Mississippi Early Learning Collaborative Act

Expansion

Public Pre-K

Signed into law in 2023, HB 817 will raise the funding rate for early learning collaboratives (ELCs) to $2,500 per child for full-day programs and $1,250 per child for half-day programs. Previous rates were $2,150 for full-day programs and $1,250 for half-day programs.

Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaborative Act established state pre-K programs known as “Early Learning Collaboratives” or ELCs. Collaboratives are overseen by the Mississippi Department of Education, even though individual providers may have other oversight agencies.

Learn More: Mississippi First

Sources: House Bill 817 (2023). Mississippi Legislature 2023 Regular Session

Connections to Key Early Learning Study at Harvard (ELS@H) Findings:

High-quality, affordable early education and care supports children’s healthy development and allows families to work, engage in their own educational pursuits, and/or participate in other aspects of community life. To support children and families in these instrumental ways, research suggests there is a need to expand the availability of early education opportunities across the mixed-delivery system.

Findings from the Early Learning Study at Harvard (ELS@H) show:

Families rely on a range of formal (e.g., Head Start, center-based care, public pre-K) and more informal (e.g., home-based, relative care) early education settings; when choosing a setting for their child, families balance many logistical constraints and personal preferences.
But for many families – and especially low- and middle-income families – early education choices remain tightly constrained due to issues of affordability and supply.

Learn more about ELS@H Findings