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

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21, 2016) – Save the Children Action Network President (SCAN) Mark Shriver issued the following statement today on the decision by delegates at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland to remove language opposing early childhood education from the GOP platform.

“Last week, the GOP platform committee approved an amendment to the platform opposing early childhood 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.’

“I am thankful to the delegates at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland for listening to those of us who urged them to remove this language, which conflicted with the strong support for early education expressed by party leaders and the vast majority of Republican voters.

“In doing so, the delegates heeded decades of research and the voices of Republican voters, who know that while parents have the ultimate responsibility to raise their children, high-quality early childhood education programs can assist families so all children have an equal opportunity to succeed.

“In fact, 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.

“SCAN will continue to educate and engage with GOP leaders on this vital issue at the state, local and federal level because we know every child deserves a strong start in life. We must ensure that all our elected officials understand the need to invest in kids. It is crucial to the future success of our nation.”

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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.