Welcome to the ECE Toolkit

The Early Care and Education Toolkit is a resource for employers in Montgomery County, Maryland. This Toolkit brings together key information and resources on how you can do more to support working parents with young children.

The ECE Toolkit was developed by a team of local employers and child care experts. Our goal is to make it easy for employers of all sizes to find answers and get inspired.

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Why do we call it “ECE”?

Early Care and Education (ECE) is how many child-development experts talk about child care from birth to age 5. They do so because the first five years are critical for brain development. What happens during these formative years lays the foundation for a child’s future success in school and in life. ECE emphasizes the fact that young children are always learning. All early care is also early education, so the quality of care should be a top concern for parents and employers.

Why do we call it “ECE”?

Early Care and Education (ECE) is how many child-development experts talk about child care from birth to age 5. They do so because the first five years are critical for brain development. What happens during these formative years lays the foundation for a child’s future success in school and in life. ECE emphasizes the fact that young children are always learning. All early care is also early education, so the quality of care should be a top concern for parents and employers.

Tricia Swanson, VP of Government Relations at the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, on the ECE Toolkit as a resource for both employers and employees.

$2.41 billion

Annual cost to Maryland employers from absence and turnover due to child care issues experienced by working parents with children age 5 and under.

How much are issues related to ECE costing your business?

See the business casE

Resources for Working Parents

Working parents with young children need accurate information on how to find affordable, high-quality child care and how to pay for it. This section of the ECE Toolkit offers answers, guidance, and links to resources that can provide additional assistance.

Tools & Strategies for Employers

As an employer, there are many steps you can take to be more responsive to the challenges faced by employees with young children. This section of the ECE Toolkit brings together information, resources, and best practices that can help you create an ECE-friendly workplace – including many no-cost and low-cost ideas.

Why ECE is Smart Business

Being an employer who cares about ECE can help you attract and retain employees, as well as reduce the day-to-day costs associated with child care challenges. Making ECE a priority – in your workplace and your community – is also a powerful way to invest in the workforce of tomorrow.

Tricia Swanson, VP of Government Relations at the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, on the value of the ECE Toolkit as a resource for both employers and employees.

Are you a working parent with young children?

How to promote ECE in your workplace