A Strong Start Makes a Difference
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A Strong Start Makes a Difference Teachers & Parents share powerful stories about the importance of high quality early learning. About the Campaign The Strong Start for Children - Building America’s Future Campaign is an ever-expanding, diverse effort of national, state, and local groups united in support of increased federal early childhood investments and the President’s Preschool Proposal, which would expand access to high-quality early learning opportunities for low-and moderate-income children and families. The Campaign has three goals: increase public awareness about the importance of the early years to a child’s success in school and in life, build support among public officials for greater investments in early learning, and expand the voices of support for young children and their families. We’d like to thank the following for their contributions to this book: American Federation of Teachers Child Care Aware of America Children’s Defense Fund Committee for Economic Development Early Care and Education Consortium First Five Years Fund Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Jumpstart MomsRising National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) National Education Association National Head Start Association National Women’s Law Center ReadyNation Zero to Three Dear Senator, Early Learning! Lots of people are talking about it and we wanted to hear from the educators and parents who regularly witness the powerful effects of high-quality early learning. We asked individuals across the country to tell us about their experiences and what early learning has meant to the children in their lives. In this book you’ll find firsthand stories from preschool teachers, early-care providers, home visitors, parents, elementary-school teachers, and business leaders from across the country. Every day many of these individuals are on the ground working with children. They are the best eye witnesses to the results of high-quality early learning, and their stories show how an excellent early learning experience can unlock a child’s potential. Unfortunately hundreds of thousands of American children do not get to experience high-quality early learning. To change that harsh reality, a plan has been proposed to help children get a strong start. This historic plan will make high-quality prekindergarten available for low- and moderate-income 4-year-olds, increase the availability of high-quality child care options for infants and toddlers through partnerships between Early Head Start and child care, and expand voluntary home visiting. This is a bold step toward ensuring that all of our children succeed in school and in life. These stories will show you just how much high-quality early learning can accomplish for children and families. We look forward to working with you and your colleagues to expand access to these opportunities for America’s most vulnerable children. Sincerely, The Strong Start for Children Campaign Alabama ................................................ 2 Alaska ................................................... 3 Arizona .................................................. 4 Arkansas ............................................... 6 California ............................................... 8 Colorado ................................................18 Connecticut ...........................................20 Delaware ...............................................22 District of Columbia ...............................23 Contents Florida ...................................................25 Georgia ..................................................27 Hawaii ................................................... 28 Idaho ..................................................... 29 Illinois .................................................... 30 Indiana .................................................. 34 Iowa ...................................................... 35 Kansas ...................................................38 Kentucky ................................................39 Louisiana ...............................................40 Maine ....................................................41 Maryland ...............................................43 Massachusetts ......................................47 Michigan ...............................................50 Minnesota .............................................52 Mississippi ............................................56 Missouri .................................................57 Montana ................................................59 Nebraska ............................................... 61 Nevada .................................................. 62 New Hampshire .....................................64 New Jersey ............................................. 65 New Mexico ...........................................69 New York ................................................71 North Carolina .......................................79 North Dakota .........................................81 Ohio .......................................................82 Oklahoma .............................................. 85 Oregon .................................................. 87 Pennsylvania .........................................89 Rhode Island .........................................95 South Carolina .......................................96 South Dakota ........................................97 Tennessee ..............................................98 Texas ......................................................99 Utah ................................................... 102 Vermont .............................................. 103 Virginia ...............................................104 Washington ........................................108 West Virginia ...................................... 111 Wisconsin ...........................................112 Wyoming .............................................114 Business Leaders ...............................115 Alabama When addressing issues of equity, it is important to My 6 year old suffered from chronic ear infections realize that some of the achievement gaps can be from age 4 months until age 5. The inability to hear attributed to gaps in access that arose before well contributed to a diagnosis of developmental Kindergarten. As a nation, we would be remiss if we delay. Thankfully, due to a teacher I had when I stud- allow students to enter into the educational arena ied for my AAS in Early Childhood Education, I knew behind their peers because of their zip code. exactly what to do to give him the extra boost I knew he would need. We enrolled him in Just 4 Alison Grizzle Developmentally Laboratory School, Mobile, AL. He Birmingham, Alabama received speech, one on one instruction and other early intervention services to help him gain the kindergarten skills he would need. I was so happy with My oldest daughter is a product of participating in the education he received at that school. His Head Start. She is an advanced diploma honor high kindergarten year was successful because of it. He school graduate, honor college student, full-time will begin 1st grade next week and while he is still in employed, volunteer with various community projects need of extra supports, I know he is better than what i.e., assist senior citizens, clean neighborhood, read he would have been without Just 4. to children, active church member, as well as a youth motivational speaker. She participated in a Head Start Latrece Johnson Program for two years, our family encountered an Mobile, Alabama extremely positive educational and supportive experi- ence. She really enjoyed the caring/nurturing, cogni- tive and social/emotional development; for more than Thank god for the state of Alabama helping me with fifteen years later, she remembered her teacher’s child care!! Because of them I was able to go to school name. I felt a little embarrassed that I forgot her Head and graduate. Child care was going to be a hardship Start teacher’s name. As the mother, I should have due to the fact that I didn’t have too much of a sup- remembered that. I am proud that my daughter’s port group when my children were really young. teacher had such a positive impact on her at age Sonya McCollum three and four that she would remember her full Mobile, Alabama name. Angela Seay Greenville, Alabama My husband and I have 6 kids ages 2-16. We can’t afford not to work. Even with each of us working full time, we can’t afford childcare. We are also taking care of our 17 year old nephew. We don’t need cuts. She participated in a Head Start We need more childcare. The waiting lists are unbe- Program for two years, our family lievable. Alabama needs pre-K. All children deserve encountered an extremely positive an education as early as possbile. It is just so expen- sive and there are not enough Head Starts and Early educational and supportive Head Starts in Alabama. Please help. experience. Felicia Eicher Phenix City, Alabama 2 A STRONG START MAKES A DIFFERENCE • STORIES FROM 50 STATES Alaska I moved here to Sitka, Alaska in 2004 to go to Shel- I am a high school special education teacher in don Jackson College to get my elementary education Alaska. We are so very happy to have Head Start in teaching degree. Unfortunately, when I finished my our village. The children love going to school, and the junior year in 2007, the school closed because it was parents (mostly Native Alaskans) are supportive and bankrupt, and I was never able