Kris Perry’s Comments in the National Journal:
Sometimes it’s good to reflect on how far we have come. National Journal’s Fawn Johnson penned an interesting piece noting the lack of opposition to early learning and calling on insiders to highlight the underlying issues that continue making the fight for increased investments in early learning a top priority in Congress.
Kris Perry’s response:
It’s hard to find an issue up for debate in Washington and across the country that has more support from diverse groups than early childhood education. So who is it that opposes public pre-K and greater investments in quality early childhood development efforts that will make sure every child has the foundational skills for success in the 21st century? Let’s take a look:
We know it’s not voters. Last summer, the bipartisan research team of Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research revealed overwhelming support for ensuring that children gain the knowledge and skills necessary to start kindergarten off on the right foot, with a majority of voters saying that we need to do more to achieve this goal. The poll found that early childhood education is supported by majorities in all parties: 84 percent of Democrats, 64 percent of Independents and 60 percent of Republicans all support the broad outlines of a federal plan to help states strengthen early childhood education. Voters also saw increasing access to early childhood education as an absolute priority for the president and Congress this year in January’s Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, with creating jobs and reducing the deficit seen as the only higher priorities. But passing the Strong Start for America’s Children Act would do all three.