You might have heard that U.S. Representatives Eric Massa (NY-D) and Scott Murphy (NY-D) voted to approve the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA).

You might also have heard that the bill would make a landmark investment in higher education to ensure that college loans are more affordable for families and more students graduate from institutions of higher learning.

But did you know SAFRA is also designed to bolster early childhood education in this country so students can arrive at school with the skills they need to learn and succeed?

It’s true.  Under the bill approved in the House last month, SAFRA would invest $1 billion each year—over the next eight years—to build what lawmakers call “comprehensive, high quality, early learning systems” for children from birth to age 5.

“Investing in the future of our children helps to build the foundation for the future success of our society, which is why I’m proud to have voted for HR 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009,” stated Rep. Massa.  

SAFRA would establish the Early Learning Challenge Fund.  The fund would award grants to states that improve early education standards and practices, build an effective early childhood workforce, and improve the school readiness outcomes of young children.

“As we work to train a workforce to become world leaders in the 21st century economy, it is imperative that we provide Americans with the opportunity to have access to an education that will bring our nation to the forefront of math, science and literacy,” said Rep. Murphy.  “I am proud to have voted for this bill which will take unprecedented steps to improve early childhood education and provide our children with an education they deserve.” 

NEA, NYSUT’s national affiliate, supports the House version of the bill — especially the provisions of the legislation that would do the following:

• Build an effective, qualified, and well-compensated early childhood workforce by supporting providers with degrees in early education and providing ongoing professional development opportunities; and
• Promote parent and family involvement by developing effective outreach strategies.

The Association also likes that the bill rejects any assessments of young children as a means of evaluating program effectiveness.

You can view how your representative voted by using the following link: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll719.xml.

Call your representative and thank them for passing SAFRA and urge them to include these reforms in the final version of the bill.