Strengthening Quality Early Learning Environments in Harris County: ELQN’s Progress and Next Steps

May 9, 2025

Written by CHILDREN AT RISK team members Briauna Derry, Director of Media Activism; Martha Gonzales, Associate Director of ELQN; Erika Alcala, Project Coordinator

Launched in October 2023, Harris County’s Early Learning Quality Network (ELQN) has made remarkable strides in expanding access to high-quality early learning in some of the county’s most under-resourced communities. By working alongside local providers, families, and community stakeholders, ELQN has focused on leveraging the unique strengths of each focal area. This pilot initiative is on track to impact more than 2,500 children across Harris County by 2026. As the network transitions into its next phase, it is reflecting on the growth, achievements, and lessons learned from the past 18 months.

Phase One: Community Engagement

Over the past year and a half, ELQN partners have hosted a series of community events aimed at building trust and gathering local insight. These outreach efforts engaged 999 families with children aged 0–8, 482 early learning providers, and 417 early childhood stakeholders.

Local Network Organizations (LNOs), the core implementing partners in each community, played a central role in leading this outreach. Each LNO formed an Advisory Committee made up of parents, providers, and community members. Following a formal application process, 40 experienced individuals were selected to serve on these committees. Their responsibilities included reviewing community feedback, identifying local priorities, and guiding the allocation of funds to improve early care and education within their neighborhoods.

Working closely with their Advisory Committees, the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity (DEEO), and CHILDREN AT RISK, each LNO developed a Child Care Quality Action Plan (CCQAP) tailored to the distinct needs of its community. These plans outlined targeted, high-impact strategies based on stakeholder input. As a result, five CCQAPs were finalized and approved by Harris County, featuring seven unique initiatives. These strategies will be implemented beginning May 2025, spanning 29 zip codes and deepening the county’s commitment to advancing early learning quality.

Provider and Community Support Highlights

Throughout the past year and a half, C@R and Harris County DEEO teams provided tangible supports to early learning providers and their communities in the form of Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing.

With regular meetings and touch points, these organizations hosted peer learning opportunities like Communities of Practice, as well as technical assistance and training sessions for both LNOs and child care providers.

These supports have built capacity, elevated program quality, and created the groundwork for sustained improvement across the early learning landscape.

Looking ahead: Implementation and beyond

The work of the past 18 months has laid a strong foundation for Harris County’s Early Learning Quality Network (ELQN) to launch targeted quality improvement efforts that will create lasting impact across five diverse communities. As we move into the next phase of Implementation, which will continue through August 2026, network members are energized by the opportunities ahead. 

This next phase will focus on several key areas: enhancing supports for both child care providers and families, strengthening the early learning workforce, and fostering collaboration across the network to share learnings and best practices. Additionally, there will be a strong emphasis on collecting data and evaluating the impact of these efforts to ensure progress and accountability. 

Throughout the next half of this project, ELQN strives to improve the quality of child care environments for children, expand families’ access to quality care that aligns with their needs and preferences, and strengthen the broader community infrastructure that supports early childhood education. ELQN members are focused on activities to sustain and deepen community engagement, drive policy and systems change, and explore opportunities to expand and scale successful strategies for long-term success. 

Large audience in a community hall, with diverse attendees including families with children, focused on a presentation or public meeting. Some individuals are taking notes, and others are engaged in discussions, reflecting active community participation.

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