II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 152 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 4, 2007 Mrs. Boxer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a program to help States expand the education system to include at least 1 year of early education preceding the year a child enters kindergarten.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Early Education Act of 2007.

2.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)A national commitment should be established that all children have access to high quality early education. (2)Research suggests that a child’s early years are critical to the development of the brain. Early brain development is an important component of educational and intellectual achievement. (3)The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences reported that early education opportunities are necessary if children are going to develop the language and literacy skills necessary to learn to read. (4)Evaluations of early education programs demonstrate that compared to children with similar backgrounds who have not participated in early education programs, children who participate in such programs— (A)perform better on reading and mathematics achievement tests; (B)are more likely to stay academically near their grade level and make normal academic progress throughout elementary school; (C)are less likely to be held back a grade or require special education services in elementary school; (D)show greater learning retention, initiative, creativity, and social competency; and (E)are more enthusiastic about school and are more likely to have good attendance records. (5)Studies have estimated that for every dollar invested in quality early education, about 7 dollars are saved in later costs.

3.

Early education

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: .

4.

Conforming amendment

The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by adding at the end the following: TITLE X—Early education Sec. 10001. Early education program. .