Sanford Hosts National Early Childhood Policy Academy with The Hunt Institute 

State policymakers from across the country convened at Duke University this month for the Early Childhood Policy Academy, a multi-day program focused on strengthening systems that support young children and families. Hosted at the Center for Child and Family Policy (CCFP) at the Sanford School of Public Policy in partnership with The Hunt Institute and the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation, the gathering created space for leaders to share strategies, examine challenges, and explore evidence-based policy solutions. 

The convening marked the eighth cohort of The Hunt Institute’s Early Childhood Policy Academy, which brings together bipartisan teams of state leaders working on early childhood issues. According to The Hunt Institute, the program is designed to help policymakers collaborate across states, learn from experts, and develop approaches that improve outcomes for children, families, and educators. 

For Sanford leaders, the event reflects the school’s deep commitment to connecting research with real-world policy. 

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“Early childhood policy is one of the most consequential areas where research and real-world practice must come together. It is an area in which Duke Sanford is especially strong,” said Manoj Mohanan, Interim Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy. “I’m thrilled that our partnership with The Hunt Institute creates opportunities for policymakers from across the country to share how policy impacts children, families, and educators and to use that insight to build stronger systems.” 

Throughout the program, participants engaged in sessions focused on key early childhood issues, including access to high-quality childcare, workforce challenges, and policies that support families. The convening emphasized peer learning, with state teams sharing lessons from their own experiences and discussing how different approaches can be adapted across contexts. 

“This convening was an exciting opportunity for state policymakers to learn from each other what has worked well in early childhood policy and how different states have addressed challenges to be able to provide better support for children and families,” said Jennifer Lansford, CCFP Director. “Early childhood policy is important not only for families with young children but also for employers, because if families do not have high-quality, affordable, and accessible childcare, parents are not able to go to work.” 

Sanford’s Center for Child and Family Policy played a key role in connecting the academy’s discussions to current research, highlighting how evidence can inform policy decisions that affect children and families nationwide. 

The partnership between Sanford and The Hunt Institute reflects a shared focus on bridging research and practice. By bringing policymakers together in a collaborative setting, the Early Childhood Policy Academy aims to strengthen state-level systems and expand access to effective early childhood supports.