Got two secs for affordable, high-quality preschool?

I just sent a quick to my Senators asking them to put partisan politics aside and co-sponsor the Strong Start for America's Children Act.

Will you send a note too?

http://action.momsrising.org/letter/Strong_Start2/?referring_akid=5406.2031096.BAPqZH&source=taf

You can read all about the Act in the email below from MomsRising.org

Thanks!
Pathways

-------------------Email from MomsRising---------------------

First name-
Four-year-olds don’t care about political parties. Neither do babies.

And when it comes providing high-quality, affordable child care and preschool voters don’t care about political parties either.

In fact, 70% of American voters—including large majorities of Republicans, Independents and Democrats—support a federal plan to help states and local communities provide better early childhood education.[1]

To get a federal plan to improve early childhood education like the Strong Start for America's Children Act, we need all elected officials in Washington D.C. to think outside of the parties and think about our littlest learners!

Ask your U.S. Senators to co-sponsor the Strong Start for America's Children Act today:

http://action.momsrising.org/letter/Strong_Start2/?referring_akid=5406.2031096.BAPqZH&source=taf

What exactly would the Strong Start for America’s Children Act do?
The Strong Start for America's Children Act, would increase access to affordable, high-quality preschool and early learning and child care programs for children under age 5 through state and federal partnerships. [2]

Why is high-quality preschool and child care so important?
Leading economists agree, investments in high-quality early learning programs like preschool actually saves future dollars for everyone.[3] In fact, children who have high-quality early learning experiences are more likely to succeed in school, graduate from high school, gain stable employment, and are less likely to be arrested.[4] Studies show that for every dollar invested in high-quality early learning, we see a return of up to $7.00.[5] Investing in early learning helps taxpayers, kids, parents, businesses, and our economy.

Why do we need the Strong Start for America’s Children Act now?
In today’s economy, families often need two incomes just to make ends meet. 70.5% of mothers with children under age 18 are in the labor force either out of necessity or by choice.[6] Unfortunately, right now child care for an infant actually costs more than college in the majority of U.S. states.[7]

Our littlest learners are not political footballs. It’s time for the Strong Start for America’s Children Act. That’s why your U.S. Senators need to hear from voters like you today:

http://action.momsrising.org/letter/Strong_Start2/?referring_akid=5406.2031096.BAPqZH&source=taf

*We’ve made it super and effective for you to send your U.S. Senators this important message with one click of a button. Just click the link above to send a quick note.
Please share forward this email to a few friends that live near you.

Together we are a strong voice for families and children,

Lauren, Sarah and the whole MomsRising.org team

P.S. Huge thanks to the National Women's Law Center and the Starting Strong Coalition for all the work they do for families and young children



[1] “Early childhood education is a top priority for voters, second only to increasing jobs and economic growth.” Bipartisan research team of Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research polling U.S. voters. (PDF)
http://growamericastronger.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Poll-Fact-Sheet.pdf

[2] Strong Start for America's Children Act Introduced in Senate and House
http://rally4babies.org/strong-start-americas-children-act-2013

[3] Cunha, Heckman, Lochner, and Masterov, 2006 (PDF)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2812935/

[4] Lawrence J. Schweinhart, Jeanne Montie, Zongping Xiang, W. Steven Barnett, Clive R. Belfield, and Milagros Nores, The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study Through Age 40: Summary, Conclusions, and Frequently Asked Questions (High/Scope Press, 2005)
http://www.highscope.org/file/Research/PerryProject/specialsummary_rev2011_02_2.pdf

[5] Arthur J. Reynolds, Judy A. Temple, Dylan L. Robertson, and Emily A. Mann, Age 21 Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Title I Chicago Child-Parent Center Program: Executive Summary (2001)
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/cls/cbaexecsum4.html

[6] Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Characteristics of Families, Table 5 (April 2013)
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/famee.toc.htm

[7] Child Care Aware of America, Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2013 Report
http://usa.childcareaware.org/costofcare