Legislation that will pump $500 million into early childhood education moves to Committee

Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO) recently reintroduced the legislation called the Education Begins at Home Act (S. 503). The bill would provide $500 million in federal funds over three years to establish additional early childhood education services. These new funds, which represent the first dedicated federal funding in support of quality home visitation at the state and local level, will help states establish and/or expand home visitation programs. Parts of the monies also are earmarked for specific groups of children and families.

Highlights of S. 503

• Provides $400 million over three years to states for early childhood education home visitation programs.
• Provides $50 million over three years for early childhood education home visitation services to families with English Language Learners.
• Provides $50 million over three years for early childhood education home visitation services to military families.
• Strengthens the early childhood home visitation component of Head Start.

In addition to Parents as Teachers National Center, the bill has the official support of 15 major national children's organizations, as well as its sponsors, Senators Bond, Jim Talent (R-MO) and Michael DeWine (R-OH). Currently, S. 503 has been referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The next step is for the committee to consider the bill, so Sen. Bond recently mailed a "Dear Colleague" letter to gain additional co-sponsors/support for this consideration.

To learn more about this important piece of legislation that puts significant funding behind the ideas that children are born to learn, and that their parents are their first and most influential teachers, you can click on the links below:

Click here to ask your member of Congress to support the Education Begins at Home Act!

Click here for a copy of the legislation, or go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ to view the bill online.

Click here  for "Questions and Answers" about the Education Begins at Home Act.

For more information on this legislation and related advocacy efforts, please contact Lynn Tiede, Public Policy Manager, at 314-432-4330, ext. 297 or lynn.tiede@ParentsAsTeachers.org.