Castro Leads Bipartisan Request to Fund Preschool Development Grant Program
Washington, D.C.—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the Pre-K Caucus in Congress, led a bipartisan request to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Chairman Tom Cole and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro urging them to fund the Preschool Development Grant Program at $350 million. Rep. Castro led the effort along with his colleague Rep. John Katko (NY-24).
“When the Preschool Development Grant program first began in 2013, 36 states applied and, due to the limited availability of funds, the Department of Education awarded only 18 states with four-year grants to either expand or improve high quality, full-day preschool programming.,” the Members wrote.
The Members continued: “We were pleased that Congress authorized Preschool Development Grants in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) at $250 million per fiscal year (P.L. 114-95). The inclusion of Preschool Development Grants in ESSA builds upon the solid body of research that says high-quality preschool improves school readiness and long-term academic success of children by supporting their academic and social-emotional skills. Support for this grant is an important step to fostering a globally competitive 21st century workforce.”
The letter was also signed by Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03); Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11); Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18); Rep. Jerry McNerney (CA-09); Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01); Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (MP); Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-05); Rep. Anthony G. Brown (MD-04); Rep. David N. Cicilline (RI-01); Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-21); Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12); Rep. Terri A. Sewell (AL-07); Ranking Member John Yarmuth (KY-03); Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (NY-10); Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51); Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09); Rep. Albio Sires (NJ-08); Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41); Rep. Peter Welch (VT-at large); Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02); Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01); Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09); Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09); Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10); Rep. Elizabeth H. Esty (CT-05); Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09); Rep. Jacky Rosen (NV-03); Rep. Danny K. Davis (IL-07); Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07); Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01); Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02); Rep. Bobby L. Rush (IL-01); Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13); Rep. Kathleen M. Rice (NY-04); Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08); Rep. Ruben J. Kihuen (NV-04); Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (NY-25); Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13); Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07); Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01); Rep. James P. McGovern (MA-02); Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03); Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09); Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05); Rep. Al Green (TX-09); Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08); Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23); Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08); Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02); Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12); Rep. Donald McEachin (VA-04); Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07); Rep. Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12); Rep. Thomas R. Suozzi (NY-03); Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC); Rep. John K. Delaney (MD-06); Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04); Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04); Rep. Beto O’Rourke (TX-16); and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02).
Full text of the letter can be found here and follows.
March 16, 2018
The Honorable Tom Cole
Chairman
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and
Human Services, and Education
2358-B Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and
Human Services, and Education
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro:
As the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee develops its Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bill, we respectfully urge you to fund the Preschool Development Grant program at $350 million. We appreciate the Subcommittee’s commitment to this program as demonstrated though the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations process and hope to build on its success in the coming fiscal year.
When the Preschool Development Grant program first began in 2013, 36 states applied and, due to the limited availability of funds, the Department of Education awarded only 18 states with four-year grants to either expand or improve high quality, full-day preschool programming. These competitive grants made it possible for states like Alabama, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Virginia to bolster preschool programs for children and bring high-quality programming to communities across the country that lacked such access. To date, the grants have served more than 130,000 children.
We were pleased that Congress authorized Preschool Development Grants in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) at $250 million per fiscal year (P.L. 114-95). The inclusion of Preschool Development Grants in ESSA builds upon the solid body of research that says high-quality preschool improves school readiness and long-term academic success of children by supporting their academic and social-emotional skills. Support for this grant is an important step to fostering a globally competitive 21st century workforce. Under ESSA, all states are now eligible to apply for a Preschool Development Grant. However, we urge you to provide funding above the authorized amount so every state that meets the grant’s requirements can receive adequate funding.
We respectfully request that the Subcommittee fund this program at $350 million to help states develop comprehensive early learning systems that will serve children in high-need communities across the country.
Sincerely,
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