March 2024 Monthly Update
With the 2024 legislative session in full swing, 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 maintaining current investment. With Congress’ failure to replace relief funds for child care, there remain more than 100,000 unserved in-need children, birth to age 3, in the state. Without further investment, too many Louisiana families will not have access to affordable, quality child care and too many children will arrive at kindergarten behind. Our Coalition is urging legislators to invest by:
- Appropriate an additional $115 million to expand access to high-quality early care and education for more in-need children by 2032, as previously recommended by the bipartisan Louisiana Early Childhood Care and Education Commission;
- Appropriate at least $31 million in one-time funds to the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund, which matches local investments in early care and education dollar-for-dollar, to ensure the success of the program for another year and serve thousands of children in communities across the state; and
- Ensure that future Legislatures keep the dollar-for-dollar promise to local governments by modifying the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund statute to require matching state appropriations are made every year.
If you are interested in receiving weekly updates during the legislative session, please feel free to sign up for membership in the Ready Louisiana Coalition by contacting Candace Weber, Ph.D., at info@readylouisiana.org.
February is an entire month focused on raising awareness about early care and education in communities across the state. 430 million media impressions. 57 news stories about early care and education in Louisiana. 11 events in throughout the state and online. 422 people in attendance–elected officials, parents, early childhood professionals, business leaders, advocates, and so many others. A gubernatorial proclamation. This was made possible through your sponsorship and partnership of Louisiana Early Ed Month 2024. Together, we are shifting the narrative across the state so everyone recognizes how critical early care and education is to our children, families, economy, and state. Attached is an overview of some of the highlights from Early Ed Month.
Throughout March, we took the time to highlight the team, asking them their interpretation of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children’s mission on our social media platforms for Women’s History Month. Scroll down to see all the great women we spotlighted this month.
Thank you for advocating on behalf of young children and families in Louisiana!