Senate Supports Early Childhood Education Programs

On March 31, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a resolution (S. Res. 418) designating the week beginning April 2, 2006, as the “Week of the Young Child.” The resolution recognizes the important role of early childhood education programs and urges Americans to appreciate these programs, their young children, and those who care for and educate young children.

Sponsored by Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO), the resolution contains a number of findings, including:

• There are 20 million children under the age of 5 in the United States;
• Low-income children who have enrolled in quality, comprehensive early childhood education programs improve their cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development; and are less likely to be placed in special education; drop out of school; and engage in juvenile delinquency;
• Many children eligible for, and in need of, quality early childhood education services are not served due to inadequate funding;
• Over 4 million children under the age of 5 live in poverty;
• Only about 1/2 of all preschoolers who are eligible to participate in Head Start programs have the opportunity to do so, and even fewer eligible babies and toddlers receive the opportunity to participate in Early Head Start; and
• Only about 1 out of every 7 eligible children receives an amount of child care assistance sufficient to enable the parents of the child to continue working; and provide the child with safe and nurturing early childhood care and education.