March 2023 Monthly Update
Dear Friends and Partners,
With the 2023 legislative session just around the corner, we’d like to keep you all informed on our activities. As a leading member of the Ready Louisiana Coalition, our primary focus this session is going to be funding. Right now, the state is facing a child care fiscal cliff, with 16,000 child care seats in danger of being lost as federal funds expire this July. Our Coalition is urging legislators to save those seats by:
- Appropriating $200 million of ongoing state money to child care access
- Expanding access to 9,000 more children by appropriating an additional $115 million as recommended by the Early Childhood Care and Education Commission
- Finally, we are urging the Legislature to appropriate 10% of recognized excess funds to the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund, which matches local investments in early care and education dollar-for-dollar.
If you are interested in receiving weekly updates during the legislative session, including action alerts, please feel free to sign up for membership in the Ready Louisiana Coalition by contacting Candace Weber at info@readylouisiana.org.
The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children continues to grow! Our newest team member and Policy Analyst is Zoe Johnson. Zoe utilizes her background as a macro social worker to analyze data and advocate for policies that will provide Louisiana’s young children with the resources they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives. We pride ourselves in advocating for our youngest learners and know Zoe will do just that. Join us in welcoming her to the team.
Throughout the month of March, we took the time to highlight women that have advocated and impacted early childhood education in the state on our social media platforms for Women’s History Month. Scroll down to see all the great women we spotlighted this month.
As we head into April, we ask that you save the date for Louisiana’s Week of the Young Child (WOYC) April 1st – April 7th. The Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize that children’s opportunities are our responsibilities and to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment that will promote their early learning. Mark your calendars!
Thank you for advocating on behalf of young children and families in Louisiana because for us to geaux far, we must geaux together.