A letter delivered this week to Legislators as they prepare for the upcoming Session underscores how crucial many business, education, religious and non-profit  groups in every corner of Louisiana believe the lack of attention to quality early child care and education is harming economic progress and citizens’ quality of life.

“High quality early care and education will prepare our students for a smart start in life, enable families to be productive in the workforce, and serve as an economic engine for local communities. That is why we support expanding access to high quality early learning across the state of Louisiana by restoring funding,” says the statement signed by nearly 30 major statewide organizations, including every United Way in the state.

We, the undersigned, believe high quality early care and education will prepare our students for a smart start in life, enable families to be productive in the workforce, and serve as an economic engine for local communities. That is why we support expanding access to high quality early learning across the state of Louisiana by restoring funding which has been cut more than 70 percent in the last eight years.

State funding for quality early child care and education helps working families afford and access these programs, but there continues to be no line-item increase in the proposed budget offered by the Governor.

Ninety percent of brain development takes place between birth and age four, wiring a child’s brain for future success or failure in school, work, and life. More than 40 percent of our kindergartners start school behind their peers – and those who start behind are more likely to stay behind. Quality early care and education can close this gap by developing cognitive and character skills when it matters most. It impacts future crime rates, education success rates and our potential workforce.