Event Overview
Across the country, state approaches to organizing the administration of programs and services for young children and their families vary widely. Although no clear consensus exists on the optimal governance structure, states’ organizational choices can affect parents’ awareness of, access to, and experience with vital services for their families. Governance choices may also impact the overall effectiveness and efficiency of early childhood programs and services.
To support states in exploring these issues, the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University invites state teams to apply to participate in the State Policy Academy: Early Childhood Governance in Nashville, TN.
Travel, lodging, and meals for selected participants will be covered by the Policy Impact Center.
Attendance at the State Policy Academy is limited. Priority enrollment is given to teams that include policy makers and represent multidisciplinary backgrounds to foster high-level, cross-sector dialogue.
What to Expect
Participants will engage with national and state experts, learn about emerging approaches to early childhood governance, and collaborate with their state teams to identify opportunities to strengthen governance in their state. To learn more about eligibility, team composition, and requirements, click here.
Schedule Overview
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Key Dates
Application Opens: March 16, 2026
Application Deadline: April 15, 2026
Acceptance Notification: April 29, 2026
Policy Academy: July 15-17, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply as an individual?
No. We are only accepting applications submitted by state teams.
What if there is more than one team application from a state?
If multiple applications are submitted from the same state and that state is selected to attend the event, team captains will be asked to collaborate to form a single, unified team.
Who should submit our state’s application?
Each application should be submitted by one individual who will serve as the “team captain.” This person is the primary point of contact for their state team and will coordinate communication for the group before and during the State Policy Academy.
While we encourage teams to include members with diverse roles and perspectives, it is up to each team to decide who will serve in these roles.
Can we have more than 6 team members?
Teams are limited to six members to ensure a high-quality, interactive experience for all attendees and to manage space constraints.
If your team includes additional members, please feel free to list them in the application. Once teams are selected and we have a clearer sense of overall capacity, we will revisit whether we can accommodate additional participants and follow up accordingly.
How do I know if my state should apply?
This event is designed to be most valuable for states in the early stages of exploring governance changes, particularly those still clarifying their policy goals and considering what structures will best support them. For teams that are asking foundational questions and weighing different approaches, the content and discussions will be especially relevant.
We encourage states to review their current governance structure in advance to ground their thinking and identify key questions. States that have already completed major restructuring may find the event less applicable to their current needs.
Need help?
Please direct all inquiries, including questions on the application process or policy academies, to the PN-3 team at pn3events@vanderbilt.edu.
