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Don't set kids back in the recession
What is happening to kids in our state right now will shape the rest of their lives. Our youngest kids can't wait until after the recession to grow up. Governor Gregoire is making budget decisions right now. Send her a message and urge her to protect our progress on early learning in Washington State. Join the %adv-participants-early_learning% people who have already taken action and help us get to our goal of 600 messages! Send your letter now.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Early learning matters to me. Children grow and learn more in their first five years than any other time in their lives. If they don't get the learning opportunities they need now, they can't go back and redo their childhoods. Research shows that high quality early education boosts achievement, reduces crime, and saves money. Now, more than ever, it makes sense for children, for families, and for our economy, to protect Washington state's progress on early learning. Please, don't propose any more cuts to early learning in this year's budget.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
Governor Gregoire will be releasing her proposed budget in early December. This will be a supplemental budget. The full budget was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor this past Spring.
However, revenues continue to fall. To make up the deficit the Governor will propose additional cuts. Her staff have already make recommendations for cuts in early learning programs, as well as to many other education and health services.
The Early Learning Action Alliance, a coalition that the Children's Alliance convenes, is organizing an ambitious campaign to send thousands of messages to the governor to urge her to protect the progress our state has made in early learning.
Early learning matters to all of us, and it yields remarkable returns.
This campaign was featured as part of a story about advocacy for early learning on King 5 TV. You can watch the story on our website www.childrensalliance.org.
Early learning is economic development
Studies demonstrate that quality early learning results in greater success in school, higher graduation rates, greater job productivity, and higher earnings. That’s why top economists and business leaders like John Stanton, Managing Director of the Trilogy Partnership in Seattle, are saying intervening with our youngest children today will ensure a prepared workforce tomorrow.
Early learning is crime prevention
Law enforcement officers across the country agree that America’s anti-crime arsenal contains no weapons more powerful than effective programs that help kids get the right start in life. That’s why law enforcement leaders like Anne Kirkpatrick, Spokane’s Chief of Police are saying that expanding quality educational child care and afterschool programs is the most effective strategy for reducing youth violence and crime.
Early learning is education
Nearly half of all children who start kindergarten in our state are unprepared to succeed in school, according to their teachers. Research has shown that high?]quality early education, especially for low?]income children, can boost elementary school achievement, lower enrollment in special education, and lower drop-out rates. That’s why the state’s Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance said preschool for all children in low?]income families belongs in the state’s the definition of basic education.
Early learning is strengthening families
Voluntary, proven home visiting programs offer new parents who are stressed by low incomes, youth, or the lack of family support give their children the best possible start in life. These programs lower abuse rates and increase a child’s chance of success in school. That’s why President Barack Obama requested $124 million in federal funding for home visiting programs in fiscal year 2010.
Early learning is all of us
More than 8,200 families in Washington count on ECEAP, more than 1,500 families get support and coaching through home visiting programs, and the parents of more than 160,000 children rely on licensed care in our state. Waiting lists for ECEAP, Head Start and other programs are soaring.
But the benefits of early learning extend far beyond the Washington families who currently have very young children. Leading economists estimate that when we invest in high quality, comprehensive early learning services and programs, every $1 invested will return $7 to society by reducing the need for remedial education, welfare and criminal justice services.
More Information
Learn more about the Early Learning Action Alliance
The Achievement Gap Starts Before Kindergarten - No Kidding! Blog post about research and results of high quality early learning
Getting Serious About Early Learning - No Kidding! Blog post about WA state's early learning plan
