More than $1B directed to early care and education over the last decade
BATON ROUGE — This month, the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC) is celebrating 10 years of service and reflects on the critical research, data, and legislative changes that have raised awareness, access, and historic funding for Louisiana’s young children and their families.
Over the last decade, LPIC has helped direct more than $1 billion in funding for early care and education in Louisiana, including the state’s largest early learning investments in a decade and a 20-year millage in New Orleans that created one of the nation’s largest dedicated funds for infant and toddler care.
“We are honored to celebrate a decade of advocating for our state’s youngest learners,” said Libbie Sonnier, Ph. D., chief executive officer of LPIC. “Our work over the last 10 years has led to improved access and outcomes for children in Louisiana, particularly those from underserved communities. We are committed to continuing our efforts to close educational gaps and ensure all children are prepared for success in school and life.”
Founded in 2014 by Melanie Bronfin, J.D., LPIC is a nonprofit organization that serves as an independent source of data and research on early care and education for young children, birth to age 4, in Louisiana.
Under the direction of Sonnier, LPIC has tripled its research outputs and staff while quadrupling annual revenues and consistently securing annual seven-figure grants. In 2021, LPIC launched Geaux Far Louisiana, a coalition-driven strategic initiative designed to better meet the diverse needs of young children and their families through partnerships with early childhood providers, advocates, and parents. This initiative reflects LPIC’s commitment to using innovative, data-driven approaches to create policy solutions that foster long-term positive outcomes for young children.
To learn more about LPIC’s efforts and ways to support the long-term success of Louisiana’s children and their families, visit PolicyInstituteLA.org.
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.
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