ACT NOW - Contact your state legislators and tell them to preserve the progress made on behalf of young children and families.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Now more than ever, Massachusetts must invest its resources in policies that produce a strong return on taxpayers' investment.

Research demonstrates that high-quality early education is a sound economic development strategy that invests in human capital, improves health and well-being and increases academic achievement. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis estimates that high-quality early education provides a 16% return on every dollar invested.

In the Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) state budget, I urge you to preserve progress made on behalf of young children and families by maintaining current funding levels for early education and care and judiciously expanding the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Grant Program, the foundation for building a universally-accessible system of high-quality early education.

Specifically, please support the following:

3000-5075 - UPK Program - $23.59 million ($12.7 million increase) - To improve the quality of pre-kindergarten programs for children ages 2 years and 9 months to kindergarten eligibility, delivered through a mixed system of public and private providers.

3000-2000 - Access Management - $25.41 million (FY09 GAA level funding) - For the coordination of early education and care programs and services.

3000-5000 - Head Start - $9 million (MA Head Start Association funding request) - For grants to Head Start programs, provided that funds from this item may be expended on Early Head Start programs.

3000-6000 - Quality Supports - $1.74 million (FY09 GAA level funding) - To assist programs in achieving accreditation - a nationally recognized standard for program quality - established under the UPK program and consistent with the Early Childhood Program Standards for Three and Four Year Olds and Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences.

3000-6050 - Professional Development - $4.56 million (FY09 GAA level funding) - For professional development grants to programs working with early education and care providers, including the Building Careers Program that allows early and after-school educators to pursue and complete higher education degrees.

7030-1002 - Kindergarten Expansion Grants -$33.8 million (FY09 GAA level funding) - To provide incentives and resources to communities for the expansion and quality enhancement of full-day kindergarten programs.

7070-0065 - Early Educator Scholarships - $4 million (FY09 GAA level funding) - Provides tuition assistance to currently employed early educators to pursue an AA or BA in exchange for continued employment in the field.

3000-xxxx - Rate Reserve - $5 million (Maintain FY09 GAA allocation) - For a reserve to improve the quality, infrastructure and capacity of the early education and care programs serving low-income children through increased reimbursement rates to subsidized providers. This line item, which is currently under the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, should be instead administered by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Thank you for your commitment to our young children and families.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 09, 2009