The task force, which took effect Nov. 1, includes 18 members charged with evaluating the current system and identifying areas for improvement. It is expected to hold its first meeting in December.

State Rep. Trish Ranson, D-House District 34, said the current patchwork of programs forces parents to bounce between agencies with little guidance.

"A parent who might need services has to choose between six agencies is where to go, and there's not really any help leading them through this process," Ranson said.

Ranson said the best solutions will come from the people who work with young children every day, rather than from legislators designing programs that look good on paper but may not work in local communities.

"I think the best way to do that is to get the people who work with that age group to be able to make those decisions rather than legislators carving things up that may look good on paper but may not look good in completion in our home communities," she said.

The group will focus on three main areas: childcare access, children's health, and school readiness.

"One, we're going to need to do some short-term fixes for our childcare industry, so that that way parents have choice, parents have access, and it's quality and affordable for all," Ranson said.

On health, Ranson pointed to the long-term consequences of childhood adversity, including child abuse, which she said contributes to health disparities later in life. She also framed school readiness as a key goal, asking how the state can ensure children are prepared when they reach pre-K and kindergarten.

The task force will spend its first year studying the current system and presenting a report to lawmakers. In its second year, the panel is expected to propose legislation that would restructure programs into a consolidated network.

"But then the second year of the task force would actually be the legislation that would carve up the programs to create a consolidated network. Whatever that looks like, the task force is charged with that, as well," Ranson said.

Ranson highlighted the long-term benefits of investing in early childhood, citing a return of roughly $15 to $16 for every dollar invested over the lifetime of a child.

The task force's work comes as families across Oklahoma continue to face limited childcare options and rising costs, challenges that advocates say affect parents' ability to work and children's development. The panel's recommendations could shape how the state delivers early childhood services for years to come.