National PTA Pledges Support to White House Invest in US Initiative

New initiative brings together corporations, foundations and nonprofits to increase investments in, and expand access to, high-quality early childhood education

Yesterday, President Barack Obama announced the launch of Invest in US, a national campaign and challenge to business leaders, philanthropists, advocates and public officials to increase investments in high-quality early learning programs for children from birth to age five. The initiative builds on President Obama’s call in his 2014 State of the Union address to expand access to high-quality early education for all children.

“The education of our nation’s children must begin long before they enter school as research shows that providing effective, targeted supports and interventions to children and parents starting at birth will better prepare them for academic and career success,” said Otha Thornton, president of National PTA. “For decades, National PTA has called for the prioritization of early childhood education, and the association is pleased to support the Invest in US initiative to ensure that every child has access to high-quality early learning programs.”

•  Strengthen public systems at the federal, state and local levels to ensure continuous quality improvements in parental education, home visiting, Early Head Start, quality child care, Head Start and preschool programs;

• Integrate health and developmental screenings with early learning to provide parents with the information they need to optimize their child’s physical, emotional and intellectual development;

• Improve the training, continuing education, professional development and living wages of early childhood educators;

• Support greater access to evidence-based programs that support parents and families in fostering their children’s development; and

• Promote and share ongoing program innovation and improvement, especially for those programs supporting parents and informal caregivers.

National PTA joins other nonprofit associations, corporations and foundations in pledging support and commitments to the Invest in US initiative and working collaboratively to make sure more communities have high-quality early childhood programs. Invest in US commitments are intended to:

National PTA has supported early childhood education since its inception. Through advocacy, as well as family and community education, National PTA has established programs and called for legislation that improve access to high-quality early learning for all children.

National PTA believes early childhood programs should be affordable and accessible; developmentally appropriate; coordinated at all levels (federal, state and local); and characterized by high standards for teaching, training, health and safety. The association also encourages the inclusion of a strong family engagement component in all programs.

National PTA is committed to working with the Administration and other nonprofits, corporations and foundations to expand and strengthen programs that further the success of the nation’s earliest learners. For more information about the Invest in US initiative, visit investinus.org.