Participants learned more about how providing high-quality early childhood education can support a town’s children, its families and its economy.
Early childhood programs play a key role in community economic development—both because working families seek reliable, quality care in choosing where to live and because research shows that children who have benefited from high-quality early childhood programs become better students, better employees, and more productive citizens.
The conference is held in response to statewide calls to better understand how communities can provide high-quality early childhood education. It offers opportunities for attendees to share success stories and challenges, learn from each other, and develop action plans for implementing high-quality care and education from birth through third grade. Nearly 300 civic, business, and education leaders from 74 Nebraska communities attended the 2018 inaugural conference.
