State Early Childhood Advocates Call For Federal Funding

Advocates for young children want Washington to reinstate funding that would help Connecticut create an effective early childhood education system.  

Research shows that high quality early learning helps kids succeed in school and in life. Parents in the state can choose from a patchwork of options, from daycare settings to preschools. But quality varies widely.

In 2009, President Obama pledged to create the Early Learning Challenge Fund – $10 billion over ten years – to support states’ efforts to improve early learning. But the money was eliminated from federal Health Care Reform. Now, advocates are calling on the Obama Administration to make good on his pledge.

Ann Pratt, executive director of the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance says federal money  would be used to collect data and set clear expectations:

"Whats the quality of program? What’s the basic standards that programs and kids are being measured against? How can we connect early care and education more to the public school system?"

Advocates nationwide would like to see early childhood education funding play a greater part in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind. 

For WNPR, I'm Diane Orson.