Massachusetts provides model for early childhood education
The Chicopee Register, Letter to the Editor by Abbie Germain, March 26, 2009

It is expected that the federal stimulus bill will provide millions of dollars in funding for early education and care — a major commitment from President Barack Obama. Even more resources could be coming our way if the President is successful in his recent call for Congress to enact the Early Learning Challenge Grant, which will reward states that raise the quality of their early education programs.

As the President recently declared, “This isn’t just about keeping an eye on our children, it’s about educating them. Studies show that children in these programs are more likely to score higher in reading and math, more likely to graduate from high school and attend college, more likely to hold a job, and more likely to earn more in that job.” However, high-quality early education programs are necessary to achieve these outcomes.

As the Director of The Arbor Kids, a recipient of a Massachusetts’ Universal Pre-Kindergarten Classroom Quality grant, I know that the Commonwealth has been a leader on the issue of high-quality early education opportunities for young children. The commitment of Governor Deval Patrick and state legislators, such as Senator Michael Knapik and Representative Joseph Wagner, is helping to make Massachusetts a model for the rest of the nation.

Abbie Germain
Director
The Arbors Kids