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

The NGA Education and Workforce Committee added early learning to its platform Saturday.

Washington, D.C. (February 27, 2017) – Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) President Mark Shriver today applauded the National Governors Association for voting to include early childhood education in its policy platform.

“I was honored to join Save the Children Trustee Jennifer Garner on Saturday to speak with 40 of our nation’s governors about the critical importance of investing in high-quality early childhood education,” said Shriver. “We are thrilled that the governors placed such a strong focus on high-quality early learning during their winter meeting and hope that increased investments from these governors follow soon.”  

SCAN has encouraged the NGA’s Education and Workforce committee to move forward with this addition to its platform, which means that NGA will include early learning as part of its policy priorities, lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, national education presentations and other efforts. Until now, only K-12 and higher education were included.

“High-quality early childhood education is the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty,” said Shriver. “Low-income kids who don’t have access to programs like pre-K are at a disadvantage compared to their more well-off peers, which carries lifelong consequences. We look forward to working with governors and the NGA on this vital issue to ensure more kids are given a strong start in life.”  

To watch the Garner and Shriver’s full remarks to the NGA, click here.

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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. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.