Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five - Ohio has targeted using its PDG B-5 funds on activities that impact all Ohio children between birth and kindergarten entry or through age five. Specifically, we have chosen activities that will help the state accelerate its movement toward a shared statewide vision for early care and education (ECE), a unified, coherent statewide early care and education system, and maximum family choice for ECE options. More specifically, during calendar year 2026, Ohio will (1) Review and update existing needs assessments and strategic plans within the ECE system to inform and develop a shared, comprehensive statewide vision and actionable map for early care and education; (2) Launch and advance eleven outcome strategies that will support program priorities; and (3) Track project impact and share information across the ECE system, including with parents and the public citizens of Ohio. To track the impact of this project, Ohio will create an ECE research and impact hub to maximize existing data collection efforts; standardize and streamline research and evidence on ECE so that research endeavors yield timely information to inform policies, procedures, and investments; and drive process and program improvements that sustain the work initiated through this opportunity for years to come.
