Take Action: Tell Congress: Don't Leave Sam Behind

From his first days in office, President Obama pledged to improve and expand early childhood education in our country by investing $10 billion each year in proven programs. But we need the support of Congress if President Obama's promises are going to become reality.

An investment made now in high-quality pre-kindergarten will yield both short- and long-term benefits for our nation. And the current economic crisis makes it even more important for the federal government to support state pre-k funding efforts. Cuts to state early education programs have been proposed and, in a few cases, already made.

Help make sure Congress follows through on the president's promise to our three and four year olds. Send your message to Congress now!

Subject Line:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

I'm writing to urge you to support crucial investments in early education. Your leadership is needed to make good on President Obama's pledge to commit $10 billion per year to a comprehensive early learning plan - a plan that will provide all children with the opportunity to enter school ready to learn.

The Early Learning Challenge Fund, legislation intended to provide competitive grants to states for improving their early education programs, has been at the center of the President's plan. The Fund would establish a high standard of quality in early education programs across the states and raise the level of participation in these programs among disadvantaged children.

This proposed investment of $8 billion over eight years is a start - a down payment essential to helping our nation's youngest learners succeed in school. But it fulfills only a piece of the President's promise.

Study after study has shown that high-quality pre-k provides lasting benefits for children and yields an impressive return on investment for our communities. Yet, while state-funded pre-k currently reaches over 1.1 million children, only 24 percent of four year olds and 4 percent of three year olds have access to these programs. You and Congress must to do more.

Scores of states across the country have sought to increase funding for voluntary early education in recent years because:
  
* better schools start with better prepared students;
* parents of all income levels want and need more quality choices; and
* business leaders and economists understand the importance of building human capital, starting in the critical early years.

As states face record budget shortfalls, your support of federal early education funding is essential. Without a national investment, millions of children are at risk of starting school behind, and our communities will require much more taxpayer money down the road for remedial education, juvenile justice, and social service costs that could have been avoided.

It's time to direct public resources to programs and policies that are based on evidence and build our nation's human capital. Your leadership on this issue will not only empower children and families, but also contribute to our economic health for years to come.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,
Jan Richter
1625 K St. NW
11th Floor
Washington, DC 20006

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Delegate Eleanor Norton

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