Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy

What is the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy?

The Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy (PLA) is our state’s premier, non-partisan leadership development program focused entirely on creating momentum to influence policy issues that affect the care, education and healthy development of young children. Now entering its sixth year, PLA members and alumni are part of a dynamic, statewide network of advocates who serve as a valued resource to their communities and the public officials who represent them.

What will I gain as a member of the PLA?

• Understand the role of early childhood systems in your community’s overall infrastructure
• Become familiar with the inner workings of the policymaking process at the state and local levels
• Learn grassroots advocacy strategies to mobilize local resources and allies in pursuit of early childhood policy objectives
• Develop authentic and productive relationships with public officials in local government, state agencies and the Nebraska Legislature
• Gain access to insight and information by connecting to a growing, statewide network of PLA alumni

 What is expected of Policy Leadership Academy participants?

Building your policy knowledge and advocacy skills is equally challenging and rewarding—and, often, even fun! But getting the most out of your experience in the PLA requires a serious commitment to the program and its activities.

• Attend all four in-person workshops and one virtual workshop between October 2024 and March 2025.
• In-person workshops are held at locations across the state and may involve overnight stays. First Five Nebraska reimburses participants for meals, mileage and lodging expenses directly associated with attendance at workshops.
• In-person workshops typically run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Where applicable, participants are expected to verify that their employers agree to their attendance at program workshops and involvement in related advocacy activities.
• Participants are expected to complete course assignments between workshops, culminating in a capstone project focused on a current or potential early childhood policy issue related to their community’s needs or personal interests. Participants will deliver a capstone project presentation to their classmates at the concluding PLA workshop in March 2025.
• Graduates from the PLA program are are expected to be fully involved in workshop activities and discussions, and capable of engaging productively with peers and policy leaders representing different political and social viewpoints.

An application submitted for the Policy Leadership Academy represents a good-faith commitment to remain engaged with peer-learning activities and ongoing advocacy efforts following graduation from the program.

Who should apply?

The Policy Leadership Academy welcomes participants who have an authentic commitment to creating policy changes in their communities and our state. We welcome applicants with a broad array of professional and personal experience, civic involvement and cultural backgrounds.

This includes:

• Child care providers, home visitors and others committed to elevating early care and learning professions as viable and rewarding careers
• Healthcare professionals and administrators seeking to strengthen prenatal care, maternal care and other services necessary to ensure healthy outcomes for young children and their families
• K-12 and post-secondary educators working to maximize the effectiveness and impact of Nebraska’s schools by putting our youngest kids on the path to lifelong learning from their earliest years
• Employers, economic developers and chamber of commerce leaders who recognize quality early childhood programs as a key driver of workforce development and economic opportunity throughout the state
• Nonprofit, civic and municipal leaders who advocate for the early childhood needs of communities that are typically under-represented in policy conversations