In 2023, Mississippi took a significant step forward in early education with the passage of House Bill 817. This groundbreaking legislation, driven by the efforts of Mississippi First, permanently raised the funding rate for early learning collaboratives (ELCs) to $2,500 per child for full-day programs from $2,150—a $350 increase per child in state funds or about $7,000 per classroom of 20. Mississippi First was deeply involved in every stage of the process, from writing the bill’s language to advocating steadfastly until its passage. The journey of implementing House Bill 817 has been both challenging and rewarding, given the obstacles faced in previous legislative sessions. However, through perseverance and collaboration with legislators, pre-K champions, and other key leaders, Mississippi First ensured that collaboratives have the necessary funds to operate. Since the passage of the Early Learning Collaborative Act in 2013, Mississippi First's leadership has led to over 36 high-quality collaboratives serving 6,800 students—a remarkable 283% increase from its first year of implementation. The state's investment in the program has also grown significantly, from $3M annually for the first six years to $24M. This increased funding has expanded access to high-quality early learning opportunities to 25% of Mississippi's four-year-olds, a goal set by Mississippi First to be achieved by 2025. In addition to leading the legislative charge, Mississippi First worked tirelessly to explain the tax credit to collaboratives and donors, resulting in millions of dollars in donations from individuals and corporations. we have provided comprehensive support to the Mississippi Department of Education through training, resources, and strategic planning. Despite this exponential growth, Mississippi First's work is not done—their new goal is to offer high-quality pre-K seats to 50% of the state's four-year-olds by 2030.