Federal Policies America’s Edge Supports

 

America’s Edge urges Congressional leadership to prioritize funding for high-quality early care and education programs.

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 a highly competitive global market.  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 roughly $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 2013, we will be urging Congressional members to:

1.    Protect Access to High Quality Early Care and Education and Increase Quality of Programs by:

a)  Fighting against cuts, and where possible seek increases, for Head Start, Early Head Start and both the discretionary and mandatory funding streams of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG);

b) Seek quality improvements to early learning programs through reauthorization of Head Start/Early Head Start, and CCDBG;

c) Maintain funding for Race to the Top, with focus on funding for Early Learning Challenge program and innovative high school programs;

d) Seek funding opportunities for innovative high school programs through ESEA and Perkins Reauthorizations (Tier II)

e ) Protect the current the structure of the CTC

2.     Strengthen our nation’s education system through federal education reform to:

  • Provide incentives for States to shift away from the traditional K-12 approach towards an educational system that incorporates early learning into the educational structure so kids are ready to learn and succeed when they enter kindergarten;
  • Support innovative high school education models, which can help vulnerable youth develop critical skills and be prepared for careers and/or post-secondary education;
  • Improve graduation rates measurement and accountability, including supporting both data systems that can serve as an “early warning system” for kids headed towards dropping out, as well as the use of evidence-based programs to keep kids in school and on the path towards graduation;
  • Provide the support of K-12 programs which enhance academic outcomes;
  • Creates a system of recruitment, professional development and retention for teachers so that more students – especially those most at-risk for adverse academic outcomes– have access to high-quality teachers; and
  • Ensure that, to the maximum extent possible, funds are directed toward evidence-based approaches in the highest-need communities.