Statement by Sandra Feldman
President, American Federation of Teachers
on the Committee for Economic Development's
Preschool For All: Investing In a  Productive and Just Society

Preschool For All reaffirms what teachers all over the country already know--that early childhood education is essential to children's ability to succeed in school and in life. For too long, our nation has neglected its youngest, and often poorest, citizens at one of the most critical developmental periods: the first four years of their lives. We commend the Committee for Economic Development for issuing this report and laying out some of the first steps for a comprehensive, universally available and high quality early childhood education with first priority given to disadvantaged children.

We would hope that as this discussion moves forward there would be an increased focus on the national role, and the strengthening of existing federally financed early childhood programs, especially Headstart. This would move us a long way toward the world class system of early learning that our country and children deserve.

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