Celebrating the 4th annual Louisiana Early Education Month

Written By Alicia Vial

Highlighting the transformative power of early childhood education for Louisiana’s children, families, and economy

BATON ROUGE, LA — Today marks the start of Early Ed Month 2025, a statewide initiative to highlight the urgent need for increased investment in high-quality early childhood education. This effort aims to inform policymakers, business leaders, parents, and advocates about the critical role early education plays in strengthening Louisiana’s workforce, economy, and future.

Co-hosted by the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC), Louisiana Early Childhood Education Business Roundtable, and Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) this year’s Early Ed Month features 12 in-person and virtual events across the state, offering opportunities to explore key issues impacting young children and families.

Governor Jeff Landry has officially proclaimed February as Early Ed Month in Louisiana. With last year’s events drawing over 400 participants, this year is expected to see even greater engagement.

“Investing in early childhood education is an investment in Louisiana’s future,” said Rockeisha Walker, Director of Bright Star Child Care Center and the 2025 Louisiana Early Childhood Leader of the Year. “Every child deserves a strong start, and every family deserves access to the resources they need to thrive. Early Ed Month is a powerful reminder of the work we must continue to do to ensure all our children have the opportunity to succeed in school and life.”

In partnership with the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry, Louisiana Association of United Ways, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, Capital Area United Way, St. Landry-Evangeline United Way, United Way of Northwest Louisiana, United Way of Central Louisiana, LPIC will co-host regional tours of child care centers across the state. Tours will occur in Southeast Louisiana, Northeast Louisiana, Southwest Louisiana, St. Landry-Evangeline Louisiana, Northwest Louisiana, Central, and the Capital Region and bring further awareness to ways families and child care providers are disproportionately impacted by the lack of access to high-quality early childhood education programs across regions and parishes.

“Early Ed Month is a vital platform to showcase the importance of investing in our youngest learners,” said Dr. Libbie Sonnier, CEO of LPIC. “By prioritizing high-quality early childhood education, we can set Louisiana’s children on a path to success while strengthening families, businesses, and the state’s economy.”

In addition to child care center tours, Early Ed Month 2025 includes keynote addresses, parent advocacy training, and social media action. A full list of events is available here.

“We’re thrilled to bring together policymakers, business leaders, and advocates during Early Ed Month to address one of Louisiana’s most critical issues,” said Phillip May, President and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “High-quality early education is not just an educational priority — it’s an economic imperative that impacts every community across our state.”

Child care is a cornerstone of Louisiana’s economic infrastructure and the foundation that allows all other industries to thrive. With two-thirds of children under age four in Louisiana needing child care due to parents being in the workforce, reliable and accessible early childhood education is essential. However, many Louisiana employees face challenges like unreliable or unaffordable child care, leading to missed work, job changes, and disruptions that impact businesses and the state’s economy. Investing in high-quality early childhood education offers immediate benefits by supporting working parents, strengthening the workforce, and boosting economic productivity.

“Early childhood education is essential for building a resilient and prosperous Louisiana,” said Charmaine Caccioppi, Executive Vice President and COO of United Way of Southeast Louisiana. “When we invest in our youngest learners, we’re not just preparing children for success in school—we’re empowering families, strengthening communities, and ensuring businesses have the workforce they need to thrive.”

To kick off Early Ed Month 2025, a virtual keynote address featuring Dr. Dan Wuori will occur on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. This keynote will focus on the case for why the early years matter, why America’s longstanding early childhood policy approach sacrifices the needs of young children, and why fixing the problem makes good sense, regardless of your place on the political spectrum.

Continuing the conversation online, Early Ed Month advocates will raise awareness and advocate for continued investment in early childhood education with a Social Media Day of Action on Friday, Feb. 14. To help shed light on the importance of high-quality child care in Louisiana, download the social media toolkit at policyinstitutela.org and use the hashtag #LAEarlyEdMonth. 

The Parent Poll press conference will take place Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. where LPIC will release the results of the 2024 Parent Poll. In partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education, Agenda for Children, Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, and Women United of Southeast Louisiana, LPIC conducted this annual survey of Louisiana parents and guardians with children under age 5. The survey focused on the child care arrangements of surveyed families, including their needs and experiences related to child care.

The virtual Parent Advocacy Training will take place Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. Co-hosted with the Save the Children Action Network, this training will empower parents to become effective advocates for high-quality early education programs in their communities. Participants will learn about the importance of early learning, strategies to influence local, state, and federal policies, and how to collaborate with educators and policymakers. Hear from two of SCAN's Volunteer Leaders, Dafnee Chatman and Tia Fields, on their journey, organizing and creating impactful change to ensure every child has access to a strong educational foundation. 

Additional Early Education Month events include a Child Care & the Economy Business Breakfast Briefing co-hosted with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). This invitation-only event will take place Friday, Feb. 21, and include a keynote address by Susie Schowen, Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Secretary Schowen will discuss the importance of early childhood education and the impacts it has on the workforce and the economy.

“Access to quality early childhood education is a game-changer for Louisiana’s children, families, and economy,” said Sarah Berthelot, President and CEO of the Louisiana Association of United Ways. “According to ALICE research, 34% of Louisiana’s children with two working parents were still unable to access quality child care due to the financial limitations of their family, already struggling to afford the basic necessities.”

To register for Early Ed Month events and to learn more about how to get involved with supporting high-quality early care and education in Louisiana, visit policyinstitutela.org. 

Early Ed Month 2025 is sponsored by Entergy. Additional sponsors include Our Lady of the Lake, Jones Walker LLP, Agenda for Children, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Clara's Little Lambs, Committee of 100, For Providers by Providers, Gambel Communications, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, Louisiana Public Health Institute, ResourceFull Consulting, Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Urban League of Louisiana, Young Scholar's Academy, and YWCA Greater Baton Rouge.

###

About Louisiana Policy Institute for Children
Louisiana Policy Institute for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that Louisiana's young children, from birth to age four, are best prepared for success in school and in life. The Policy Institute develops policy proposals informed by data, research, best practices, and the experiences of other states to improve the outcomes of Louisiana’s youngest citizens, and further provides educational and outreach activities based on recommended policy solutions. The organization works to ensure children are safe, healthy, and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.policyinstitutela.org and follow the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

Previous

New Orleans-based tech company wins national award
Next

Seventh annual Cook-Off for the Coast at Docville Farm