Abstract
Beginning in 2003, under the leadership of the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition (TECEC) and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, with input from hundreds of individuals from early childhood community organizations across the state, The Texas Plan (TTP) was formulated. The Texas Plan, now in its second edition, is a comprehensive document comprised of 50 specific public policy recommendations to establish a statewide program for early childhood development and education (ECDE) for all 3- and 4-year-old children in Texas. Recommendations include those for governance, administration, technical assistance, financing, standards and assessments, and more. TECEC and its 230 member organizations have provided information documents, knowledge summaries, and feedback on drafts for legislative consideration. ECDE is the only substantive issue considered in these four years that has garnered bipartisan support from the legislature. The comprehensive system envisioned by TTP does not yet exist. A beginning has been made. Popular and political traction is building. The Texas Plan is summarized in this chapter.
Keywords
Early Childhood Child Care Head Start School Readiness Early Childhood DevelopmentPreview
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