SR 456: Week of the Young Child; recognize April 5-11

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.

WHEREAS, the first years of a child's life are the period of the most rapid brain development and lay the foundation for all future learning; and

WHEREAS, children's cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and language and literacy development are built on a foundation of children's positive interactions with adults, peers, and their environment; and

WHEREAS, high-quality early childhood programs provide important benefits to children, families, and our state and national economies; and

WHEREAS, high-quality early care and education can help ameliorate the effects of poverty, detect and remediate delays, identify and help prevent child neglect, and lead to positive outcomes for individual children, helping them be better prepared for school and more likely to succeed in life; and

WHEREAS, high-quality early childhood education depends on high-quality early childhood educators who ensure that children, supported by families, have the early experiences they need for a strong foundation; and

WHEREAS, tuition from fee-paying parents and subsidy rates for families with low incomes are typically insufficient to afford highly-qualified, consistent early childhood educators and pay for the low child-to-educator ratios that ensure the health and safety of children; and

WHEREAS, young children need early childhood educators who are incentivized and supported to provide high-quality care to those with high and special needs; and

WHEREAS, working families need sufficient high-quality childcare spaces beginning at birth to be available in the community; and

WHEREAS, early childhood educators need the ability to earn a family-sustaining wage that is commensurate with the required education and skills they bring to the complex and valuable work they do; and

WHEREAS, it is urged by members of our community to support efforts that increase children's and families access to high-quality early childhood education and commit to investments that stabilize, sustain, and support childcare and early learning so this essential workforce can continue to support children, families, and our economy through the pandemic crisis, recovery, and beyond.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body hereby recognize the complex, valuable, essential, and demanding work of the early childhood educators and recognize, April 5-11 as The Week of the Young Child. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to The Week of the Young Children community members and other parities.