New York
Our 2012 Policy Priorities
In 2012, our America’s Edge members will be urging their state legislators to:
- Restore the expected loss of federal funding for child care subsidies and commit to establishing a long-term funding stream for child care.
- Prepare New York for full implementation of QUALITYstarsNY, the state’s quality rating and improvement system for early learning programs.
- Maintain the state’s commitment of $384.3 million to support pre-K services for nearly 99,000 four-year-olds in New York.
Did you know that in New York:
- 4.4 million children (under the age of 18) live in the state;
- About 1 out of every 3 children live in a household with only one parent;
- Only 15 percent of 3-year-olds and 59 percent of 4-year-olds were enrolled in state-funded pre-kindergarten, Head Start or a special education preschool program;
- 70 percent of eighth graders are below grade level in math;
- 65 percent of fourth graders are reading below grade level; and
- 28 percent of high school students do not graduate on time with a high school diploma.
“My experience in private industry and work force development has shown that when you invest in people at an early age, you build a solid foundation that remains with them throughout their life.”
-Gary M. Nicklaus, President, Career Connections, LLC, Albany, NY
America’s Edge in the News
ECE PolicyWorks mentioned America’s Edge in a blog post about the unique way in which business leaders can support education reform. The post includes a video of business leaders speaking about why these programs are important for economic growth. Click here to read the blog and watch the video.
On August 13, the Times Beacon Record published an article that highlights the America’s Edge report findings that early learning investments will actually boost the local economy. Click here to read, “Little Ed program that could.”
America’s Edge member Robert Freaso, Vital Tools USA, wrote a letter-to-the-editor in response to the article, and it was published here: “Pre-K needs boost.”
Op-eds and Letters-to-the-Editor by America’s Edge Members
- December 9, 2011, Albany Times Union letter-to-the-editor, “Early learning key to better outlook”
- October 3, 2011, Public News Service article, “Courting the ‘Supercommittee’ on Behalf of Kids”
- August 2, 2011, Schenectady Gazette letter-to-the-editor by Sandy Cohn, “Supporting early child education does pay off”
- June 24, 2011, Albany Times Union letter-to-the-editor by Jeff Goronkin, “Start early to win fight against fat”
- April 8, 2011, Long Island Business News op-ed by Nancy Rausch-Douzinas, “Douzinas: Invest early”
- February 4, 2011 Rochester Business Journal Letter to the Editor by James Brush, “Early learning investments pay off.”
- November 19, 2010 Long Island Business News op-ed by John Murcott, VP Products and Strategy and Cofounder of Karma411, “Focus on early education.”
- September 15, 2010 Troy Record Letter to the Editor by Jeff Goronkin, CEO of iZoca, “Pulse of the People: It will pay off.”
- August 19, 2010 Albany Times Union op-ed by Reid Hislop, VP of Plug Power, “Early learning paves future.”
- August 18, 2010 Times Beacon Record letter to the editor by Robert Freaso, Owner of Vital Tools USA, “Pre-K needs boost.”
- March 15, 2010 Albany Times Union op-ed by John C. Cavalier and F. Michael Tucker, “Educate our kids, and the jobs will be there.”
- November 18, 2009 Albany Times Union Letter to the Editor by Gary M. Nicklaus, “Save home visits from budget cuts.”
America’s Edge Releases New Report in Albany, NY
Business leaders see a major economic boost for New York by expanding Childcare and Pre-K. Watch the video below for highlights from the news conference featuring America’s Edge members from New York. Click here to read the full report.
Report Coverage
- March 12, 2010, Albany Times Union, “Childcare Payoff.”
- March 11, 2010, Legislative Gazette, “Toddlers can save New York.”
- March 11, 2010, WAMC, “Business leaders see major economic boost for NY by expanding child care and pre-K.”
“In the face of the current budget deficit, we need to do the math and make sure we look at all types of investments and determine which ones can give us the biggest return possible. I was surprised to learn that investments in quality early care and education is a very effective way to help jump-start New York’s economy. As the America’s Edge report points out, these investments increase sales in local goods as much or more as investments in other major sectors.”
-State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-NY), speaking at an America’s Edge press conference, March 11, 2010
Sign-On Letters
*For more information, contact Lori King-Kocsis at (518) 396-5776, or lorikk@AmericasEdge.org.