Building the foundation for a resilient, equitable, and high-quality early learning system across regions in the Bay Area.
Program Details
The Catalyst Initiative: High Road to Early Childhood Education Consortium, led by the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE), is creating a multi-county partnership to expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early childhood education.
By collaborating with counties, labor, education, and community organizations, the initiative aims to:
- Break down silos and support cross-sector collaboration
- Strengthen job quality and career pathways for the early childhood workforce
- Expand subsidized childcare, including during non-traditional hours
- Make climate resilience and equity part of childcare services
The Catalyst Initiative is a
one-year planning grant focused on preparing the foundation for a
five-year implementation plan starting in 2026.
Our planning work includes:
- Establishing a multi-county
Steering Committee and
Advisory Committee
- Conducting a
landscape analysis of childcare and early childhood education networks, advocacy efforts, and workforce supports
- Developing a
funding resource matrix to coordinate public and private investments
- Designing strategies that prioritize job quality, workforce mobility, and climate resilience
Partners
- Santa Clara County Office of Education (lead organization)
- 4Cs of San Mateo County
- Alameda County Office of Education
- First 5 Contra Costa County
Steering and Advisory Committees
The
Steering Committee and
Advisory Committee comprise the
collaborative leadership of the Catalyst Initiative. Together, they support regional coordination, shared learning, and inclusive planning so the framework reflects the needs of families, childcare providers, and communities across four regions.
The
Steering Committee provides direction and guidance during this planning phase. Its role is to help shape the vision, priorities, and structure for a future five-year plan. The committee helps align planning with the goals of California Jobs First and local priorities in childcare, workforce development, and community resilience.
The committee has about
twenty-one members from a balanced mix of sectors: government agencies; childcare and early learning organizations; climate and environmental experts; healthcare and public health professionals; nonprofit and advocacy leaders; and business and philanthropy partners. This mix brings many viewpoints needed to build a strong and fair early childhood system.
During the planning year, the Steering Committee will help identify strategies, review early findings from the landscape analysis and funding matrix, and share input on new opportunities and partnerships to inform the long-term plan.
The
Advisory Committee is the broader regional voice for the initiative. It provides input on research and recommendations, helps ensure community and provider views are reflected, and supports communication and coordination among partner counties. The Advisory Committee helps maintain a collaborative, transparent, and fair approach throughout the planning period (January 2025–September 2026).
Family, Friend, and Neighbor Providers and Family Child Care Homes Workgroups
As part of the Catalyst Initiative, the Santa Clara County Office of Education and partners are
forming two workgroups focused on Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers and
Family Child Care Home providers. These workgroups are practice-focused and inform the Steering and Advisory Committees, ensuring that day-to-day provider experience guides planning.
Family, Friend, and Neighbor Workgroup
-
Focus: Improve quality, access, and career pathways for informal or license-exempt caregivers.
- Goals: Identify needs for professional development, coaching, and language support; explore paths to licensing or certification; and include climate-ready and health and safety practices in everyday care.
Family Child Care Home Workgroup
-
Focus: Improve quality, business stability, and professional growth for licensed in-home childcare providers.
-
Goals: Build partnerships for shared business services and training; support climate-ready and sustainable facility practices; and expand education paths that help providers earn associate and bachelor’s degrees or teaching credentials.
Both workgroups will share their findings and recommendations with the Steering Committee and Advisory Committee so regional planning reflects real-world experience.
Program Focus Areas
- Expanded subsidized childcare, including nights and weekends
- Professional development and credentialing for Family, Friend, and Neighbor providers and Family Child Care Home providers
- Wage progression, mentoring, and career pathways toward teaching credentials
- Shared resources (business practices, advocacy tools, funding opportunities)
- Better climate resilience across childcare and early learning sites
- Greater equity so that providers, many of whom come from underrepresented and historically marginalized communities, gain stability, fair compensation, and recognition for their contributions
Landscape Analysis
The Catalyst Initiative is preparing an online, shared landscape analysis (updated through 2025–2026) that maps:
- Existing childcare and early childhood education advocacy efforts
- Important networks (formal and informal)
- Workforce programs, supports, and services
- Contact information for collaboration across counties
Funding Matrix
The consortium will maintain a public funding resource matrix (planned launch in early 2026) that lists:
- Prospective public funding streams
- Resources that build on local assets
- Grants and subsidies that match childcare and early childhood education needs
- Options for ongoing, sustainable funding
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Who is involved in the Catalyst Initiative?
Childcare providers, educators, workforce boards, labor groups, advocacy groups, and community agencies across the Bay Area are taking part through their county leads.
-
What kinds of providers are supported?
Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers; Family Child Care Home providers; and center-based childcare providers. -
How does this benefit families?
It increases access to affordable childcare, including during non-traditional hours, and supports higher quality through investment in the childcare workforce. - How is climate resilience included?
Training and support will include climate-ready practices for childcare sites and early learning settings.
Timeline
The
planning phase runs from
January 2025 through
September 2026. This work will set the base for a five-year plan to strengthen childcare, the workforce, and community systems across the Bay Area. More resources will be made available as the project progresses.
Contact
For more information about the Catalyst Initiative, please contact:
