Washington, D.C. – Kris Perry, Executive Director of the First Five Years Fund (FFYF), released the following statement following the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education:
“There is a real need for the early education system to be robust and high-quality so children enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed.
“While the Department of Education has limited authority over early education programs, the Secretary of Education is an important leader in the larger education space. The incoming Secretary can prioritize the issue of early childhood education during her tenure by raising the visibility of the issue. We look forward to working with Secretary DeVos and policymakers on all sides of the aisle to ensure families have access to high-quality early learning and care.”
FFYF is a bipartisan organization that provides deep knowledge and resources to advocate for proven investments in federal policies that support the first five years of a child’s life. Research shows investing in quality early childhood education programs – especially for disadvantaged children – creates greater returns for all Americans by improving education, health, and economic productivity nationwide.
FFYF recently released its “Early Childhood Education Policy Framework” to kick-start a solution-oriented conversation between Congress and the Trump Administration. This framework highlights how strengthening existing early childhood programs can help establish a well-financed continuum of high-quality education and care from birth through age five.
To learn more about FFYF and their Policy Framework, visit http://www.ffyf.org/.