Miller: Early Learning Challenge Funds Will Make a Real Difference for Children and Families

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced today that nine states, including California, won federal funding in the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge competition.

Miller has been a longtime advocate and champion for early education. In 2009, he introduced legislation to create the Early Learning Challenge Fund to dramatically improve the quality of early learning opportunities across the country.

"California and these eight other states deserve praise for submitting innovative programs that will serve many of our nation’s youngest learners. Quality early learning programs make a real difference for both children and families, and are an important step so that kids are ready to succeed when they arrive in kindergarten. At a time when many early learning opportunities are falling victim to budget cuts, today’s announcement reaffirms our commitment to early childhood education that economists, business leaders, and child development and education experts have been calling for our country to make.”

Democratic members of the California Congressional delegation sent a letter to Secretary Duncan in November in support of California’s application. The Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced that the following states won the Race to the Top-Early Leaning Challenge:

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