Early Childhood Education Focus in State of the Union
Applauded by NAEYC
House and Senate Reintroduction of NAEYC Recommendations Expected Shortly

WASHINGTON—The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s leading voice on high-quality early childhood education for children from birth through age 8, issued the following statement today from NAEYC Executive Director Jerlean Daniel:

“We were very pleased to see the attention on early childhood education in the State of the Union address. We look forward to working on a robust, well-financed agenda that addresses the entire span of early childhood education with bipartisan support.

“NAEYC has provided a leadership voice in all these areas with a Call to Action (http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/policy/federal/Call_Action_112(2).pdf) and the Continuum of Learning Act (http://www.naeyc.org/newsroom/pressreleases/esea_recommendations_introduced_112th_house), which
address the critical components, including additional investments, needed to apply the research on children’s development and learning into programs around the nation.

“When families do not have the ability to afford child care, cannot enroll in Early Head Start or Head Start, or have no quality early childhood options in their communities, we put families’ economic security and children’s positive development at risk. When program providers and schools do not have the financial and other resources to hire skilled teachers, to purchase appropriate curricula and equipment, and meet other quality standards, we create conditions of achievement inequity for children and undermine a valuable workforce. 

“Now more than ever, addressing the gaps in policies and resources will help America prosper and every child thrive. It’s a matter of equity both for access and quality. We know how, now we must commit to doing it.” 

Daniel said that she expects to see the Continuum of Learning Act reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate in the very near future.