Chris Martes, President and CEO of Strategies for Children, speaking at the launch of Pre-K for MA. Photo: Alyssa Haywoode for Strategies for Children
Launched this spring, the Pre-K for MA coalition has been growing, and we’re inviting you to join us by becoming a Voice of Support.
As we blogged in the spring, Pre-K for MA is an effort to expand access to high-quality early education programs. This effort is being led by Strategies for Children and Stand for Children Massachusetts.
As the Pre-K for MA website says, “High-quality early education has been shown to have a significant short- and long-term impact on children’s educational, health, social, and economic outcomes. Yet in Massachusetts, we have not invested enough in Pre-K, leaving the ‘kindergarten readiness’ challenge up to parents to figure out on their own.”
That’s why Pre-K for MA supports a bill filed by Representative Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley) and Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett) called “An Act Ensuring High Quality Pre-Kindergarten Education.”
The bill calls on Massachusetts to follow New Jersey by providing “access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs for 3-and 4-year-olds living in underperforming school districts,” as this fact sheet explains.
High-quality early education also has the support of most Massachusetts voters, as recent polling results show.
The coalition’s work is to build age-appropriate ways for children to succeed.
“Kindergarten readiness is about starting early to support and develop the whole-child: social/emotional skills, vocabulary, early math, executive function, creativity, and a love of learning,” the coalition website explains. “The best pre-kindergarten programs do this, but Massachusetts has not yet devoted enough public funding to ensure that all young children can access them.”
You can help the Pre-K for MA coalition by getting involved. Take action and sign the pledge to become a Voice of Support.
You will be joining more than 650 individuals and organizations. It’s a group that includes parents and early educators as well as leaders in education, business, and civic life who know that high-quality early education can close this state’s achievement gap.
To keep up with news about Pre-K for MA, go to the coalition’s home page or to its more detailed news page. You can also Like the coalition on Facebook and follow along on Twitter @PreK4MA.
And please, sign the pledge. It’s a great way to build public support and inspire Massachusetts leaders to expand high-quality early education so that more children are ready to succeed in school and life.
Eye on Early Education focuses on the twin goals of ensuring that Massachusetts children have access to high-quality early education and become proficient readers by the end of third grade.
You are correct. Children who receive high-quality education at an earlier age will stand out among their peers. It would be great if more public funds can be devoted to enable more children to get access to high-quality earlier education.
[…] As we’ve blogged, “The bill calls on Massachusetts to follow New Jersey by providing ‘access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs for 3-and 4-year-olds living in underperforming school districts.’” […]