Early childhood education must be at the forefront of the “State of the Kids” agenda.

Story by Elly Z – Houston, TX.

When I arrived in America at the age of 4, I knew two words — my first and last name. Yet when I entered elementary school, I learned and loved hundreds more. Titles from Judy Moody to Geronimo Stilton and Pinkalicious picture books took root.  
 
My family couldn’t afford extra tutoring or workbooks. My parents predominantly spoke Chinese. Still, those early trips to the library and accessible public reading spaces prepared me for a lifetime of learning. My mom would take siblings and I to Barnes & Nobles to browse for hours. Instead of purchasing the entire Dork Diaries series, I simply read four in one sitting.  
 
And now, as a high schooler hoping to major in English, I understand just how foundational they were. But countless children do not have the same access. Quality education should not depend on your ZIP Code. 
 
In my sprawling city of Houston, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation found that 1 book is available for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods. Early learning has become a privilege, with only 23% of eligible children currently being served in Head Start programs, according to the First Five Years Fund. Without spaces where reading feels natural and safe, literacy becomes intimidating instead of empowering. Families face not just time and transportation barriers, but entire systems show no sympathy to the toxic stress from a 24/7 fight-or-flight mental state. 
 
America’s political leaders must realize that if Texans are to meaningfully participate in their community, they need strong foundations for early self-expression and voice. And that must begin with early childhood education and strong literacy programs. 
 
This year, I founded Chapter Zero, supported by Save the Children Action Network, to expand access to literacy opportunities for low- and middle-income families. Through citywide book drives, my peers and I gathered thousands of donated books and assembled family-centered literacy kits. These kits provide essential infrastructure to create and sustain shared family reading routines.  
 
We have reached hundreds of early learners across Title 1 elementary schools, hospitals and shelters. I’ve met parents who told me these were the first books their children had ever owned. Many of these young kids clutched their stuffed reading buddies to their books with shy excitement. 

These moments were equally fulfilling and sobering because they revealed the scale of the problem.  
Early childhood education must be at the forefront of the “State of the Kids” agenda. Political leaders must commit to affordable and accessible opportunities in expanding Head Start, increasing funding for all early learning infrastructure and supporting more reading programs.

My own older brother and sister benefited immensely from Head Start. 

Early investment works because when children are given the tools to understand the world, they grow into people who can change it. The strength of our nation depends on the strength of our children.