Early Learning

Success in the K-12 education system is greatly enhanced if children have access to quality early child care and early education options. Early education is an essential part of a child’s learning experience, and it should be treated as such.

There is an estimated 16% ‘rate of return’ for every dollar spent on early childhood development. This is because children with early learning do better in school, are more productive at work, are less likely to fall into criminal activity and are more prepared for the workforce. These children are less likely to need special education, job training and welfare and are less likely to become part of the criminal justice system.

Early childhood learning is truly a long-term economic development strategy that prepares our youngest citizens for better, more productive lives and better positions the United States economy for the challenges of the future.

As your Congressman, Jim will fight to:

• Strengthen and expand early childhood education programs while ensuring that they include strong parent involvement and education components.
• Have early educators adopt quality rating systems like Parent AWARE so parents can compare providers and effectiveness of programs.
• Expand and fund Head Start and Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs.
• Ensure that early education is incorporated as the beginning chapter in a child’s educational career
• Re-instate the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families in order to develop comprehensive, rather than piecemeal, approaches toward enhancing the lives of young Americans.
• Expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help working families pay for quality preschool for their children. Jim supports expanding the credit to more middle class families and making the credit refundable so low-income families can benefit as well.