Will You Watch the Debate Tonight?

I am very eager to tune in for tonight's debate, although I know I will likely become very frustrated and agitated. As much as I say that I dislike politics, it is necessary to get involved and stay informed if you're going to advocate for children and education reform. 

I have been doing some research and cannot locate anything or any time that Mitt Romney has mentioned early education. In fact when he speaks about education, he often refers to statistics in Finland and how the US should emulate that system. He has also gone on record and said, "Everyone should get as much education as they can afford.”  Most of his other statements about public education validate this philosophy. For example, instead of ensuring that every child has access to quality early childhood education, Mitt Romney’s solution is “private” model. The Finns themselves have learned from this mistake—before becoming number one, fewer than 40 percent of children were enrolled in early childhood education. Now, as the world leader, approximately 95 percent of children have access to early childhood education. Certainly poverty does affect a child’s education, but the key is in ensuring it doesn’t limit it. This is the lesson we should learn from Finland, and it seems to be entirely lost on Mitt Romney. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/what-was-romney-talking-about-at-education-nation/2012/09/27/f65ca47c-091c-11e2-a10c-fa5a255a9258_blog.html  

On the other side, President Barack Obama promises change, and child care centers and preschool programs across the country are in dire need of it. Obama has made it clear throughout his last campaign and throughout his term that he is committed to education—to reforming No Child Left Behind; to rewarding and retaining teachers; to preparing high school students for college; to helping parents and students afford college; and, arguably most importantly, to investing in the education of our young children.

Research has consistently shown that investing in childcare and pre-k programs pays off. “For every $1 we invest in these programs, we get $10 back in reduced welfare rolls, fewer health care costs, and less crime,” Obama said in a 2007 speech in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Obama’s Zero to Five plan is to invest $10 billion a year to support young children and their parents. Here’s what the plan looks like:

• Early Learning Challenge Grants

 These grants will provide states funding to support child care, early education, and other “zero to five” efforts. States will be required to match federal funds and will be given flexibility in how they choose to expand their programs.

• Support for Head Start

 The plan is to quadruple the number of eligible children for Early Head Start, increase Head Start funding, and improve quality for both.

• Universal Pre-School

 Obama’s plan will provide funding and will encourage all states to adopt voluntary, universal pre-school for all.

• Child Care Development Block Grant Program (CCDBG)

 This program provides critical support to low-income families to pay for child care. Obama’s plan will ensure that CCDBG remains adequately funded to account for cost-per-child increases.

• Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

 Obama’s plan will reform the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit by making it refundable and allowing low-income families to receive up to a 50 percent credit for child care expenses.

• Presidential Early Learning Council

 This initiative will increase collaboration and program coordination across federal, state, and local levels.

I will be paying attention tonight to see if education is mentioned and if so, what the plan is. Before I sign off, I must ask if you are you registered to vote. If so, has any of your information (address, name, etc.) changed since the last election? If you're in CA., follow this link to register and/or update your information: https://rtv.sos.ca.gov/elections/register-to-vote  

If you're not in CA., follow this link: http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/register_to_vote.aspx