Empowering child cares
large and small.

CQEL is a non-profit that provides professional development, supports, and sustains California child care educators. We're expanding the availability of high-quality child care.

2013
Five child care leaders recognized they needed to advocate for community-based child care programs.
11k
With a distribution to eleven thousand leaders and policymakers, CQEL elevates news and policy priorities.
500+
We're funded nearly exclusively by more than 500 child care programs across California.

It started with an email

Not convinced existing advocacy efforts were sufficient for child cares, a child care director emailed two others she met at a conference. They met in Palm Springs two weeks later and started drawing up plans on a whiteboard.

...now we’re here

CQEL has grown and grown. Now we're five-hundred members strong. We host regular high-value trainings and events. We lead child care providers in grassroots advocacy. And we've built the connective tissue between thousands of child care leaders to support each other and build together.

What makes CQEL special?

Run by child care pros

We're run by child care directors and owners with hundreds of years of combined experience.

In it together

We're here to help each other through the toughest moments of running a child care.

Here for the long haul

We're funded by hundreds members each chipping in a small amount, so we're here to serve you, and here for the long term.

Getting better with time

As we grow, we add more voices and experts to our community, so members find connections and help faster.

Our Leadership Team

Jennifer

Jennifer

Secretary

Executive Director, Oak Tree Learning Center
Nina

Nina

Treasurer

Owner & Director, Yorba Linda Preschool
Cindy

Cindy

Conference Co-Chair

Consultant, Ginsburg Kershner Associates
Jamie

Jamie

Public Policy Co-Chair

Director, Valley View Children's Center
Makinya

Makinya

Public Policy Co-Chair

CEO, Kids Konnect Preschool
Elke

Elke

Membership Co-Chair

Executive Director, Kigala Preschool
Melinda

Melinda

Member-At-Large

Executive Director, Adventures In Learning, LLC
Elif

Elif

Member-At-Large

School Director, KLA Schools Walnut Creek

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