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2025 Year in Review: Building Brighter Futures

We are grateful for the unwavering support of our donors, partners and community members. Together, we’ve expanded access to quality early learning, developed transformative innovations and strengthened policies that create brighter futures for families and children.

Diana Rauner November 5, 2025
  • Start Early News
  • Publication

We are excited to share the Start Early 2025 Year in Review, celebrating a year of growth, innovation and transformative milestones during the last fiscal year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025).

At Start Early, we strive to ensure that every child has access to high-quality early learning opportunities. This past year has tested the resolve of the early learning field in ways few of us could have predicted. Delayed federal and state funding, regional office closures and shifting policy landscapes have created real threats and uncertainty for early learning and care programs, providers and the families they serve. Start Early stepped up as a national leader, drawing on our deep expertise across program, policy and research to translate national urgency into local support.

2025 Year in Review: Building Brighter Futures

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From our roots in Chicago’s South Side and rural Illinois, we now influence early childhood programs and policies across all 50 states. Our commitment to creating a sustainable early learning system drives lasting positive outcomes for children, families and generations to come.

With the support of our donors and partners, we continue to lead the way in transforming early learning into a public good—accessible and locally tailored so that every child has an opportunity to reach their full potential.

Thank you for standing with us, for children, for families and for a brighter future we can build when we show up together.

About the Author

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Diana Rauner

President

Diana Rauner, Ph.D., is president of Start Early, a national nonprofit with over 40 years of experience advancing quality early learning and care to help close the opportunity gap.

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