Early Childhood Funding and the American Rescue Plan
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 2:22 pm
Dear Colleagues,
Each year the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) sponsors the Week of the Young Child during the month of April, to bring awareness and support to the work of early childhood educators, and children and families’ equitable access to high-quality, affordable early childhood education. In the spirit of the Week of the Young Child, I’d like to ask each of you to join me in supporting this attached proposal from United Way for Greater Austin and the Austin/Travis County Success By 6 Coalition Leadership Team which would take just under $12 million to fully fund. I believe this proposal directly addresses the early childhood education / childcare goals that we prioritized for deploying our American Rescue Plan funding in item 111 in March.
Research shows that the first years of a child’s life are the period of the most rapid brain development and lay the foundation for all future learning, and that high-quality early education supports development and learning. Moreover, access to quality early learning and care is necessary for parents to return to work and it is the most effective way to grow the next generation’s collective human potential. I believe this proposal will not only meet immediate needs, but also strengthen and transform this critical sector of our economy and social infrastructure. The Austin/Travis County Success By 6 Coalition Leadership Team has worked diligently to create a plan that is informed by data, includes buy-in and input from community stakeholders, and is focused on systemic change that will make this sector more resilient in the future.
We all know that early childhood educators have been on the frontlines throughout the pandemic, demonstrating the importance of their work for children, families, and the economy and we know that a lack of access to high quality early care and education disproportionately disadvantages families of color. Young children need skilled early childhood educators, and high-quality early care and education; working families need sufficient high-quality, affordable child care available in the community beginning at birth; and early childhood workers need sustainable wages commensurate with the education and skills they bring to their complex and essential work.
It’s my hope that we will be able to pursue this plan in collaboration with other local government partners, but that each of you will join me in ensuring full-funding of this proposal as we move forward with our allocations of local funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Staff from United Way and members of the Success by 6 Coalition are available to communicate with any of you with questions about this proposal.
Regards,
Alison Alter
Plan: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 31111.docx
Each year the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) sponsors the Week of the Young Child during the month of April, to bring awareness and support to the work of early childhood educators, and children and families’ equitable access to high-quality, affordable early childhood education. In the spirit of the Week of the Young Child, I’d like to ask each of you to join me in supporting this attached proposal from United Way for Greater Austin and the Austin/Travis County Success By 6 Coalition Leadership Team which would take just under $12 million to fully fund. I believe this proposal directly addresses the early childhood education / childcare goals that we prioritized for deploying our American Rescue Plan funding in item 111 in March.
Research shows that the first years of a child’s life are the period of the most rapid brain development and lay the foundation for all future learning, and that high-quality early education supports development and learning. Moreover, access to quality early learning and care is necessary for parents to return to work and it is the most effective way to grow the next generation’s collective human potential. I believe this proposal will not only meet immediate needs, but also strengthen and transform this critical sector of our economy and social infrastructure. The Austin/Travis County Success By 6 Coalition Leadership Team has worked diligently to create a plan that is informed by data, includes buy-in and input from community stakeholders, and is focused on systemic change that will make this sector more resilient in the future.
We all know that early childhood educators have been on the frontlines throughout the pandemic, demonstrating the importance of their work for children, families, and the economy and we know that a lack of access to high quality early care and education disproportionately disadvantages families of color. Young children need skilled early childhood educators, and high-quality early care and education; working families need sufficient high-quality, affordable child care available in the community beginning at birth; and early childhood workers need sustainable wages commensurate with the education and skills they bring to their complex and essential work.
It’s my hope that we will be able to pursue this plan in collaboration with other local government partners, but that each of you will join me in ensuring full-funding of this proposal as we move forward with our allocations of local funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Staff from United Way and members of the Success by 6 Coalition are available to communicate with any of you with questions about this proposal.
Regards,
Alison Alter
Plan: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 31111.docx