Learn & Grow launched in Alaska in July 2016 with its first phase: Levels 1 and 2 available for licensed child care programs. Participation by licensed child care programs grew rapidly, and within the first two years 33% of eligible programs statewide had enrolled. By comparison, many states experience an average 10% rate of growth in participating programs.
Implementation Timeline
FY14-16 Learn & Grow Planning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Determine levels and structure
- Assess system capacity to implement
- Identify standards and quality activities
- Communication and marketing
FY17-18 Implement Phase I of Learn & Grow
- Voluntarily available to Licensed Child Care Statewide
- Level 1 and 2 of a 5 leveled system
- Support the systems change of thread to be the implementation arm of Learn & Grow
- Make changes as necessary
FY19 Planning for Phase II
- Partner with CCPO, DEED, tribal, and school age to develop quality standards and activities for Level 3, 4, and 5
- Determine needs of system to be ready to enroll and support programs and early childhood educators
- Exploring wage compensation methods
FY20 Implement Phase II of Learn & Grow
- Make Learn & Grow available to all early care and education program types (Head Start, Early Head Start, Pre-elementary, Military Child Care, Tribal Child Care, State or MOA licensed child care, and licensed school-age care)
- Includes all 5 levels of the system
- First come first serve basis