SPONSOR:

Rep. Q. Johnson on behalf of all Representatives & Sen. Hansen on behalf of all Senators

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 39

DESIGNATING MAY 8, 2019, AS “EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVOCACY DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, there are 80,000 young children, from birth to age 8 in Delaware and the majority of brain growth happens before age 5; and

WHEREAS, parents are critical factors as children’s first teachers, and most parents are working, making child care a necessity for parents to earn; and

WHEREAS, high-quality early learning is one of the best investments our state can make so the future workforce is educated -- and education, health, and crime costs are reduced – producing a return of about $10 for every $1 invested; and

WHEREAS, child care employs thousands of Delawareans, many in small businesses and community organizations; and

WHEREAS, the state has made significant progress in areas such as developmental screening and early learning providers reaching high levels of quality ratings, and the state has a number of efforts underway such as the Campaign for Grade Level Literacy, community-based Readiness Teams, aligned home visiting efforts, developmental screening and parent outreach, and workforce development efforts; and

WHEREAS, approximately one-third to two-thirds of all students are not entering kindergarten with skills needed for success-making catching up and the work of K-12 educators much more difficult; and

​WHEREAS, young children are the future of our state and children deserve a strong foundation for future success.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 150th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that May 8, 2019, is designated "Early Childhood Advocacy Day” to focus on the importance of quality early learning for young children, for families, for employers, and for the health and viability of Delaware’s communities, future workforce, and economy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Early Childhood Advocacy Day is a day to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, to rededicate ourselves to supporting Delaware’s growing early childhood system, and to recognize that investments in quality early care and education pay back many times their cost in both economic and social returns that benefit everyone in this State.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Delaware.

SYNOPSIS

This concurrent resolution proclaims May 8, 2019, as “Early Childhood Advocacy Day” to affirm the importance of quality early learning for every citizen and every sector of our State, to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, and to rededicate ourselves to our shared responsibility for the construction and support of a Delaware early childhood system that will positively impact children, families, communities, and workforce and economic development across the State.