Early Childhood

Quality early education is a game-changer, with a proven track record of reducing educational disparities that would otherwise hold back disadvantaged students. But the high cost of private pre-Kindergarten – about the same as annual tuition at a public university – and insufficient federal investments in Head Start puts quality early education out of reach for millions of children. First Focus advocates a federal-state partnership, modeled on the successful Children’s Health Insurance Program, which would improve both quality and affordability.
Resources
Fact Sheet: The Need for Baby Bonds in The United States
| June 5, 2023 |
Long-standing systemic and institutional racism and its continued effect on government policy have created unacceptable outcomes across the spectrum of child well-being for children …
Child care proposal would meet critical need
Michele Kayal | May 19, 2022 |
Early learning must be included in any budget deal First Focus Campaign for Children is pleased to support the child care and preschool reconciliation proposal put …
COVID relief passes with aid for millions of children
| March 10, 2021 |
Biggest policy gain for children in decades The American Rescue Plan passed just moments ago by the House of Representatives marks the biggest policy …
The Promises We Must Make to Our Children: Recommendations to the Biden-Harris Transition Team
| January 4, 2021 |
The kids are not alright. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession, we were failing our kids on a whole range of domestic …
Key Stats on the Effect of COVID-19 on Kids
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald, Christopher Towner, Conor Sasner, Kathy Sacco, Michelle Dallafior, Miriam Abaya, Olivia Gomez | October 12, 2020 |
Updated on October 12, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is doing more than exposing the racial, ethnic, and economic disparities existing in our society; it …
Congress Must Act Quickly to Pass Additional Relief for Struggling Children and Families
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Bruce Lesley, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald, Christopher Towner, Conor Sasner, Michelle Dallafior, Olivia Gomez | August 10, 2020 |
Given recent spikes in COVID-19 caseloads, an economic crisis that continues to deepen, and an upcoming school year faced with daunting challenges, it is …
Letter: We must ensure that this historic public health pandemic does not threaten our children’s future
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Bruce Lesley, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald, Christopher Towner, Conor Sasner, Michelle Dallafior, Olivia Gomez | August 10, 2020 |
First Focus Campaign for Children sent the following letter to Congressional leaders in both houses with a set of recommendations to address the needs …
How to protect early childhood development in the wake of COVID-19
Averi Pakulis, Bruce Lesley | May 4, 2020 |
Every facet of the lives of children and families are being disrupted during this historic public health and economic crisis. Unfortunately, both their short-term …
Letter: Correct the Inequities in COVID-19 Response
Bruce Lesley | April 20, 2020 |
First Focus Campaign for Children sent the following letter to Congressional leaders in both houses with a set of recommendations to address the needs …
Kids & COVID-19: Resource Hub
First Focus Campaign for Children | April 16, 2020 |
The impact on children from COVID-19 is immense. It is also variable and complicated. Every facet of the lives of children and families are …