The Louisiana Legislature established an Early Childhood Education Fund to match non-state, non-federal (local, private) funds spent on quality early care and for centers participating in the quality rating system or those eligible to receive CCAP-funded students. The state fund provides a dollar-for-dollar match for every local dollar raised. In January of 2021, CFNLA set out to raise $1 million so more Caddo Parish children ages 0 to 4 can attend quality early childhood education centers. We are delighted to report that $1 million has been raised and matched by the state totaling $2 million!
Why did we raise $2 million for Early Childhood Education?
- All children ages 0 to 4, regardless of income level, deserve equal access to quality early childcare and education. Studies show access to quality early education not only helps prepare young children for kindergarten but also ensures they have a better chance of graduating from high school and not repeating grades. However, for many families, access to high-quality early learning (on average $8,500/year) is simply unaffordable.
- 90% of brain development occurs before children reach the age of 5. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, a child’s experiences during the earliest years of life have a lasting impact on the architecture of the developing brain.
- 60% of children in Caddo Parish are not kindergarten ready when they start kindergarten. Research has shown kindergarten readiness is an indicator of long-term educational success. Children who enter kindergarten academically behind are more likely to stay behind for the rest of their education.
- Working parents need childcare. A recent study found there to be an annual economic cost of $57 billion in lost earnings and productivity due to low-quality or nonexistent childcare. In Caddo, only 48% of low income three-year-olds have access to publicly funded early learning and only 28% of three-year-olds have access in Bossier Parish. There is less access for children ages 0 to 2.
- Investing in early childhood education is an investment in our entire community. Research shows high-quality, birth-to-five early childhood education provides a return on investment (ROI) of 13%! An investment in early education—particularly among disadvantaged children—improves not only cognitive abilities, but also critical behavioral traits like sociability, motivation, and self-esteem.
How will the funds be spent?
The funds raised locally will be used to provide scholarships to children ages 0 to 4 to attend Type III Early Childhood Centers. This funding will enable up to 200 more children in Caddo Parish to attend Type III Centers.