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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2001

News Release

NEA Issues Challenge for White House Early Childhood Conference

Nation's Teachers See Gaps in Early Care for Children

Washington, D.C. - On the eve of the White House Conference on Early Childhood, the nation's teachers challenged President Bush to fill the gaps in early child care. "Our members see firsthand which children receive the nourishment and social building blocks required to start school and which children have not," said NEA President Bob Chase. "A safe and healthy passage into Kindergarten requires a seamless support network. These gaps in child health and social navigation persist into adulthood and exact a costly toll on children, their families, and the economic health of our nation."

Chase praised President Bush's focus on literacy, but warned that his plan will be built on quicksand if it does not adequately address the health, nutrition, brain and social development needs of infants and toddlers. "Research and common sense tell us that education cannot be successful if we don't do right by the youngest children," said Chase. "If a child is hungry, sick, and not cared for in ways that spark proper emotional and intellectual development, he or she will have more trouble with reading and in school."

Research shows that children receiving better quality care have stronger language, pre-mathematics and social skills than those in low-quality care. Chase called for a more comprehensive approach to early care and education that includes:

• federal funding of early care and education, including (but not limited to) full funding of Early Head Start and Head Start,
• expansion of the Child Care and Development Block Grant,
• continued use of welfare funds to provide childcare for parents working toward self-sufficiency,
• increased research into the most effective child development strategies,
• increased training and education for early childhood professionals,
• quality standards for early education settings,

Newly hired NEA Director of Student Achievement, Stephanie Fanjul, will represent NEA at the White House conference on early childhood. Fanjul is a pioneer in the field of early childhood education. As Director of the Division of Child Development from 1993-2000 for North Carolina Gov. James Hunt, Fanjul was the architect of the Smart Start program, which has dramatically increased the health, safety and school performance of North Carolina's students.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.