Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/challenging-states-to-improve-quality-a-new-federal-proposal/5018920/
You know that ‘quality’ shouldn’t be something extra in your child care program. You strive every day to provide the best possible environment and services to your children and families. As a provider, you know that quality counts, and that quality costs! Some in Washington are beginning to get this, too. The Obama Administration and leaders in Congress have worked together and this summer proposed an all-new effort to help states prioritize investing in the quality of early childhood learning across all program settings and targeted to the most at-risk children.Early Learning Challenge Fund legislation
In July, U.S. Representative George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, introduced a major higher education initiative: the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. The bill aims to reform the college student loan system, with part of the anticipated savings paying for a new Early Learning Challenge Fund.
The Challenge Fund proposal makes a significant new investment in early childhood development programs: $1 billion per year over 8 years. It places a new focus on the development of state early learning systems, and makes a commitment to increasing the number of low-income children in high-quality programs.
Grants to states
The Early Learning Challenge Fund ...