Early Childhood

Quality early education is a game-changer, with a proven track record of reducing educational disparities that would otherwise hold back disadvantaged students. But the high cost of private pre-Kindergarten – about the same as annual tuition at a public university – and insufficient federal investments in Head Start puts quality early education out of reach for millions of children. First Focus advocates a federal-state partnership, modeled on the successful Children’s Health Insurance Program, which would improve both quality and affordability.
Resources
Babies in the Budget
First Focus on Children, ZERO TO THREE | August 23, 2023 |
Babies in the Budget — a report co-authored by ZERO TO THREE and First Focus on Children — examines federal investment in the nation’s …
Watch: Invest In Kids Briefing
| June 15, 2023 |
Join in celebrating Father’s Day and Children’s Week by attending a briefing with Congressional leaders, Administration officials, and child advocates focused on the importance …
Invest in Kids Briefing
Event June 15, 2023 |
Jun 15 2023 Ended Invest in Kids Briefing Whittall Pavilion at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC Join in celebrating Father’s Day and Children’s …
Fact Sheet: Babies in the Budget
First Focus on Children, ZERO TO THREE | May 31, 2023 |
Federal Share of Spending on Infants and Toddlers: FY2017-FY2023 The 11.4 million babies and toddlers in the United States represent 3.4 percent of the …
What’s at stake for kids if Congress doesn’t pass Build Back Better
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald (Former Staff), Conor Sasner (Former Staff), Elaine Dalpiaz, Haley Winter, Kathy Sacco, Michelle Dallafior, Miriam Abaya (Former Staff), Olivia Gomez (Former Staff), First Focus Campaign for Children | December 22, 2021 |
As negotiations have stalled and the fate of the Build Back Better Act hangs in the balance, children stand to lose access to monthly …
Congress has a chance to get child care right. They need to take it.
Averi Pakulis, Conor Sasner (Former Staff), Elijah Nishiura | October 6, 2021 |
Once our children celebrate their 5th birthday, they are welcomed into a public school system that can provide valuable benefits to them and their …
WATCH: The American Families Plan: What does it mean for kids? | #ChildrensWeek2021
Michele Kayal | June 14, 2021 |
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today urged viewers during the first event of Children’s Week 2021 to “be a voice for children” by writing …
Letter: The first — and next — 100 days
Bruce Lesley | May 4, 2021 |
First Focus on Children sent the following letter to President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris congratulating them on the achievements of their …
Fact Sheet: The REAL impact of COVID-19 on kids
| April 22, 2021 |
Way back at the beginning of this pandemic, a narrative took hold that kids are not affected. Now, more than a year in, it …
Letter: Create a plan for all children to be vaccinated
| April 21, 2021 |
First Focus on Children sent the following letter to President Joe Biden as well as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra and …