Tell the Senate to Pass Crucial Funding for our Nation's Kids!

Across the country, more than 70 percent of three and four year olds have no access to publicly funded early education programs. Half a million of these children come from low-income families. And state budget cuts across the country have led to reductions in pre-kindergarten and other early learning programs.

The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed the Early Learning Challenge Fund (ELCF), an important part of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221). Now it is on the Senate's agenda, awaiting your vote. This legislation would provide crucial funding for high-quality early education, at a time when our economy needs it most.

The ELCF would require qualifying states to set quality standards in early education programs across the country and raise the level of participation in these programs among disadvantaged children. An investment of this nature would help thousands of our nation's three and four year olds enter school ready to learn.

The fund would provide grants to proven programs. We know that only high-quality early childhood education yields the large return on investment and positive outcomes for families and communities that both taxpayers and policy makers are seeking.

The Obama administration and the House have made strong commitments to early education, but some are saying that the Senate might block this funding. As your constituent, I hope you will take a leadership role in passing this funding. We owe it to our children to make this investment to best prepare them for school, their careers and their lives.

Please support the Early Learning Challenge Fund in the Senate version of H.R. 3221. I thank you in advance for your vote, and I look forward to your response.