Educare Learning Network

Supported by the Buffett Early Childhood Fund (BECF) in partnership with Start Early, the Educare Learning Network is a national network of 25 birth-through-age 5 schools working to improve access to high-quality early education for low-income families across the U.S.

After a period in which the Network was organized and led centrally, Educare leaders decided to explore how they might work together for increased impact using a more distributed network approach. Network Impact facilitated a multi-stakeholder process with the participation of BECF, Start Early and school leaders, in two phases. In a first phase, Network Impact  supported a discussion among stakeholders about the benefits and potential challenges of transitioning to a generative network that is member-led, flexible and decentralized. This ultimately led to a decision to transition the network to a more generative network model. In a second phase, Network Impact advised stakeholders as they considered important network design decisions, including decisions about the network’s structure and governance.

Project engagement: 2016-2018