Access to affordable child care is in high demand for Louisiana families, yet remains out of reach for most
BATON ROUGE — February marks the start of Early Ed Month 2026, a statewide initiative to highlight the urgent need for increased investment in high-quality early childhood education. This effort aims to inform policymakers, business leaders, parents, and advocates about the critical role early education plays in strengthening Louisiana’s workforce, economy, and future.
The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC), Louisiana Early Childhood Education Business Roundtable, and Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) will co-host this year’s Early Ed Month events, featuring 12 in-person and virtual events across the state that offer opportunities to explore key issues impacting young children and families.
Governor Jeff Landry has again officially proclaimed February as Early Ed Month in Louisiana. Last year’s events drew an attendance of over 450 people, and this year is projected to see even greater engagement.
“Early Ed Month is a powerful reminder that the earliest years of a child’s life shape everything that comes next,” said Dr. Libbie Sonnier, CEO of LPIC. “When we invest in early childhood education, we’re not just supporting families, we’re also strengthening our workforce, our economy, and the future of Louisiana.”
In partnership with the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry, Louisiana Association of United Ways, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, Lafayette Economic Development Authority, Capital Area United Way, Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, Community Foundation of North Louisiana, and United Way of Central Louisiana, LPIC will co-host regional tours of child care centers across the state. Tours will occur in Southeast Louisiana, Southwest Louisiana, Northeast Louisiana, Northwest Louisiana, Central Louisiana, and the Capital area region. These events will bring further awareness to ways families and child care providers are disproportionately impacted by the lack of access to high-quality early childhood education programs across the state.
“LABI believes a strong early childhood system benefits working families and jumpstarts child development,” said Will Green, LABI president and CEO. “For many Louisianans, the lack of access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education is a significant barrier to entering and remaining in the workforce. By expanding options, we empower parents to participate in today’s workforce while supporting a skilled, reliable workforce for Louisiana’s future.”
In addition to child care center tours, Early Ed Month 2026 includes keynote addresses, a parent advocacy training, and a social media day of action. A full list of events is available here.
“Strong early childhood education systems don’t happen in silos. They’re built through collaboration,” said Nyka Scott, Vice President of Customer Service for Entergy Louisiana. “That’s why it’s so energizing to see policymakers, business leaders, and advocates come together to support early learning and create a lasting impact for Louisiana’s children and future.”
Robust investments in high-quality early childhood education strengthen Louisiana’s economy, support working families, and prepare children for lifelong success. Without adequate investment, the state jeopardizes the current and future workforce, limits children’s opportunities, and weakens long-term economic potential. When families have access to reliable and affordable early childhood education programs, parents can work, businesses can grow, and children can thrive. Early childhood education is not just a family concern — it is an economic imperative that shapes how well Louisiana competes and prospers.
“We know that early education is the foundation for lifelong success,” said Michael Williamson, CEO of United Way of Southeast Louisiana. “Our partnership in Early Ed Month underscores our commitment to ensuring every child, no matter their zip code, has access to quality early learning opportunities.”
To start off Early Ed Month 2026, a virtual keynote address featuring Elizabeth Groginsky will occur on Monday, Feb. 2, at 9 AM. Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky will share New Mexico’s journey toward universal child care, highlighting the statewide movement that made it possible, the role of families and providers in shaping the system, and the lessons learned along the way. Her remarks will walk through the policy vision, implementation milestones, and the impact New Mexico is already seeing in family stability, educator wages, and child care access. She will also reflect on what it takes to build a durable early childhood system and why New Mexico’s work is increasingly viewed as the blueprint for the nation as other states look to replicate this progress.
Continuing the conversation online, Early Ed Month advocates will raise awareness and advocate for continued investment in early childhood education with a Social Media Day of Action on Thursday, Feb. 12.To help shed light on the importance of high-quality child care in Louisiana, download the social media toolkit at policyinstitutela.org and use the hashtag #LAEarlyEdMonth.
The virtual Parent Advocacy Training will take place on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6 PM. Co-hosted with the Save the Children Action Network, this training will empower parents to become effective advocates for high-quality early education programs in their communities. Participants will learn about the importance of early learning, strategies to influence local, state, and federal policies, and how to collaborate with educators and policymakers.
The Parent Poll results press conference will take place Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 11 AM, where LPIC will release the results of the 2025 Parent Poll. In partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education and Agenda for Children, LPIC conducted this annual survey of Louisiana parents and guardians with children under age 5. The survey focused on the child care arrangements of surveyed families, including their needs and experiences related to child care.
Additional Early Ed Month events include a Child Care & the Economy Business Breakfast Briefing co-hosted with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). This invitation-only event will take place on Friday, Feb. 27, at 8 AM, and include a keynote address by Brittany Birkin, CED Director and principal adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, as well as virtual and live panel discussions with economic development experts from across the state. Birkin will discuss a benefits cliff, or “cliff effect,” that occurs when a small increase in income causes a family to lose public assistance, leaving them financially worse off despite career advancement. The panel discussions will also highlight the impact of child care breakdowns on businesses and solutions for businesses to recruit and retain employees.
“Quality early childhood education is essential for children to thrive and for families to stay economically stable,” said Sarah Berthelot, president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of United Ways. “ALICE data tells us that even when both parents are working, 34% of Louisiana families cannot afford quality child care. Without action, too many families remain stuck choosing between work and care.”
To register for Early Ed Month events and to learn more about how to get involved with supporting high-quality early childhood education in Louisiana, visit policyinstitutela.org.
Early Ed Month 2026 is sponsored by Entergy. Additional sponsors include Agenda for Children, Baptist Community Ministries (BCM), Clara’s Little Lambs, Clover House, Ellevate Louisiana, ExxonMobil, For Providers by Providers, Gambel Communications, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, Hancock Whitney, Jones Walker, Kidz Karousel, LAFORCE, Leaders for a Better Louisiana, Louisiana Blue, Louisiana Public Health Institute, ResourceFull Consulting, LLC, Saul’s Light, The Bardell Co. Inc, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Urban League of Louisiana, Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana, and YWCA Greater Baton Rouge.
About Louisiana Policy Institute for Children:
Louisiana Policy Institute for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that Louisiana’s young children, from birth to age four, are best prepared for success in school and in life. The Policy Institute develops policy proposals informed by data, research, best practices, and the experiences of other states to improve the outcomes of Louisiana’s youngest citizens, and further provides educational and outreach activities based on recommended policy solutions. The organization works to ensure children are safe, healthy, and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.policyinstitutela.org and follow the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.