Federal Policies America's Edge Supports
On May 7, 2010, America’s Edge submitted comments to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions regarding the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In her letter, National Director Susan Gates urged the committee to consider two key reforms and investments to ensure businesses have a workforce with the 21st-century knowledge, skills, and abilities we need: new dedicated funding to expand access to high-quality early education and meaningful accountability for high school graduation rates.
America’s Edge supports federal early care and education programs that are critical to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and abilities businesses need in the 21st century. Funding for these programs will immediately infuse dollars into our local economies and create jobs in our communities:
- Every $1 invested in early care and education generates nearly $2 for the local economy.
- Spending by every 4 workers employed in early care and education supports an additional new job in another sector of the local economy.
Investment in these programs will also lay the foundation for long-term economic security by:
- Increasing graduation rates by 44%;
- Increasing earnings by 36%; and
- Generating a return on investment of up to $16 for every $1 spent
In 2010, America’s Edge members are supporting:
- Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): Enact a strong reauthorization of CCDBG that significantly expands access to and improves the quality of childcare funded under the program. For FY2011, we urge Congress to increase CCDBG funding by $1 billion over FY2010 levels. (Learn more.)
- Early Head Start and Head Start: Increase discretionary funding for Head Start and Early Head Start by nearly $1 billion for FY2011. (Learn more.)