Opening Plenary

Leadership from the Office of Child Care, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Office of Early Learning, U.S. Department of Education, and the PDG B-5 TA Center welcomed attendees and provided context for the Annual Meeting. The three guest speakers then participated in a facilitated conversation about the most pressing policy issues, quality and equity gaps in the early childhood (EC) system and what it would take to close those gaps, the data people use to set priorities, and advice for policymakers about what would make the biggest difference for children in poverty.