Quality early care and learning creates a two-generational impact on children and families.
The Issue Explained
In Indiana, there are over 500,000 children age 0-5, and two-thirds of them need early care and learning so that parents can work. Yet, many children and families cannot access the high-quality early care and learning they need as a result of systemic barriers related to access, affordability and quality.
Research continues to show that a child’s experiences from birth to age 5 have a profound effect on their success later in life, from social and emotional intelligence to health to employment. In fact, 85% of a child’s capacity to learn is developed by the age of five, providing either a strong or weak foundation for their early executive functioning and core social-emotional, self-regulatory and literacy skills.
…of Indiana’s child care programs rank as high quality.
… is the annual cost of care for one child, nearly equal to a year of in-state tuition at an Indiana college.
… out of 10 Hoosier children live in a child care desert where there is only one seat for every three children.
Our Solutions
Early Learning Indiana addresses many fundamental issues in early childhood education by operating a network of early lab schools, introducing new solutions for providers and educators and partnering with employers to remove this workforce barrier.

Families
Find high-quality early care and learning for your children.

Providers & Educators
Access tools and resources to support your program and grow your practice.

Employers
Help your employees access care and partner with us to find solutions.
National Organizations, Partners & Leadership
Early Learning Indiana is addressing the fundamental issues in early childhood education, introducing new solutions for providers and educators and operating a network of early learning lab schools.

Fairbanks
Indianapolis is a great city with even greater potential. Working with grantees and other key partners, Fairbanks focuses on tackling some of the city’s biggest challenges, with an aim toward fostering system-wide changes that positively impact the people of Indianapolis.

The State of Indiana
The vision of the Family and Social Services Administration and the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning is that every Indiana community will have a strong network of Early Care and Education and Out-of-School Time programs that support the child, the family and local schools.

Lilly Endowment Inc.
In community development, education and religion – the three causes the Endowment was established to support – we seek to identify experienced organizations and emerging efforts that have the potential to address effectively important challenges and needs.
Make a Difference.
All Hoosier children deserve to grow and learn in safe, nurturing and stimulating environments. You can help build their future through gifts of your time, talent and treasure.