Media Contact: Allie Wright, [email protected], (202) 794-1823

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 12, 2016) – Save the Children Action Network President Mark Shriver issued the following statement today on the Republican Party’s platform committee approving platform language opposing early child education because, as one committee member said, it “inserts the state in the family relationship in the very early stages of a child’s life.”

“The Republican platform committee’s decision to oppose early childhood education is deeply disappointing and stands in direct conflict with party leaders and nearly nine out of 10 Republican voters who recognize and embrace its value in enhancing child learning.

“While we all agree that parents have the ultimate responsibility to raise their children, high-quality early childhood education programs assist families so all children have an equal opportunity to succeed. That benefits us all – for every dollar we invest in high-quality early learning, we get $7 back in avoiding costly interventions later in life.

“In a poll conducted for Save the Children Action Network in five battleground states last year, 87 percent of Republicans said the years zero to 5 are extremely or very important to the learning and development of a child.

“A separate poll conducted in March for the Shriver Report Snapshot, found that 83 percent of moms – Republicans, Democrats and independents – said they would likely support a political candidate who is in favor of expanding quality early childhood education programs in the U.S.

“In our work with Republican presidential candidates and with the Republican majority on Capitol Hill, we have seen strong support for early childhood education and we will continue to engage with GOP leaders on this vital issue.

“Delegates at the convention should heed decades of research and the voices of Republican voters and leaders and reverse this decision by the platform committee.”

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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.