WHO WE ARE

The Invest Early in Education Coalition was formed in 2002 to build support for Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) programs. In partnership with Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and with the Arkansas Early Childhood Association, Invest Early encouraged legislators to allocate an additional $100 million to extend access to high quality preschool to thousands of at-risk children.

Now we have new goals. They were developed after a series of focus groups around the state with program providers revealed a need for increased access to high quality care and funding to support quality improvements. This is especially needed for infants and toddlers. The coalition also found a need to help parents dealing with increased stress get support they need for good parenting.

The Invest Early steering committee-made up of 36 early education professionals and advocates from across the state-met in December 2009 and agreed on the following goals:

Goal 1: Expand the ABC Program

Goal 2: Improve the Quality of Care for Infants and Toddlers

Goal 3: Increase Parent Education Opportunities

Goal 4: Increase Business & Community Support for Early Childhood Initiatives

The state legislature has expanded and continues to support Arkansas' nationally recognized program, which currently serves 25,096 children. Arkansas Head Start/Early Head Start programs, funded by a mix of federal and community dollars, serve another 11,038 children throughout the state.

Our state, as well as the communities that support ABC and Head Start, have recognized that high-quality early care and education helps children, families and communities prosper. 

But for many Arkansas families such education and care programs are unattainable based on cost or availability. High-quality early care and education programs help children learn and develop skills they need to succeed in school and in life. They give parents the support and peace of mind they need to be productive at work.  And they help our nation stay competitive by producing a stronger workforce now and in the future.  So, the coalition has shortened its name to Invest Early and expanded our goals because we believe it is time to make quality care and education available to all Arkansas children.

WE KNOW

Learning Begins W-A-Y Before Kindergarten

• By the time a child enters school most personality characteristics and behavior patterns are already established. Source:  Rethinking the Brain by Rima Shores, 1997.
• Negative experiences, negative interaction, and lack of appropriate stimulation can have serious and sustained effects on the developing child. Source:  Rethinking the Brain by Rima Shores, 1997.
• "At-risk" children who do not attend high quality pre-K programs are likely to start school at least two years behind other children in their class. Source:  C. Ramey, Preparing America's Children for Success in School.

Early Education is a Sound Investment

• A dollar invested in early education quality saves over more than nine dollars in later education, welfare, and justice system costs. Source: 2001-2002 Entergy Corporation Community Investment Report.
• High quality preschool education increases the ability of low-income children to profit from elementary and secondary education, increasing high school graduation rates and generating economic returns for taxpayers in the form of increased income potential benefiting the state. Source: 2001-2002 Entergy Corporation Community Investment Report.

Young Children Learn Best in Child-Centered Environments

• Children learn best when engaged with others in hands-on problem-solving activities of their choice. Source: Bredekamp and Coppel, Developmentally Appropriate Practice, 1997.
• Play is a valuable vehicle for learning.  Free and unstructured play is essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones, as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient. Source:  American Academy of Pediatrics, The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds, 2006.

Working Families Need Help Paying for Early Education

• To purchase high quality child care for one child, the poorest 20% of families would need to spend at least 47% of their income. Source: Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
• Three of four Arkansas children living in poverty are in families in which both parents work. Source: Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

GET INVOLVED

Invest Early members will be working hard throughout the 2011 Legislative Session to education lawmakers about the importance of quality early education in Arkansas. You can help!

• Sign up for our periodic newsletter and alerts.
• Download this ABC flyer to spread the word about the successes of ABC.
• Use our toolkit to educate people in your community:

  Talking points: What is Quality Early Education?
  Talking points: Benefits of Early Education.
  Talking points: What We Know
  Show and tell.
  Letters to the editor.
  Writing an op-ed.
  Writing a news release.