Idaho AEYC proudly hosted Early Learning Day at the Idaho State Capitol on February 3, 2026. The event brought together 24 early childhood organizations from across the state to meet directly with policymakers and show them the real work happening in Idaho’s early learning communities.
The day focused on ensuring lawmakers heard firsthand how access to high-quality childcare directly impacts Idaho’s workforce and economy by elevating voices closest to families and young children.
Advocates from organizations such as the Idaho Commission for Libraries, Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, and Idaho Community Foundation met with policy makers to share success stories while addressing the real challenges families face when early learning options are limited.
“Idaho’s workforce is impacted directly if families don’t have access to early care and education,” said Nicole Criner, Executive Director of Idaho AEYC.
“We want to make sure that our early care providers have the tools and resources they need to support Idaho’s children, and we also want to make sure families have the resources they need — whether they choose to homeschool or want their child in the classroom.”
The participating organizations scheduled more than 20 meetings with Idaho lawmakers. These discussions focused on how early learning programs support working families and ensure children enter school ready to succeed, which in return strengthens local economies.
Early learning leaders shared real stories regarding childcare shortages and rising costs, proving the life-long challenges communities face when early education is out of reach.
A central point of Early Learning Day was highlighting the work already happening through Idaho AEYC’s Early Learning Collaboratives (ELC), which represent 24 communities across the state.
ELC leaders shared insight into the impactful work happening in their communities. Whether parents choose child care, preschool, or learning at home, advocates emphasized the need for accessible tools that support a child’s development in every setting.
“The reality is, if you’re a two-parent household, it’s most likely that both parents are working. Supporting families means making sure that if they want to work, they’re able to — and that they feel good about having access to high-quality learning centers in their communities,” said Trace McKellips, Program Manager for the West Central Mountains ELC.
Through Idaho AEYC’s collaboratives, Idaho communities are opening new child care seats, distributing early learning resources, and offering parent engagement workshops. Our goal is to increase access in areas where early education options are limited or completely unavailable.
Early Learning Day was both a celebration of progress, and a reminder that Idaho's youngest learners are our future leaders, and early education provides the infrastructure needed to build their success at home, in school, and in our communities. By bringing educators and policymakers together, Idaho AEYC continues to strengthen the partnerships that inform statewide decisions. Early Learning Day’s message was spread further through coverage from Idaho News 6 and Public News Service, reaching an estimated audience of over 16,000 listeners.
When policymakers see the impact of early learning in action, it reinforces that early childhood education is not just a family issue, but an essential infrastructure for Idaho’s economy.
View our video recap here: https://youtu.be/2TtnUq8kSkY?si=JouWkuZ_GiuC_9Dt
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