SR456: SR456 Week of the Young Child; recognize April 5-11

25 LC 129 0416 Senate Resolution 456 By: Senator Harbison of the 15th A RESOLUTION Recognizing April 5-11 as the Week of the Young Child; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the first years of a child's life are the period of the most rapid brain development2 and lay the foundation for all future learning; and 3 WHEREAS, children's cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and language and literacy4 development are built on a foundation of children's positive interactions with adults, peers,5 and their environment; and 6 WHEREAS, high-quality early childhood programs provide important benefits to children,7 families, and our state and national economies; and8 WHEREAS, high-quality early care and education can help ameliorate the effects of poverty,9 detect and remediate delays, identify and help prevent child ne glect, and lead to positive10 outcomes for individual children, helping them be better prepared for school and more likely11 to succeed in life; and12 S. R. 456 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0416 WHEREAS, high-quality early childhood education depends on high-quality early childhood13 educators who ensure that children, supported by families, have the early experiences they14 need for a strong foundation; and15 WHEREAS, tuition from fee-paying parents and subsidy rates for families with low incomes16 are typically insufficient to afford highly-qualified, consistent early childhood educators and17 pay for the low child-to-educator ratios that ensure the health and safety of children; and18 WHEREAS, young children need early childhood educators who are incentivized and19 supported to provide high-quality care to those with high and special needs; and20 WHEREAS, working families need sufficient high-quality childcar e spaces beginning at21 birth to be available in the community; and22 WHEREAS, early childhood educators need the ability to earn a family-sustaining wage that23 is commensurate with the required education and skills they bri ng to the complex and24 valuable work they do; and25 WHEREAS, it is urged by members of our community to support eff orts that increase26 children's and families access to high-quality early childhood education and commit to27 investments that stabilize, sustain, and support childcare and early learning so this essential28 workforce can continue to support children, families, and our economy through the pandemic29 crisis, recovery, and beyond.30 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body31 hereby recognize the complex, valuable, essential, and demandin g work of the early32 childhood educators and recognize, April 5-11 as The Week of the Young Child.33 S. R. 456 - 2 - 25 LC 129 0416 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed34 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to The Week of the35 Young Children community members and other parities.36 S. R. 456 - 3 -