FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Brendan Daly, [email protected],(202) 794-1580

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 16, 2019) – Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) CEO Mark Shriver today applauded the Colorado House of Representatives for approving HB 1262, legislation that fully funds full-day kindergarten across the state.

“This legislation is a crucial step forward in ensuring that more kids in Colorado will have access to high-quality kindergarten and a strong start in life,” Shriver said. “Studies show that students who attend full-day kindergarten enter first grade better prepared to learn, show lasting gains in academic achievement, are more likely to graduate high school and are less likely to engage in crime – saving the state money in the long run. The type of environment and the quality of interaction to which children are exposed in the first five years of life greatly influence the outcomes of their adult lives.”

He praised Governor Jared Polis and bipartisan leaders of the Joint Budget Committee, the House Education Committee and the entire House for their strong support of full-day K. He urged the state Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass full funding for it. “By working together, the state’s political leaders are ensuring more Colorado kids can have a bright future,” Shriver said.

An organization that supports efforts to prioritize access to high-quality early childhood education across the country, SCAN is working with the Full-Day Kindergarten Now coalition to mobilize policymakers and advocates across the state on behalf of full-day K. SCAN volunteers have attended town hall meetings with legislators, testified before the House and Senate committees on full-day K, submitted petitions signed by more than 600 Coloradans to every member of the state House and written hundreds of postcards to the state Senate.

Advocates have also written letters to the editor, opinion articles, blogs and social media posts to spread the message about the importance of full-day K. They even worked with students at local schools to make valentine cards for legislators asking they “Have a Heart for Kids.”

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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 children around the world survive and thrive. 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.