Obama's Commitment to Early Ed. Cheers Advocates, Despite Setback

Almost a year ago, President Obama's budget pledge to put early-childhood education as on of his top priorities created an abundance of excitement among advocates who had long pushed for greater federal investment in that area. "The excitement has cooled a bit. President Obama’s historic remaking of the country’s health-care system and the related measure overhauling student loans last month ultimately failed to include money for his proposed Early Learning Challenge Fund, which would have provided competitive grants to help states both create and improve the quality of services for at-risk children from birth to age 5." (Education Week)

Though many advocated of the budget pledge were disappointed, many are optimistic to the blueprints being made to the No Child Left Behind Act. The president’s blueprint for the ESEA reauthorization mentions requiring states to develop Pre-K through 12 grade literacy plans. "It also suggests that applicants for grants under a proposed expansion of the $650 million Investing in Innovation Fund—begun under the economic-stimulus program enacted last year—could be given preference for proposals that would improve early-learning options, among other high-priority needs."

Considering that I am an Early Chilldhood Education major, this really caught my eye. Many of the very basics that children learn are in during their early childhood years. I am not saying that we are more important than elementary or secondary teachers, we all play a significant role. I just feel that we are often overlooked because of so many different reasons. I hope that President Obama is eventually able to follow through with his budget pledge for early childhood education. Everyone seems to need money in all areas of education, I trust that he will do the best he can as soon as he can.

To view the full article, go to: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/04/21/29obama-earlyed_ep-2.h29.html.

"Education Week: Login." Education Week American Education News Site of Record. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2010. .