The New Era of Child Care Policy: What Governors Are Prioritizing—and How Head Start Programs Can Lead the Way with GoEngage
Child care has officially moved from the sidelines to center stage in state policymaking. In its latest report, the National Governors Association (NGA) outlines a powerful shift: 27 Governors—both Republican and Democrat—prioritized early care and education in their 2025 State of the State addresses, up from just over 20 the year before. The message is clear: child care is no longer simply a family issue—it’s a workforce, economic, and infrastructure priority.
This growing emphasis creates significant opportunities for Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which are already delivering high-quality, community-based services with decades of experience in meeting the needs of children and families most impacted by systemic barriers. But to remain essential partners in this new era, Head Start agencies must demonstrate they are ready to operate within increasingly integrated, data-driven, and strategically aligned systems.
That’s where GoEngage comes in.
Understanding the Policy Shift: Governors Take the Lead on Child Care
Governors are responding to real pressure—from families, employers, and economic data—about the consequences of child care shortages. As federal pandemic relief dollars expire, states are trying to avoid backsliding by investing in long-term strategies to stabilize and grow their ECE infrastructure.
The NGA report, based on an October 2024 roundtable with child care leaders from 11 states, outlines several key policy themes and system-building trends:
Mixed-delivery system development
Cross-agency governance reforms
Workforce stabilization and support
Improved access to reliable, real-time data
Creative funding solutions like tri-share models and public-private partnerships
As states build or refine their early childhood systems, they’re calling on stakeholders—including Head Start—to contribute not only services, but strategic coordination, reporting, and leadership.
🏛️ Head Start’s Role in State-Level ECE Reform
Historically, Head Start has operated somewhat independently of state systems due to its federal funding structure and mandates. However, as states move toward unified ECE strategies, programs will be asked to align more closely with state initiatives, data systems, and policy priorities.
That means programs must be prepared to:
Share accurate, timely, and granular data
Collaborate with business leaders, chambers of commerce, and economic development offices
Participate in state-level advisory councils and mixed-delivery pilots
Support compliance with new CCDF requirements and Preschool Development Grant (PDG B-5) initiatives
Help define and document what quality and accessibility look like at the local level
In short: Head Start agencies must be both program operators and systems leaders.
How GoEngage Supports Head Start Agencies in a Systems-Building Landscape
GoEngage is built to support mix delivery options—more than just a child or family data platform, GoEngage is a compliance engine, partnership tracker, and strategic command center for Head Start and Community Action programs navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Here’s how GoEngage aligns with the NGA’s child care policy priorities:
🔗 CROSS-AGENCY COORDINATION & GOVERNANCE
NGA Insight: Many states struggle with fragmented governance across 2–5 agencies.
How GoEngage Helps:
GoEngage consolidates data across multiple funding streams and program types—including Head Start, Pre-K, CCDF, and more—into a unified, customizable platform. This enables agencies to meet federal reporting needs (like PIR) and state-level demands without duplicating work.
You can also document and track your partnerships with:
State Early Childhood Advisory Councils
Head Start Collaboration Offices
Local school districts
Chambers of Commerce
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
Community Action Offices
and more!
📊 DATA TRANSPARENCY & REAL-TIME INSIGHTS
NGA Insight: States struggle to access up-to-date information on child care supply, workforce, and care deserts.
How GoEngage Helps:
GoEngage delivers real-time dashboards and reporting tools to help your agency provide the kind of actionable insights states are requesting. Whether it’s child enrollment by ZIP code, staff turnover rates, or available classroom capacity, GoEngage gives you the ability to contribute meaningfully to statewide data strategy.
🧑🏫 WORKFORCE SUPPORT & MONITORING
NGA Insight: States are looking for solutions to child care workforce retention and training tracking.
How GoEngage Helps:
Track staff credentials, required trainings (e.g., CPR, active supervision, mental health, etc.), and professional development milestones all in one place. GoEngage supports real-time alerts and filters so you can identify training gaps or upcoming expiration dates—and stay fully compliant with both OHS and CCDF requirements.
💼 EMPLOYER-BASED CHILD CARE & TRI-SHARE PARTICIPATION
NGA Insight: States like North Carolina and North Dakota are piloting employer-subsidized child care programs.
How GoEngage Helps:
If your program is invited to participate in a tri-share pilot, GoEngage enables you to track employer partnerships, funding splits, and family eligibility—all within your regular intake and case management flow. This makes you an ideal candidate for pilot programs and grants.
💬 POLICY ENGAGEMENT & PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
NGA Insight: Governors are engaging the private sector in funding and capacity-building conversations.
How GoEngage Helps:
Document your program’s involvement in roundtables, community planning sessions, or innovation labs. Use built-in tracking tools to report outcomes of employer collaborations, local business outreach, or coordinated recruitment efforts.
The Bottom Line: Be Seen, Be Strategic, Be Ready
The NGA’s latest report doesn’t just reflect where child care policy is heading—it reflects the opportunity for Head Start to lead. But seizing that opportunity means showing up with the tools, the data, and the operational agility needed to meet this new moment.
Whether you're strengthening cross-agency collaboration, meeting new compliance expectations, or partnering with employers to expand access, GoEngage ensures you're ready.
Let’s move from compliant to strategic. Let’s make Head Start central to state systems. Let’s GoEngage.
📅 Ready to future-proof your program?
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By
Stacy Lewis: Senior Director of Business Development at Cleverex Systems
Stacy Lewis is the Senior Director of Business Development at Cleverex Systems, the creator of GoEngage. A trusted leader in the Head Start software space since 2001, Stacy brings over 24 years of experience, including key roles at ChildPlus, KinderSystems (COPA and California subsidy products), and Learning Genie, before joining GoEngage.
Throughout her career, Stacy has helped countless agencies optimize operations, enhance family engagement, and achieve compliance with federal and state standards. Her extensive industry knowledge and commitment to innovation continue to drive transformative solutions that empower Head Start programs to better serve children and families.
