Day Early Learning (Early Learning Indiana)
1411 Roosevelt Ave, Suite 202, Indianapolis, IN 46201
About
Day Early Learning (Early Learning Indiana) operates Day Early Learning lab schools that serve children as early as infancy through pre-K. The program offers early care and education in high-quality early learning centers.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
Early Learning Indiana states that its mission is to ensure every child is empowered with essential skills to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. The organization has a history that includes its founding in 1899 as Day Nursery, the establishment of the Day Nursery Auxiliary in 1938, the start of Child Care Answers in 1985, and the addition of an eighth center by 2013. In 2014, Day Nursery changed its name to Early Learning Indiana and rebranded its child care centers as Day Early Learning centers, and later that year it launched Partnerships for Early Learners. All IN 4 Pre-K began in 2016, and early childhood workforce preparation program development was noted in 2019. In 2020, Lilly Endowment Inc. renewed its support, Early Learning Indiana launched the Come Back Stronger Fund, and the organization teamed up with Salesforce and launched Early Learning Works.
The organization reports that it operates high-quality early learning centers, helps families find quality child care, and provides leadership, advocacy and early childhood education services to improve the early learning landscape in Indiana. It uses a supply-first model backed by intelligent design with a data-driven approach through Salesforce, and its Day Early Learning centers function as lab schools that provide early care and education for infants through pre-K. Early Learning Indiana partners with teachers and providers to improve program quality and advocates for greater access to early educational opportunities for Hoosier families. It helped create and launch All IN 4 Pre-K in partnership with the United Way of Central Indiana, launched Partnerships for Early Learners to expand access and improve early childhood education quality across the state, and launched the Come Back Stronger Fund, which helped 1,025 early learning providers safely operate and re-open during the pandemic. The organization also launched Early Learning Works to provide child care solutions to meet the unique needs of employers and their employees, receives support from organizations such as Lilly Endowment Inc. and the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, and has a board whose members come from the state’s public, private and philanthropic organizations.
The leadership team includes Erin Kissling as President and CEO, Jonathan Dilley as Chief of Staff, Tony Felts as Chief Engagement Officer, and Heidi Babkowski as Chief Financial Officer. The Early Learning Indiana Board of Directors includes Julie Dunlap as Chair, Stephanie Bothun as Secretary, and Josh Cooper as Treasurer, along with directors Parisa Kelly, M.D., Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, Ed.D, Andrew Perrin, Freedom Smith, and Ron Stiver.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
Early Learning Indiana states that its mission is to ensure every child is empowered with essential skills to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. The organization has a history that includes its founding in 1899 as Day Nursery, the establishment of the Day Nursery Auxiliary in 1938, the start of Child Care Answers in 1985, and the addition of an eighth center by 2013. In 2014, Day Nursery changed its name to Early Learning Indiana and rebranded its child care centers as Day Early Learning centers, and later that year it launched Partnerships for Early Learners. All IN 4 Pre-K began in 2016, and early childhood workforce preparation program development was noted in 2019. In 2020, Lilly Endowment Inc. renewed its support, Early Learning Indiana launched the Come Back Stronger Fund, and the organization teamed up with Salesforce and launched Early Learning Works.
The organization reports that it operates high-quality early learning centers, helps families find quality child care, and provides leadership, advocacy and early childhood education services to improve the early learning landscape in Indiana. It uses a supply-first model backed by intelligent design with a data-driven approach through Salesforce, and its Day Early Learning centers function as lab schools that provide early care and education for infants through pre-K. Early Learning Indiana partners with teachers and providers to improve program quality and advocates for greater access to early educational opportunities for Hoosier families. It helped create and launch All IN 4 Pre-K in partnership with the United Way of Central Indiana, launched Partnerships for Early Learners to expand access and improve early childhood education quality across the state, and launched the Come Back Stronger Fund, which helped 1,025 early learning providers safely operate and re-open during the pandemic. The organization also launched Early Learning Works to provide child care solutions to meet the unique needs of employers and their employees, receives support from organizations such as Lilly Endowment Inc. and the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, and has a board whose members come from the state’s public, private and philanthropic organizations.
The leadership team includes Erin Kissling as President and CEO, Jonathan Dilley as Chief of Staff, Tony Felts as Chief Engagement Officer, and Heidi Babkowski as Chief Financial Officer. The Early Learning Indiana Board of Directors includes Julie Dunlap as Chair, Stephanie Bothun as Secretary, and Josh Cooper as Treasurer, along with directors Parisa Kelly, M.D., Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, Ed.D, Andrew Perrin, Freedom Smith, and Ron Stiver.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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