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Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

Last year at this time, early childhood advocates and experts were cautiously optimistic about massive federal relief in the form of the Build Back Better Act, and reflected those high hopes. Although the optimism gave way to disappointment soon thereafter, 2022 nevertheless produced an impressive number of big wins, which the and explored in this year鈥檚 edition. Hunt鈥檚 Dan Wuori once again served as moderator. Here are our takeaways:

1. Policy victories are happening all over. According to the Alliance鈥檚 newly released , 71% of states reported a child care win. 鈥淲orking together is more effective鈥攁nd equitable,鈥� writes Helene Stebbins, the Alliance鈥檚 executive director, in her introduction. 鈥淭he pandemic blurred the lines that divide the 鈥榣anes鈥� we work in, and more diverse state constituencies are working to sustain the trust and cooperation forged in the crisis of the pandemic.鈥�

2. All eyes are on New Mexico. Amendment 1, which devotes a portion of the state鈥檚 to early care and education, passed in New Mexico with 70% of the vote. Mariana Padilla, director of , credited Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, saying, 鈥淪he recognizes what鈥檚 at stake. Prenatal to three is the foundation for learning.鈥� (Nevertheless, as Wuori pointed out, Lujan Grisham won her re-election with just 58%, so a good number of presumably Republican voters embraced the amendment.)

Padilla explained that the measure expands income eligibility to 400% of the federal poverty level. 鈥淣o state provides free care so broadly,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e on the brink of a robust cradle to career system.鈥�

The state鈥檚 , which Governor Lujan Grisham signed into law just before the pandemic, is projected to be worth $4 billion by the end of 2024. grants will raise the floor for entry-level child care workers to $15 per hour. is expanding career pathways in early education across the state.

鈥淭his doesn鈥檛 have to be a uniquely New Mexico story,鈥� said Amber Wallin, executive director of .

3. D.C. is paying early educators. Compensation matters, and since the pandemic, advocacy voices have gotten louder about ensuring child care workers to earn enough so that they don鈥檛 abandon the field. (Explore the on the issue.)

Things got rolling in the Nation鈥檚 Capital with the of 2018, and in February 2022, the D.C. Council passed the , which increases the salaries of early childhood educators, starting with one-time payments of up to $14,000 per worker. The funds are coming from a new tax on earners making more than $250,000 per year. Advocacy from and its played a pivotal role.

鈥淎 lot is to right historic wrongs,鈥� said DC Action鈥檚 Kim Perry, referring to the racial inequities that led to poverty wages in the first place. 鈥淢any educators thought they weren鈥檛 worthy, but the impossible becomes possible when we all work together, and our base is fired up now.鈥�

4. Oregon, Alabama and Hawai’i chalked up wins. Panelists gave context and insight into other significant victories from the year. Lori Coyner of described her state鈥檚 move to provide continuous Medicaid coverage to children from birth through age 5. Bernard Houston of the Alabama Department of Human Services noted that the manufacturing sector provides intense competition for labor in his state, threatening to draw talent away for early education. Using American Rescue Plan funds, the state is providing bonuses of $500 per month to child care workers, resulting in augmented salaries of $36,000.

Nichole Woo of the discussed the state鈥檚 Earned Income Tax Credit, which was extended and made fully in 2022.聽Hawai鈥檌 also raised the minimum wage to $12 per hour. 鈥淔or 20 years,鈥� Woo said, 鈥淣onprofits and advocacy groups were siloed, and then the brought them together to speak with one voice.鈥�

5. 鈥淗ow鈥� matters just as much as 鈥渨hat.鈥� The Alliance surveys in every state, and for Stebbins, the way that policy analysts, organizers and advocates have sustained the drumbeat for change is just as important as what they accomplished, because that鈥檚 how progress is made. New Mexico鈥檚 campaign dates back to 2009, Wallin said, recounting 13 years of op-eds, reports, lobbying, radio and billboards, and extensive get-out-the-vote efforts.

鈥淣one of this happened overnight,鈥� Perry confirmed.

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 91涩漫. Learn more here.