PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA

Child Start supports policies designed to prepare young children for lifelong success.

At Home: Child Start supports policies that:

• connect families to a network of resources that support early childhood development
• recognize parents as their children’s first and most important teacher
• provide home visiting services that support pregnant women and families with young children

In Child Care: Child Start supports policies that:

• promote rigorous child care quality standards
• support families in accessing quality early childhood settings for their children
• provide incentives and resources for child care providers to improve child care quality and make use of professional development opportunities
• compensate child care providers according to qualifications

In Preschool: Child Start supports policies that:

• promote rigorous preschool quality standards
• make high-quality preschools  accessible to at-risk families
• provide incentives and resources for preschool teachers to improve quality and make use of professional development opportunities
• facilitate the transition from preschool to kindergarten
• include parents in child development efforts

Child Start recognizes that early childhood policies affect the whole community

K-12 education
Studies show that early childhood programs are the BEST way to support improved academic outcomes in K – 12. Children who participate in high-quality early childhood education programs are far more likely to enter kindergarten ready to learn, read at grade level by third grade, and graduate from high school or even college (Gormley et al, 2005; Belfield et al, 2006; Barnett & Masse, 2007).

Brain Development
Ninety percent of a child’s brain development occurs before age five. High-quality early childhood services reach children during a crucial period when foundational brain architecture is formed and experience shapes social competency, cognitive ability and mental health (Mustard, 2008).

Return on Investment
Decades of research have shown that for every $1 invested in high-quality early childhood programs, society will save $7 down the road in the form of reduced demand on the social welfare system, decreased juvenile crime, and improved participation in the economy (Calman & Tarr-Whelan, 2005).