Home Grown celebrates the Council of Economic Advisers brief, Child Care Is Infrastructure: Evidence from Universal Pre-K. For over 3 years we have invested in research that highlights the importance of including Family Child Care (FCC) in public pre-K systems. Family child care supports millions of underserved families with flexible, culturally responsive care—essential for equity and access. Yet, only 8 out of 75 large cities and 24 states include FCC in public pre-K. That’s why Home Grown is excited to be working with NIEER this fall to support a cohort of public pre-K systems with targeted TA and evidence-based tools to modify their pre-K systems to include FCC.
Home Grown’s Statement on the Council of Economic Advisers Brief: Child Care Is Infrastructure—Evidence from Universal Pre-K
Alexandra R. Patterson is an accomplished early childhood policy and strategy leader who brings deep expertise in navigating the complex policy and programmatic landscape that shapes equitable access to high-quality care. As Deputy Executive Director at Home Grown, she leads cross-sector initiatives that integrate research, systems change, and advocacy, translating data and community insight into actionable policy solutions for home-based child care providers. With a strong foundation in public program administration—most notably overseeing the implementation and policy alignment of Philadelphia’s $30+ million PHLpreK initiative—Alexandra has consistently driven large-scale efforts that balance fiscal accountability, regulatory compliance, and community impact. Her passion for early childhood stems from the strongly held belief that access to quality early learning experiences for all is a social justice issue. Alexandra holds a Master of Science in Education from Bank Street College of Education, a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Delaware, and a Grassroots Advocacy and Lobbying Professional Certificate from the University of Richmond.
Mi nombre es Gladys Jones y soy la directora ejecutiva de ECE on the Move. También soy líder en el cuidado infantil, defensora y una persona que vive con una discapacidad.
My name is Gladys Jones, and I'm the Chief Executive Officer of ECE on the Move. I'm also a child care leader, an advocate, and a person living with a disability.
As we commemorate Juneteenth, the field of early childhood education has an opportunity to reflect on the enduring relationship between Black women’s caregiving labor and the American social economy.