August 2026 Monthly Update
From advocating for increased birth-to-3 investments to strengthening our team and elevating providers’ voices, this month reflects LPIC’s continued commitment to building a stronger early childhood system for Louisiana’s youngest children and the families who rely on it.
This August, LPIC joined Propeller, early childhood advocates, providers, and elected officials for a press conference highlighting an urgent gap in Louisiana’s early childhood system. While the state serves 92% of 4-year-olds who need care, only 18% of children ages 3 and younger have access to publicly funded early childhood education. The event highlighted the critical importance of investing in children from birth to age 3 and creating sustainable funding to expand access for infants and toddlers.
We emphasized that expanding birth-to-3 early childhood education is not a critique of the progress Louisiana has made; it is the next step in building a strong, comprehensive early childhood system. With an estimated $95 million in additional investment needed over 10 years to address this gap, Louisiana has an opportunity to build on its success and ensure more of its youngest children have access to the care and education they need to thrive.
Our team also gathered for our annual retreat, creating valuable time to reconnect, recharge, and align on the work ahead. Together, we explored how our organizational structure supports our strategic plan, strengthened our teamwork, and renewed our shared commitment to advancing policies that improve outcomes for Louisiana’s youngest learners.
Finally, we finalized the 2026 Provider Survey results report and will host a press conference to share the results next month. The findings build on our previous research and highlight the challenges early childhood providers continue to face across the state, from workforce retention to rising costs. These insights will help inform our advocacy for stronger, sustained investments in child care, and we are deeply grateful to the providers who shared their voices and experiences.
Thank you for advocating for young children and families in Louisiana.