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Save The Children Action Network Urges Congress to Prioritize Early Childhood Education in Student Success Act Vote


WASHINGTON, D.C. – WEBWIRE

Save the Children Action Network today called on the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for amendments that prioritize high-quality early childhood education as part of the Student Success Act (H.R. 5), the next iteration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The House is expected to vote today on amendments to the Student Success Act, with a vote tonight or tomorrow on the final bill.

“Today Congress has the opportunity to vote for kids, and Save the Children Action Network calls on our representatives to prioritize several key amendments to the Student Success Act that will make early childhood education more readily available for American children,” said Mark Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network. “The Pay for Success amendment is a great step forward in utilizing new and creative financing methods for K-12 education, and is critically needed now to finance early childhood education around the nation.”

Yesterday, several key amendments were introduced to prioritize early education provisions in the bill, including one that would allow states and local education agencies to use the innovative financing mechanism Pay for Success to create grants to foster professional development for teachers. The bipartisan Pay for Success amendment, offered by Representatives Todd Young (R-IN) and John Delaney (D-MD),would save money for taxpayers because private investors assume upfront financial risk, and the government only pays if the teacher training achieves specific, evidence-based results.

Another amendment to H.R. 5 would allow ESEA funding for early childhood professional development training for early learning educators.

Earlier this month, Save the Children Action Network joined a coalition of more than 40 organizations, known as the Grow American Stronger Coalition, in releasing recommendations to Congressional leaders on the need to incorporate strong early childhood education provisions in ESEA. The letter details the considerable research that links high-quality early learning programs to boosting health, education, and economic outcomes for children and families. It also calls for the creation of a dedicated funding stream for early childhood education for low-and-moderate income families.

About Save the Children Action Network
Founded by Save the Children in 2014, Save the Children Action Network is a new organization dedicated to mobilizing Americans around a commitment that cannot wait — investing in early childhood now. Established to expand Save the Children’s capacity to transform young lives, Save the Children Action Network engages our government, businesses, partner organizations and supporters to take bold action and to hold our elected leaders accountable for the youngest, and too often forgotten, global citizens — our children.


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