children’s Funding Project, and Dr. Caitlin McLean, Director of Multi-State and International Programs for the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment. The panel discussion focused on the challenges of balancing costs with quality, ensuring affordability for families, and building systems that support the long-term development of children.