Early Childhood Champions Gather at Kentucky Capitol for Strong Start Day

March 10, 2026
Contact: Lisa McKinney, Communications Director, The Prichard Committee
(cell) 859-475-7202
lisa@prichardcommittee.org

The Strong Start Coalition Heard from State Legislators about Emerging Early Care and Education Policy

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Early care and education champions from across the Commonwealth gathered at the Kentucky Capitol today for Strong Start Day, an event focused on advancing policies that support young children, families and the early childhood workforce.

Members of the Strong Start Coalition convened in Frankfort to hear updates from state leaders on proposed legislation impacting early care and education, including remarks from Rep. Samara Heavrin, Sen. Danny Carroll and Rep. James Tipton on the bills they are sponsoring this legislative session.

Throughout the day, coalition members also met with legislators to discuss the importance of strengthening early learning systems across Kentucky and ensuring that young children have access to high-quality care and education.

“Events like Strong Start Day bring together families, providers and policymakers who are working to ensure every Kentucky child has the opportunity to thrive from the very beginning,” said Rina Gratz, Director of Early Childhood and Primary Education Policy and Practice at the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence. “By working collaboratively across sectors and communities, we can build stronger early learning systems that support children, families and the educators who make this work possible.”

The Strong Start Kentucky coalition unites early childhood advocates around shared goals to strengthen early care and education for Kentucky children from birth through third grade. The Prichard Committee serves as the coalition’s convener, bringing members together and helping establish policy priorities.

“Alongside partners like the Chamber of Commerce and the Prichard Committee, we meet regularly to figure out how to do better for children in the Commonwealth,” said Kevin Middleton, president of United Way of Kentucky. “But we cannot do it alone. I encourage everyone to take note of what is happening today and build a groundswell of support in your own communities. Child care is in crisis, and providers are the workforce behind the workforce crucial for economic development in Kentucky.”

Strong Start’s priorities include:

• Strengthening systems that improve early learning environments, including investments in the early childhood workforce and infrastructure
• Encouraging partnerships among school districts, child care providers and community partners to build high-quality, full-day preschool opportunities
• Supporting voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs for families with infants and toddlers

During the event, participants heard updates on several pieces of legislation related to early childhood and education, including:

House Bill 6, which proposes modernization of Kentucky’s KY All STARS quality rating system, creation of a statewide child care data infrastructure, greater transparency around state child care spending and services, establishment of a Certified Child Care Community Grant Program, privatization of the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership Program (ECCAP) through a third-party administrator, and support for child care micro-centers.

House Joint Resolution 50, which would commission a study to develop recommendations for modernizing Kentucky’s child care regulations.

House Bill 389, which would strengthen statewide supports for students with dyslexia and dysgraphia by requiring updated guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education, ensuring access to diagnosis and evidence-based interventions, and integrating dyslexia training into teacher preparation and multi-tiered systems of support for students.

Senate Bill 191, which would establish a pilot Kindergarten Readiness Performance-Based Child Care Incentive Program, administered by the University of Kentucky, providing one-time $2,000 cash awards or refundable tax credits when children demonstrate kindergarten readiness.

Senate Bill 160, which would provide the Cabinet for Health and Family Services with the latitude to consider several factors in determining whether a corrective action, suspension or revocation of a child care license is warranted, and ensure that new child care centers have the support they need to be successful.

For more information about Strong Start Kentucky, visit here.

The Prichard Committee believes in the power and promise of public education –early childhood through college– to ensure Kentuckians’ economic and social well-being. We are a citizen-led, non-partisan, solutions-focused nonprofit, established in 1983 with a singular mission of realizing a path to a larger life for Kentuckians with education at the core.