Media Contact: Brendan Daly (202.794.1580)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 22, 2015) – Save the Children Action Network today applauded the King County Council for voting to include the Best Starts for Kids initiative on the ballot in November so county residents can vote to increase access to early education programs.

The Best Starts for Kids initiative would create new early learning and intervention programs in King County for children aged 5 and under and create programs in the community to help families best prepare children to succeed in school by expanding access to early learning and home visiting programs. By focusing on early development, with strategies such as increased access to affordable, healthy foods and flexible funding for families and youth to prevent homelessness, King County officials can better prevent crises from occurring and create communities that reinforce their early progress.

“We want to further Washington’s reputation as a nationally recognized leader in early learning by implementing smart policies that will ensure more children have access to high-quality early education programs so they all have a bright future,” said Mark Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network. “The people of King County should vote yes in November because early learning interventions are the most effective way to ensure our kids are put on a path to success.”

Council Vice Chair Joe McDermott is the sponsor of the initiative, which passed by a 8-1 vote.

Best Starts for Kids will deliver safer, healthier communities and a better-prepared workforce. Studies show increased investments in early childhood result in increased numbers of babies born at healthy weights, reduced numbers of abused, neglected and homeless children and decreased numbers of young people in the criminal justice system.

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Save the Children Action Network is the political voice for kids. We believe that every child deserves the best start in life. That’s why we’re building bipartisan will and voter support to make sure every child in the U.S. has access to high-quality early learning and that no mother or child around the globe dies from a preventable disease or illness. By investing in kids and holding leaders accountable, we are helping kids from birth to age five survive and thrive.