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Senate Resolution 456
By: Senator Harbison of the 15th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing April 5-11 as the Week of the Young Child; and for other purposes.
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WHEREAS, the first years of a child's life are the period of the most rapid brain development2
and lay the foundation for all future learning; and 3
WHEREAS, children's cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and language and literacy4
development are built on a foundation of children's positive interactions with adults, peers,5
and their environment; and 6
WHEREAS, high-quality early childhood programs provide important benefits to children,7
families, and our state and national economies; and8
WHEREAS, high-quality early care and education can help ameliorate the effects of poverty,9
detect and remediate delays, identify and help prevent child neglect, and lead to positive10
outcomes for individual children, helping them be better prepared for school and more likely11
to succeed in life; and12
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WHEREAS, high-quality early childhood education depends on high-quality early childhood
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educators who ensure that children, supported by families, have the early experiences they14
need for a strong foundation; and15
WHEREAS, tuition from fee-paying parents and subsidy rates for families with low incomes16
are typically insufficient to afford highly-qualified, consistent early childhood educators and17
pay for the low child-to-educator ratios that ensure the health and safety of children; and18
WHEREAS, young children need early childhood educators who are incentivized and19
supported to provide high-quality care to those with high and special needs; and20
WHEREAS, working families need sufficient high-quality childcare spaces beginning at21
birth to be available in the community; and22
WHEREAS, early childhood educators need the ability to earn a family-sustaining wage that23
is commensurate with the required education and skills they bring to the complex and24
valuable work they do; and25
WHEREAS, it is urged by members of our community to support efforts that increase26
children's and families access to high-quality early childhood education and commit to27
investments that stabilize, sustain, and support childcare and early learning so this essential28
workforce can continue to support children, families, and our economy through the pandemic29
crisis, recovery, and beyond.30
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body31
hereby recognize the complex, valuable, essential, and demanding work of the early32
childhood educators and recognize, April 5-11 as The Week of the Young Child.33
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
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to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to The Week of the35
Young Children community members and other parities.36
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