It is ECCLA’s vision that Colorado has a comprehensive early childhood system that promotes thriving young children, families, and communities and we are excited by the formation of the new Department of Early Childhood. We look forward to working in partnership with our 34-member Early …

ECCLA is a proud recipient of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), supporting the Back to Work Early Childhood Education Scholarship Program! Our efforts will focus on recruiting displaced workers into the early care and education field in Colorado.  Early childhood professionals are the workforce …

ECCLA is delighted to share our new strategic plan. Adopted in May 2021, this ambitious plan was developed collaboratively with input from members, partners, and policymakers with the goal to create a plan that pushes our maturing organization into deeper advocacy and systems change. The …

The Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Initiative (FCCHI) administered by the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) offers grants to licensed home-based child care providers in Colorado. This funding opportunity is intended to help family child care homes start-up, expand, or maintain consistent operations, …

The ECCLA Board of Directors and staff have begun a 5-month strategic planning process to update and affirm ECCLA’s mission, vision, and role. The organization’s scope and reach have expanded requiring a deep dive. With key partners, ECCLA will explore the future of the organization. …

On behalf of the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children, Healthy Child Care Colorado, Mile High United Way, and The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, we are pleased to announce a total of nearly $500,000 was awarded 125 family child care homes …

I am excited to introduce Maegan Lokteff, PhD as the next Executive Director of ECCLA!  Many know Maegan from her work the past 6 years as the Executive Director of Grand Beginnings which covers both Grand and Jackson counties. She has worked her way from …

Boots on the Ground: Advancing the Shared Vision for Colorado’s Children is a new report that brings the systems building work of Early Childhood Councils to life. The history, work, and impact of Colorado’s Early Childhood Councils are not well understood by most people and …

HB20-1427: Cigarette Tobacco And Nicotine Products Tax, passed the Colorado General Assembly as a referred measure to the 2020 November Election Ballot. ECCLA has endorsed the Proposition EE campaign which is a historic opportunity to expand early childhood education in Colorado.  Over the first 2 …

On behalf of the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) Board of Directors, we are excited to announce Heather Hanna will be stepping in as Interim Director, beginning August 6, 2020, following the resignation of Amy Payton, Executive Director.  We are saddened than Amy is …

To address the declining number of licensed slots within family child care homes and to improve quality within home-based learning environments, the Buell Foundation granted funds to the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) to provide facility improvement funding to family child care homes. This opportunity is intended to …

Hello friends of ECCLA, As I look back over the last few months it is amazing how much our world has changed since I last wrote to you in late February. The last several months have been challenging for us all in many ways. Since …