CIES 2018 Presentation, given by Sam Ngaruiya. This study explores the role of the Tayari program in promoting a viable and quality ECDE system that county governments in Kenya can sustainably deliver. Tayari is a three year pilot implemented by the national Ministry of Education and four county governments. The program is designed to help the government develop a cost effective and scalable ECDE model. The pilot program is implemented in public schools and ECDE centers in low resource settings. Utilizing data from a qualitative study conducted in 4 pilot and 3 non-pilot counties’ decision-making, the presentation outlines three key aspects of sustainability: the extent to which collaborative implementation has improved ownership and resource allocation and how the Tayari instructional approach has impacted on process quality and teacher retention in the program. The findings and discussion are critical in helping county governments prioritize investment in a quality and sustainable ECDE model for improved school readiness.