2022 Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 109 BY SENATOR FIELDS A RESOLUTION To commend the Ready Louisiana Coalition and to designate Tuesday, May 10, 2022, as Early Education Day at the state capitol. WHEREAS, the Ready Louisiana Coalition is a bipartisan statewide coalition formed in 2018 of over one hundred businesses, chambers, advocacy organizations, and early care and education professionals seeking sufficient investment in quality, affordable early care and education in Louisiana; and WHEREAS, members of the Ready Louisiana Coalition believe that investing in quality, affordable early care and education will prepare students for a smart start in life, enable families to be productive in the workforce, and serve as an economic engine for local communities; and WHEREAS, research shows that early experiences affect the development of the brain architecture, providing the foundation for all future learning, health, and social behaviors; and WHEREAS, ninety percent of brain development takes place between birth and age four; and WHEREAS, because these early years are when the very foundation of the brain is built, children who begin school behind generally remain behind; and WHEREAS, children who receive quality, affordable early care and education experience long-term improved outcomes in education, health, and social behaviors; and WHEREAS, in Louisiana, the average family spends $8,500 a year on child care which is a considerable part of their household budget; and WHEREAS, the current lack of quality, affordable early care and education harm all families and has disproportionately impacted children of color and those in poverty during this critical age for early brain development; and Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 109 ENROLLED WHEREAS, lack of quality, affordable early care and education affect not only the workforce of tomorrow, but also have a substantial impact on the workforce of today, in terms of both worker participation and productivity in Louisiana; and WHEREAS, research has shown that there can be a thirteen percent return on investment in quality, affordable early care and education; and WHEREAS, child care issues, lost workforce participation and productivity have resulted in more than a 1.3 billion dollar loss for Louisiana's economy; and WHEREAS, the over one hundred organizations from across Louisiana that comprise the Ready Louisiana Coalition, are working to provide access to quality affordable early care and education that will improve children's outcomes, strengthen our families and workforce, and build our economy. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the Ready Louisiana Coalition and does hereby designate Tuesday, May 10, 2022, as Early Education Day at the state capitol. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Ready Louisiana Coalition. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE Page 2 of 2