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Race to the Top–Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) discretionary grant program supports states in building statewide systems that raise the quality of Early Learning and Development Programs and increase access to high-quality programs for children with high needs, so that all children enter kindergarten ready to succeed.
This document summarizes the 1st year of work that grantees completed across the various RTT-ELC reform areas. This summary is by no means an exhaustive collection of the early childhood infrastructure and systems-building work being done in a particular State, but it is a compilation of the work highlighted and documented by grantees as being supported by RTT-ELC funds and as meeting the stated RTT-ELC goals.
President Obama’s commitment to early childhood education is not new. It began with support to build an infrastructure for early childhood systems with support for State Advisory Councils and the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTTT ELC). These were bold actions, ones clearly designed to improve early learning and development systems. These systems across the states raise the quality of early learning and development programs so that all children receive the support they need to enter kindergarten ready to succeed.