The House just passed the Early Learning Challenge Fund, which would provide $8 billion over the next eight years to improve early learning programs. This funding would help states deliver high-quality programs to thousands of young children like Sam, preparing them to succeed in school. Click here to learn more!
What happened when pre-kindergartners took to the halls of Congress? They lobbied for pre-k of course! Watch their dramatic visit to Capitol Hill above.
We have already had a number of remarkable accomplishments since the launch of the NoSchoolForSam.org campaign in February 2008. While we still have a long way to go to make sure Sam and all children have access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, we've certainly made significant progress.
With the Presidential Candidates: Through NoSchoolForSam.org, advocates sent more than 100,000 letters to the presidential candidates this campaign season! We look forward to continuing the discussion with President-elect Obama on how best to serve our children and our society through high-quality early childhood education.
In May, when NoSchoolForSam.org activists began campaigning in support of the Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act, there were only 64 House co-sponsors—all of whom were Democrats. By the end of June, we helped add more than 40 new ones, including the bill's first Republican co-sponsor! The momentum led the House Committee on Education and Labor to approve the bill on June 26. Next, we're taking the PRE-K Act to the House floor!
Helping Ensure Quality Pre-K Teachers for All Children
Low wages and the high cost of college prevent many pre-k teachers from accessing the education they need to provide young children with a quality pre-k education. NoSchoolForSam.org activists sent more than 14,000 letters to Congress to support a key piece of the solution to this problem: giving pre-k teachers student-loan relief (just like K-12 teachers) and increasing funding for professional development and training. After these thousands of encouraging letters swarmed Capitol Hill, Congress passed and the president signed a bill reauthorizing the Higher Education Act that included new provisions to help pre-k teachers get their degrees and early childhood credentials.
In other words – Congress gave you exactly what you asked for!
Bringing Real Pre-K Stories to the Senate Floor
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a strong supporter of early childhood education, spoke up for Sam and four year olds everywhere during the Week of the Young Child in April, 2008. One of the most compelling points of Senator Dodd's statement was the story shared with his colleagues, sent in by Lisa, a mother and NoSchoolForSam.org supporter in Bristol, CT:
"My three-year-old loves books. My three-year-old interacts well with others. My three-year-old knows how to express himself without anger. My three-year-old will grow up to be a good citizen. My three-year-old is a product of good parenting and a quality pre-k program. As a single working parent, I rely on a pre-k program to fill the gaps when I am unavailable to nurture and teach my child."
In the Media: In response to Pre-K Now's "Leadership Matters" report about governors' pre-k proposals, Sam's friends sent letters to newspaper editors, pointing out how tough budgets reveal true pre-k leaders. The Austin Chronicle published a fantastic letter by Jerry Grammer that used "Leadership Matters" findings to pose the question, "What is [Texas] Gov. Rick Perry's stand?" Click here to read the letter.
Please click here to see how you can help Sam go to school.
