February 2023 Monthly Update
Dear Friends and Partners,
We are excited to share that Early Ed Month 2023 was an enormous success. Over 450 parents, advocates, business leaders, and elected officials across the state participated in 12 events throughout the month. Scroll down for a recap below!
Early Ed Month 2023 would not be possible without our sponsors! Thank you to Entergy Corporation, LLC for being the title sponsor and to Jones Walker LLP, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Geaux Far Louisiana, Cartel Strategies, Clara’s Little Lambs, Save the Children Action Network, ResourceFull Consulting, Agenda for Children, Gambel Communications, For Providers by Providers, Pelican Partners, Urban League of Louisiana, Power Coalition For Equity and Justice, Emergent Method, Mele Printing, and Baptist Community Ministries.
We also want to thank the Louisiana Early Childhood Business Roundtable, Louisiana Association of United Ways, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, United Way of Northwest Louisiana, United Way of Southwest Louisiana, Capital Area United Way, United Way of Acadiana, United Way of Central Louisiana, and United Way of Northeast Louisiana for co-hosting regional tours of child care centers across the state in Southeast Louisiana, Northwest Louisiana, Southwest Louisiana, the Capitol Region, Acadiana, Central Louisiana, Southwest Louisiana, and Northeast Louisiana. These regional tours brought further awareness to ways families and child care providers are disproportionately impacted across regions and parishes.
Also in February, Governor John Bel Edwards released the final executive budget of his administration. This proposal includes $51 million in ongoing state money for increased access for child care and $26 million in one-time money to be directed to the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund, which offers locals a dollar-for-dollar match on their access efforts. We applaud Governor Edwards for this recommendation, while acknowledging that the state faces a $200 million child care fiscal cliff when federal funds expire this year, eliminating 16,000 seats for in-need children statewide. Louisiana cannot afford to go backwards on this issue, so we urge legislators to use every available resource to support our youngest learners.
With the 2023 legislative session just around the corner, we couldn’t be more grateful that early care and education was highlighted so well in February. Thank you for advocating on behalf of young children and families in Louisiana!