NEW ORLEANS (Aug. 11, 2026) – Years of coordinated public investment have transformed early childhood education in New Orleans, resulting in more children from low-income families accessing high-quality programs, more centers and schools reaching the state’s highest quality ratings and stronger early literacy outcomes at kindergarten entry, according to Agenda for Children’s inaugural State of the Sector report, released today. It also warns that funding uncertainty and workforce challenges threaten continued progress.
With the release of the State of the Sector report, New Orleans now has its first annual benchmark for measuring the health of its early care and education sector.
The report examines New Orleans’ early care and education sector across access, quality, workforce and funding, providing policymakers, educators, community leaders and families with a comprehensive view of where the system is succeeding and where additional investment is needed.
Among the most significant findings:
- New Orleans has made remarkable progress in expanding access to high-quality early care and education for low-income families, with more children enrolled in free, high-quality programs than ever before.
- By 2025, 71% of rated early care and education programs achieved a High Proficient or Excellent rating, while 99% earned at least a Proficient rating, representing the highest performance levels the city has achieved to date.
- Improvements in early literacy skills among incoming kindergarteners suggest that investments in early childhood education are producing measurable results for children.
- Because of local investments and state matching funds, 31% of New Orleans infants and toddlers have access to free early care and education, more than any other parish except Madison.
- At the same time, uncertainty surrounding future state and federal funding, workforce shortages and educator compensation pose significant risks to continued progress.
“This report tells an important story about what is possible when a community commits to its youngest children,” said Jen Roberts, CEO of Agenda for Children. “The data show that sustained investment, strong partnerships and accountability are making a real difference. More children have access to high-quality early learning, and more programs are achieving excellence. The report also makes clear that this progress is not guaranteed. Continued investment in educators, quality and access will determine whether New Orleans builds on these gains or loses momentum.”
Numerous long-term studies have shown that children who participate in high-quality early childhood education are more likely to graduate from high school, secure stable employment, earn higher wages, enjoy better health and avoid involvement with the criminal justice system.
For more than a decade, New Orleans has intentionally built a coordinated early childhood system that aligns funding, accountability and quality improvement across providers. That work accelerated after voters approved a dedicated 20-year early childhood education millage in 2022, generating more than $21 million annually and unlocking a dollar-for-dollar state match through Louisiana’s Early Childhood Education Fund. Together, those investments have enabled more young children from low-income families to access free early care and education than at any point in the city’s history.
The report also underscores that New Orleans’ early care and education landscape is diverse, with children receiving care through child care centers, Head Start programs, schools and family child care homes. While that diversity provides families with options, the report identifies opportunities to better serve children with disabilities, dual language learners, children experiencing homelessness and children in foster care.
The State of the Sector identifies workforce stability as one of the sector’s most pressing concerns. While quality continues to improve, maintaining that progress depends on attracting and retaining qualified educators. Improving educator compensation and job quality is identified as essential to sustaining high-quality learning environments for children. The report also notes that the cost of providing high-quality early care and education often exceeds what families can reasonably afford to pay, underscoring the need for continued public investment to sustain quality, strengthen the workforce and expand access.
The report also highlights important realities shaping the future of the sector. Births to New Orleans mothers have declined 26% since 2015, and the city’s population of young children has continued to shrink, contributing to classroom vacancies in many centers. As a result, the report concludes that expanding the number of licensed early childhood centers is not currently the city’s greatest need. Instead, it points toward strengthening existing programs, stabilizing the workforce and ensuring available resources are used effectively to improve quality and reach children with the greatest needs.
As a systems-builder and steward of public investment, Agenda for Children says the annual State of the Sector report is intended to become an essential resource for community leaders, policymakers and partners working to strengthen outcomes for children and families.
By bringing together data on access, quality, workforce and funding, the report aims to inform better decisions, strengthen accountability and help ensure every child has the opportunity to benefit from high-quality early learning programs.