Early Childhood and K-12 Education
The students of today are the employees of tomorrow, and they need the skills to thrive in the 21st century global economy and beyond. Our education initiatives unite business, policy, and community leaders and stakeholders to develop solutions in early childhood and K-12 education.
Our early childhood education initiatives address a two-generation workforce challenge: supporting today's workforce and preparing tomorrow's workforce.
The K-12 education system of today leaves too many students underprepared for the careers ahead of them. We’re dedicated to closing achievement gaps, promoting standards-driven approaches, and connecting all students to a successful future.
At the U.S. Chamber Foundation, we are committed to advancing solutions that ensure every child has access to quality early education. Investing in early childhood education is essential for building a skilled and competitive workforce, driving innovation, and fostering economic growth.— Aaron Merchen, Senior Director, Early Childhood Education
Programs and Initiatives
Continuing the Conversation
Childcare remains a major issue across the United States, impacting parents, employers and local communities. The “Continuing the Conversation” series brings together leaders working to address these challenges and chart a positive way forward for childcare in America.
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Watch the Videos
The U.S. Chamber Foundation has developed Childcare Roadmap Videos to provide a visual representation of the Employer Roadmap: Childcare Solutions for Working Parents. This roadmap is for senior leaders to understand what options are available to address childcare needs for working parents, primarily those working shifts during non-traditional hours.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation released new research that examines the impact of data-driven accountability education policy over the last 20 years and sets the stage for concrete recommendations for the federal role in education.
Latest Content
Coming from his background in higher education policy, Brian Crouse, vice president of education programs at the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, is keenly aware of how critical it is to bridge the gap between what the education sector provides for students and what the business community needs from potential workers coming out of their pipeline. The Business Leads Fellowship offered him a new process and tools to communicate more effectively with these stakeholders.
Amid a national child care crisis, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced the launch of the Early Childhood and Business Advisory Council, a joint initiative between the U.S. Chamber Foundation and the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) to expand high-quality, affordable child care in communities and states across the United States, to help solve one of the biggest issues facing American families and employers during the pandemic.
In the second installment of our Chamber Child Care Blog Series, Aaron explores how public-private partnerships across various states led to concrete initiatives that improved access to childcare.
Thomas Paden, President of the Canton Chamber of Commerce, is focused on developing career pathways for high school students in the community through Future Fit, a four-step program that offers opportunities in business, healthcare, hospitality, or trade.
In this first installment of the series, we’ll review some of the mechanisms that are currently in place to help address a layered and complex situation of childcare.
John Jenks, director of public policy at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, shares how the program helped deepen his advocacy efforts in fostering a strong workforce development, particularly for justice-invovled individuals.
Alex Breault, the director of talent initiatives at Greater Naples Chamber, shares how the program allowed her to deepen her knowledge, connect with others, and grow in her field.
Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and The Education Trust released the report "Equity in Childcare is Everyone's Business," which examines the importance of addressing the negative impacts of sexism and racism on the childcare industry and proposes ways in which state and local chambers, in partnership with child care providers, can address those issues while supporting children and families.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and The Education Trust today released a report, "Equity in Child Care is Everyone's Business," sharing insights from Black and Latina child care providers about how their work has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
