[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 39 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H1097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PROVIDING UNIVERSAL QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I recently introduced H.R. 1118, a 
bill that establishes comprehensive early childhood education programs, 
early childhood education staff development programs, and model federal 
government early childhood education programs.
  Today, more than 13 million children under the age of 6 are enrolled 
in some form of child care. Some children are placed in high quality 
programs. But all too often, parents have no alternative but to place 
their children in programs that function as nothing more than child 
storage.
  Quality early childhood education matters. Study upon study prove 
that the quality of child care has a long-term effect on later 
scholastic achievement, For example, the National Research Council and 
the National Center for Early Development and Learning found that 
quality early childhood education helped children develop better 
language and literacy skills; and the RAND Corporation found that high 
quality programs have lasting benefits on school performance.
  Besides preparing a child to do well in school, quality child care 
teaches children to get along with others, care about others, and 
become contributing members of society. Additional studies have shown 
that quality educational child care can greatly reduce the chance that 
children grow up to be violent.
  Quality programs include a well-trained staff and a small staff-to-
child ratio. The University of North Carolina conducted a Cost, Quality 
and Child Outcomes Study of various child care programs. Only 14 
percent of all programs studied were of adequate quality.
  For child care to have a lasting effect, children must be enrolled in 
high quality educational programs. H.R. 1118 ensures that funds will 
only go to programs that establish Early Childhood Education Councils 
that develop and prepare quality early childhood education plans each 
year. In addition, funds will be provided to train individuals employed 
in quality programs.
  Child care costs are exorbitant. According to a 1998 report by the 
Children's Defense Fund, many parents spend more on yearly quality 
child care tuition than on public college tuition. In Honolulu, the 
average child care tuition is over $6,000 a year.
  My bill provides financial assistance to public and private programs 
who prove they will provide quality early childhood education. A 
quarter of the funding is earmarked to those programs who serve young 
children from low-income families.
  Children are guaranteed access to a publicly-funded education when 
they reach kindergarten-age. We should also guarantee access to quality 
early childhood education. The first few years of a child's life can 
shape the rest of their life. No parent should be forced to leave their 
child in a substandard program, where they are not being prepared for 
future achievement.
  I urge all members to cosponsor this legislation.

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