The text below is a City of Akron press release. View other local coverage of the announcement:
- Akron announces Unified Early Learning System to boost child care, workforce support - Signal Akron
- Summit County partners share plan to boost kindergarten readiness, support child care centers - Akron Beacon Journal
- Akron launches early learning system to support childcare providers, increase enrollment - Ideastream Public Media
On Thursday, September 4, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, joined by more than a dozen community organizations, announced the launch of Phase One of a Unified Early Learning System to support child care providers across the city.
The 12-month pilot will help stabilize child care businesses and educators while expanding access to quality programs. Goals include increasing enrollment, reducing staff turnover, improving program quality, and strengthening referrals to family resources.
Details of the plan were shared at a news conference, followed by an event sponsored by PNC Bank where educators engaged with the design team. Partners behind the effort include the City of Akron, the Greater Akron Chamber, GAR Foundation, Summit Education Initiative, the Early Childhood Resource Center, Akron Community Foundation, Barberton Community Foundation, United Way of Summit and Medina, and the County of Summit.
The system’s long-term vision is a connected provider community where every family can access high-quality early learning, no matter the type of child care setting they choose. Phase One will focus on three priorities:
- Integrated Wraparound Services – Connecting families to developmental support, mental health supports, health care and family assistance resources so needs are met holistically.
- Business Support – Providing child care operators with tools, training and back-office support to stabilize finances, improve sustainability and reduce administrative burdens.
- Professional Development – Offering educators ongoing coaching, training and career pathways that strengthen classroom quality, reduce turnover and build a pipeline of skilled early learning professionals.
The Early Childhood Resource Center, the region’s Child Care Resource and Referral agency, is managing the project, which includes eight child care providers. The providers represent the full spectrum of licensed early learning settings, from home-based care to large centers and the school district:
- Akron Area YMCA
- Akron Public Schools
- Bright Hopes Community Childcare
- Circle of Life Child Enrichment Center
- Community Action Akron Summit / Head Start
- Empowered Early Learning Academy
- Our Future is Bright Child Care
- Wonder World Child Development Center
Public and private partners are coming together to fund the roughly $950,000 pilot, with significant early commitments from the City of Akron (nearly $300,000), GAR Foundation ($200,000), and the Akron Community Foundation ($100,000). Funding will support staffing, training, shared services, and evaluation.
The urgency is clear: last school year, only 47% of children across Summit County entered kindergarten demonstrating readiness in language and literacy, far below the 80% goal set by Summit Education Initiative. At the same time, child care providers face unstable business models and workforce shortages that limit access for families.
Phase One reflects the work of more than 20 early childhood professionals who designed a framework addressing workforce stability, provider capacity, and family support. By helping providers keep classrooms open, retain and upskill educators, and expand family access to quality care, the initiative lays the foundation for later phases of a community-wide early learning system.
Quotes
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik: "From the beginning of my administration, we have prioritized strengthening our early learning system here in Akron in order to better support our children and our economy. This is not just about child care, it’s about giving every child a fair shot, supporting working parents, and ensuring our city remains strong for generations to come. I’m proud of the coalition that came together to make Phase One possible. Launching this first step in our long-term strategy for early learning is key to my administration’s Growing Together pillar."
PNC Regional President Joe Luckring: “PNC has supported the early childhood education space for 20 years, focused on advocating and investing in high-quality early education initiatives that are the foundation of a bright future for young children. We recognize that we have an important role to play in helping to ensure that all children have the opportunity to build the skills they need to succeed in school and life so that our communities prosper.”
President of GAR Foundation, Christine Mayer: "Our community’s future depends on how well we prepare our youngest learners. By lifting up providers and connecting families to the supports they need, Phase One represents a thoughtful and collaborative approach that will pay dividends for years to come.”
Greater Akron Chamber President & CEO Steve Millard: “A strong child care sector is foundational to a strong economy. When parents can rely on high-quality care, they can fully participate in the workforce. This system will give our region the stability and growth potential it needs to compete and thrive.”
Education and Health Strategist for Mayor Malik, Richelle Wardell: "The Unified Early Learning System intends to bring together the many separate programs, services, and providers that currently operate in isolation, transforming what has long been a patchwork of supports into a coordinated, intentional quilt that will cover every child and family in our community.”