Research has shown that the first five years play an enormous role in a child’s ongoing development and future success. Since most kids are in a child care or preschool setting while their parents are at work, it’s critical that we invest in a high-quality early education system that provides the experiences kids need for healthy development.
Implementing a universal high-quality prekindergarten program has the potential to substantially narrow racial/ethnic disparities in academic readiness at kindergarten entry, according to a recent blog, How much can high-quality Universal Pre-K reduce achievement gaps? by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). The...
This week, the Wisconsin legislature launched the Children’s Caucus Steering Committee, a bipartisan and bicameral caucus co-chaired by Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan). The goal of the caucus will be to research and advocate for promising, evidence-based public policy that will improve...
A new study, It’s time for an ambitious national investment in America’s children, has been released by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). The report finds that investments in early childhood care and education would have enormous benefits for children, families, society, and the economy. The report endorses several recommendations to...
A new report, Equity Starts Early: How Chiefs Will Build High-Quality Early Education, has just been released by state education leaders promoting the importance of high-quality early education, especially for children from low-income families. Here’s a quote from the report: “High-quality early education programs can improve outcomes,...
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on Wisconsin poverty rates shows that the number of Wisconsin residents living in poverty averaged 13% across the 2010-2014 post-recession time frame — the highest since 1984, according to the analysis by UW-Madison's Applied Population Laboratory. But for children, it’s even worse. Nearly one in...
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