Arizona’s “Success by Six” Legislative Package: A Historic Case of Strategic Framing

Abstract

This account of what, at first glance, might seem like a narrow and obscure historical case of one U.S. state’s preschool program is a vehicle for raising questions about how early childhood policies have developed in other locales, for the contemporary policies and programs that exist around the world are the result of efforts by many unrecognized actors. In addition to opening up new lines of inquiry, consideration of historical cases such as this one complicates and enriches the field’s collective memory. Furthermore, a more diverse and theorized use of history in early childhood education (ECE) can have practical uses. Toward this end, ideas from strategic frame analysis are used to explain how passage of Arizona’s Success by Six agenda was possible in what is commonly thought of as a politically conservative state. This analysis shows that rather than a simple matter of supporters and opponents, Success by Six ultimately became possible not because of the expected allies, but rather because of the unexpected ones who were engaged through child advocates’ coalition building and skillful strategic communications, made possible by a favorable social climate—a key factor that is not often considered by ECE advocates when presenting their arguments.