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
More than ever, we need Champions for Children — these are policymakers meeting the moment
Bruce Lesley, First Focus Campaign for Children | February 4, 2021 |
Our nation’s children face multiple challenges to their well-being stemming from years of a declining share of federal investments in their future, the COVID-19 …
An open letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris From America’s children
Bruce Lesley, Christine Cully | January 20, 2021 |
Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris: Congratulations on rising to our nation’s highest offices. We’ve been talking to America’s children about what the …
Key Stats on the Effect of COVID-19 on Kids
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald, Christopher Towner, Conor Sasner, Kathy Sacco, Michelle Dallafior, Miriam Abaya, Olivia Gomez | November 19, 2020 |
The COVID-19 pandemic is doing more than exposing the racial, ethnic, and economic disparities existing in our society; it is compounding them, and so …
Creating equity for kids in the post-COVID world
Bruce Lesley, First Focus Campaign for Children | October 14, 2020 |
A new report from the advocacy group Groundwork Ohio, which champions high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies for Ohio’s youngest children, outlines ways …
2020 Children’s Budget Summit: Lawmakers and educators discuss continued decline in children’s share of federal spending
Michele Kayal | September 30, 2020 |
This year has delivered an unprecedented public health emergency and an economic crisis that has disrupted every facet of the lives of children and …
Children’s Budget 2020
| September 29, 2020 |
About Children’s Budget 20202: First Focus on Children is proud to introduce the 14th annual release of its signature Children’s Budget publication. While the …
Congress Must Act Quickly to Pass Additional Relief for Struggling Children and Families
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Bruce Lesley, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald, Christopher Towner, Claire Williams, Conor Sasner, Michelle Dallafior, Olivia Gomez, First Focus Campaign for Children | August 10, 2020 |
Given recent spikes in COVID-19 caseloads, an economic crisis that continues to deepen, and an upcoming school year faced with daunting challenges, it is …
Back to school, but not back to normal — what lawmakers must do
Conor Sasner | July 28, 2020 |
Every September, kids go back to school. This year, learning will happen in new and scarcely tested conditions. The coronavirus pandemic means that kids …
Fact Sheet: Aid to Children and Families in the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800)
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Bruce Lesley, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald, Christopher Towner, Drew Aherne (Former Staff), Michelle Dallafior | May 22, 2020 |
As part of ongoing efforts to address the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting economic crisis, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic …
Building a Better America and World for Our Children
Bruce Lesley | April 21, 2020 |
We are living in a life-changing moment where it is clear that the future will look quite different than we had imagined. We are …