Sustain current funding and diverse delivery system (public school, child care,
Head Start, etc.) of Alabama's First Class Pre-K program  

Volumes of research show that a strong foundation of pre-literacy, pre-math and critical socio-emotional skills developed in pre-k dramatically improve a child’s success in the early grades and beyond. Alabama has one of the highest quality state pre-k programs in the nation as ranked by the National Institute of Early Education Research. Although the program has grown over the past years it reaches only 6% of Alabama four-year-olds. 

Alabama needs to hold onto the progress we have made to date. When funds are available we need to expand the First Class pre-k program until it is available to all families who want their children to participate and in a setting that meets their family needs. We cannot afford to lose ground on this program that provides one of the state’s greatest returns on investment.
 

Sustain current funding of Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) and
Alabama Math Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) 

The Alabama Reading Initiative and the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiatives are not only nationally but internationally recognized programs that have improved student achievement dramatically over the last decade. These programs have been at the center of moving our state’s overall ranking in providing quality education from near the bottom of all states to the middle.  The Reading Initiative is now in every k-3 school in Alabama and needs to be expanded to higher grades. The Math, Science, and Technology Initiative has not grown to reach all schools.

Alabama cannot afford to lose ground in providing students these important programs that support student achievement. If Alabama expects to have “college and career ready” high school graduates we must sustain funding for ARI and AMSTI.

Sustain funding for the child care subsidy program at current level

As any working parent knows, maintaining steady employment or gaining additional training and education is unlikely to occur without good, reliable child care. But the availability and quality of care is most critical for low-income families who lack the financial resources to access safe, reliable care for their children. For low-income, single mothers child care is a critical component of economic security.  The “average” child care is simply unaffordable for most low-income mothers. 

In a time when we are talking about the importance of creating jobs we must also recognize that many people need child care to get or keep a job. Mothers with reliable child care for their young children are significantly more likely to stay on the job--saving company time and money—than are those without regular care. 

For workers, employers, and most of all for children, sustaining funding for subsidies for child care for low-income families is critical.

Sustain current funding for AllKids health insurance

Access to healthcare is vital. Children need to be healthy to learn in school and to reach their full potential. Children need to have regular checkups, immunizations, dental care, and vision screening. When they are sick or injured they need to be able to see a doctor, hopefully their regular doctor.  Using the Emergency Room for regular medical care is expensive and should be only for emergencies.

AllKids has provided access to health care to nearly 300,000 children since its beginning in 1997. Eligibility is based on family income and costs are based on a sliding scale. AllKids has kept thousands of our children more healthy. It also has helped parents go to work rather than stay at home with sick children whose illnesses could have been prevented or shortened with adequate health care. AllKids benefits children, parents, and employers. Sustaining this program makes good sense for all of us.

Lower the current mandatory age for beginning school from age 7 to age 6

We know from recent research that children are born ready to learn. They cultivate 85 percent of their intellect, personality and skills by age five. The sooner children participate in a learning environment that develops not only literacy and math but socio-emotional skills the more likely they are to succeed in all their years in school. Having children start school no later than age 6 makes good sense. 

This proposal is supported by the Business Council of Alabama, the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, the Alabama Department of Education, the Alabama Association of School Boards, and the School Superintendents Association of Alabama, and the Alabama Education Association.

Enact "Smoke Free Alabama" legislation

Second hand smoke is extremely harmful to children. When individuals smoke around children the effect is actually worse than if the child was actually smoking. Second hand smoke contains twice as much tar and nicotine per unit volume as does inhaled smoke. Because a child’s respiratory rate is much faster than an adult’s, a child breathes in much more second hand smoke in a smoky room than a non-smoking adult does. This smoke contains 40 cancer causing agents and 200 known poisons. Second hand smoke is considered a Class A carcinogen just as is asbestos. We protect children from asbestos, lead poisoning from paint and other dangerous chemicals that harm their health. We need to protect them from second hand smoke as well.

 
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