Media Contact: Brendan Daly (202.794.1580)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 12, 2015) — Mark Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network, today issued the following statement praising U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for calling on Congress to improve access to high-quality preschool in a re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

“Every child deserves a strong start to life, and we can ensure all American kids have an equal opportunity to succeed by expanding access to high-quality preschool. Save the Children Action Network applauds Secretary Duncan for reinforcing the administration’s commitment to early childhood education by making early learning a top priority in education reform.”

“Broad bipartisan public support for expanding access to high-quality preschool has existed for years, but our leaders have thus far failed to invest in kids. Secretary Duncan’s call today to prioritize early childhood education should prompt legislators in both parties to take action. Save the Children Action Network remains committed to working in a bipartisan fashion at the federal, state and local levels to finding the funding mechanisms that can make expanded access to high-quality preschool a reality.”

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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.