As a concerned young adult thinking of our future, I strongly believe that all children deserve a strong start in life. And I’m not alone.

A vast majority of likely voters in Tennessee — both Republican and Democrat — who responded to a recent poll commissioned by Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) said they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports investments in high-quality early childhood education.

We know that ensuring our children have a bright future is a bipartisan issue, and I have been pleased to see many gubernatorial candidates discuss their support for programs such as pre-K.

A child’s brain is nearly developed before they enter kindergarten, so it’s critical to guarantee they have access to programs that will help them gain the cognitive and social skills that will lead to success later in life.

Alongside other SCAN supporters across the Volunteer State, I look forward to continuing to urge all the candidates to explain their position on early childhood education.

Please join us to encourage our state’s next governor to put our children — and our collective future — first.

Rachael Horn