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

Washington, D.C. (February 9, 2017) – Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) President Mark Shriver issued the following statement today on Governor Chris Sununu’s proposed New Hampshire state budget, which includes $18 million over two years in funding for targeted full-day kindergarten programs.

“I applaud Governor Sununu for investing in kids by including funding for targeted full-day kindergarten programs in his first state budget, as he committed to do in his campaign for governor.

“Governor Sununu could have ignored supporters of full-day kindergarten and prioritized other policy items, but he understands the immense benefits of early childhood education, which puts kids on a path toward success.

“A full day of learning offers several social, emotional and intellectual benefits to kindergarteners. They have more time to focus on activities, to reflect on what they have done and to transition between tasks. If children are taught by quality teachers using an age-appropriate curriculum in small sized classes, they can take advantage of the additional learning time that a full day allows.

“The Governor’s budget is a first step, but there is much more work to do. I urge the state legislature to vote for adequacy funding of full-day kindergarten for all New Hampshire 5-year-olds. This is a smart and necessary investment in the future of New Hampshire’s kids and economy.”

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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.