Miller: Spending Bill includes a Big First Step for Early Learning
WASHINGTON—Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement in response to the omnibus spending bill unveiled by the House and Senate Monday night. Early childhood education programs would see large increases—including a boost for Head Start that would roll back the cuts implemented under sequestration, new funding to establish child care-Early Head Start partnerships that can improve the quality of care for infants and toddlers, and funding for a new competitive grant for states to develop and expand early learning programs—under the appropriations measure.
“The funding for early learning programs announced Monday is a big win not only for children, but for all Americans,” Rep. Miller said. “Decades of research have found that quality early education leads to a wide range of short- and long-term benefits, including better educational outcomes, stronger job earnings, and lower crime and delinquency rates. Simply put, early childhood education works.
“Monday’s spending bill reflects a growing bipartisan understanding that in order to ensure that our nation’s children have the educational and economic opportunities they deserve, we must act early. This is a significant step toward making sure that all kids have access to quality education. Next we must pass the Strong Start for America’s Children Act. This legislation will improve access to quality early learning for nearly 20 million children, helping better prepare the next generation to succeed in school and in life.”
Under the spending bill, Head Start, which provides comprehensive early education, health, and parental involvement services to low-income families, would receive $8.6 billion, an increase of $612 million over enacted fiscal 2013 levels. The bill would also provide $500 million to create partnerships between Early Head Start and child care facilities to bring infant and toddler care up to the strong Early Head Start standards. In addition, the bill would allow the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services to jointly administer a new $250 million competitive grant program through the end of the calendar year for states to develop, enhance or expand high-quality preschool programs for 4-year-olds from families at or below 200 percent of the poverty level.
In November of 2013, Rep. Miller introduced the bipartisan Strong Start for America’s Children Act with Richard Hanna (R-NY). The bill will dramatically improve access to full-day, quality early learning opportunities by establishing new federal-state partnerships that prepare children to arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed. It is the most aggressive, comprehensive quality initiative to provide young children with the necessary early learning tools to succeed in school and in life in the past 20 years.
Learn more about the Strong Start for America’s Children Act here.
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