Late yesterday, a group of 120 prominent business leaders from across the country sent a letter to the chairs of the Congressional Budget conference committee, urging them make a wise investment in our economy by increasing funding for early childhood education before the budget deadline on Dec. 13. This effort was organized by a group of national early childhood organizations, including the First Five Years Fund, ReadyNation, America’s Edge and others.
Past budget negotiations have missed this critical opportunity to invest in quality early learning for disadvantaged children, despite the data that shows incredible value and return on investment for children, families, states and the nation. Just this week, newly released data showed that for every child served with life-changing early childhood education, far too many more children in need go unserved – carrying into school and life a crushing deficit in skills that can translate into even more devastating social costs. That’s why these leaders have called for a “federal investment that helps states and communities continue their work to provide innovation, access and outcomes that pay off for everyone.”