Associated at the Statehouse

Thu, July 01, 2010

Today 93% of Massachusetts’ early education budget comes from the federal government.  This was not always the case. The withdrawal of state funding from early education and care has resulted in a greater dependence on the federal government to sustain the programs that foster early learning and reading readiness in the youngest members of our community.
 
Wayne Ysaguirre, Associated Early Care and Education’s President and CEO, explains that now, more than ever, we need to stand as a beacon of hope for early education. “Advocates need to act and do so both at the state and federal level,” said Ysaguirre.  Associated was one of the key players to unite early educators at the MA Statehouse for Advocacy Day on February 17, 2011. Encouraging local and state leaders to speak in favor of early education at the federal level, Associated was successful in drawing over 500 different organizations to participate in the event; evidence of overwhelming support for the endorsement of early education funding.
 
On the day of the event, Associated Early Care and Education’s Central Office at 95 Berkeley Street was almost completely empty, as everyone (including the CEO) was out rallying at the statehouse. Many AECE supporters, whether they are staff or donors, have also reached out to local politicians on their own-placing phone calls or writing letters to speak for the children who are too young to do so, themselves.
 
Ophelia Navarro, Research and Policy Director at Associated Early Care and Education says that while the national economy is still struggling to recover from a recession worse than any since the depression of the 1930s, the assistance provided by the government, will be ending. This is sure to present even more difficultly for early education providers and agencies. Navarro predicts that the upcoming budget cuts will prove to be more challenging than the past three have been.
 
Associated Early Care and Education is more involved with the Statehouse than ever before.  Leading the crusade, along with several other like-minded affiliates, we are providing support to our partner agencies, generating advocacy events, and rallying our own staff and board of directors to urge our politicians to protect funding for early education—because this is our future.