Dear Early Education Advocates:
The Special Session to address the budget deficit caused by the COVID-19 health crisis is underway. Unfortunately, only $3.7m in new funding is for early educators.
Research consistently shows that investing in early learning benefits ALL children, families and society. Yet, it is always the first to be cut. Early learning cannot be pushed aside, as it is at the core of our economy.
Governor Northam’s proposed budget includes:
- $3.7m in new funding for teacher recruitment & retention for over 2,000 teachers to remain in the classroom. This improves classroom quality for children.
- $16.6m redirected Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) funding to provide access for at-risk 3- & 4-year-olds.
Additionally, Delegate David Bulova introduced a budget amendment to provide:
- $80m from the federal Coronaviurs Relief Fund to support community and regional grant opportunities for meeting child care needs during the public health emergency.
Click here to find your delegate or senator’s contact information and tell them that early learning must be a priority.
As we move forward to the 2021 session, it is imperative that we restore the $85m budget package passed by the General Assembly in March and invest in access, equity, quality & impact.
It cannot be an either-or. We must consistently fund early learning, K-12 and higher education. Education cannot be cut due to budgetary constraints or economic downturns. Every child should have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.
Together, we will continue to make equitable access to high quality early learning a top priority even in these challenging times. NOW is the time to close the opportunity gaps for ALL children.
We are going to launch a campaign for the 2021 General Assembly session. Stay tuned and be ready to ACT!
Sincerely,
Lisa Howard
President & CEO, E3: Elevate Early Education & The New E3 School
Note: E3: Elevate Early Education and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries are privately-funded. We advocate for public dollars, but E3 does not take them.