Washington - U.S. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) introduced legislation today to reauthorize the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The “Student Success Act” and the “Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act” would fall short on federal funding commitments to reduce school financing and student performance gaps, eliminate existing standards for teacher qualification, weaken school performance standards without offering a replacement, limits schools’ class size reduction efforts, and does not deliver an increased investment in early education. In response to the bill’s introduction, First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley released the following statement:

“Congress attention to Elementary and Secondary Education Act reform is well overdue, so Chairman Kline’s proposal is a welcome start to the debate. The Chairman’s proposals, however, fall short of meeting children’s needs in several key areas, like funding disparities, class size reduction, teacher qualification, and early education. We look forward to working with Chairman Kline and other lawmakers to deliver an ESEA bill worthy of the name ‘Student Success Act.’”

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

Washington – A key congressional subcommittee voted today to pass legislation authored by Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL) and endorsed by the First Focus Campaign for Children. The Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2011 (H.R. 32) would align the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development definition of “homeless” children with the definition used by the U.S. Department of Education. Enactment of this legislation would make all of America’s 1.6 million homeless children eligible for shelter and supportive services like health care. In response to its passage by the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing, and Community Opportunity of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee, First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley issued the following statement:

“When a child’s sleeping on a family friend’s couch and has no home to call her own, she’s just as homeless as a child living on the street. These kids shouldn’t be denied a safe place to sleep, a meal, and other basic needs because two government agencies can’t agree on definitions. Today’s vote brings us a step closer to cutting the red tape for kids and ensuring that the government recognizes the full magnitude of the problem facing homeless children. And an honest accounting of the problem can give Congress the information it needs to set the right funding levels.”

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

It’s hard to believe we’re here again.

Apparently, the inhumane treatment enforced by the Department of Homeland Security under departing Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was not inhumane enough for the Trump Administration, which reportedly is once again considering family separation as a policy option. The so-called “binary option” would force families seeking legal asylum in this country to waive fundamental Flores Settlement protections, clearing the way for the government to warehouse them in unlicensed detention facilities or to force them to turn their children over to the federal government. This is a false choice as both options would cause immense harm to children.

“We call on the President to guarantee that any new secretary — whether acting or confirmed — shall first Do No Harm to children, whether it’s by separating them from their parents or by detaining them,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the advocacy group First Focus Campaign for Children. “The Administration must stop using children as pawns in pursuit of a policy to waylay asylum-seeking families and must only act in the best interest of the child. This cruel and abhorrent strategy violates basic human rights and is not the way a great nation treats children.”

The Administration only recently revealed that it will take two years to reunite the families it broke apart during previous separations under the horrific “zero tolerance” policy. Those separations drew international attention for prying babies from their mother’s arms before deportation and have been deemed “government-sanctioned child abuse” by the American Academy of Pediatrics. They should never be repeated.

In addition, we urge President Trump to abandon calls to eliminate the crucial protections for children offered by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 and the Flores Settlement Agreement. These protections are not “loopholes,” as administration officials have called them. Without them, children will suffer horrific prison-like conditions and risk being returned to the dangerous situations from which they fled.

Washington — Today, the First Focus Campaign for Children, a national, bipartisan child advocacy group, recognized 100 Members of Congress for their leadership on issues important to children during 2011.

“Lots of politicians talk about kids’ issues, but few back it up,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the Campaign for Children. Champions and Defenders delivered for kids in 2011.”

Among the honorees, 50 Members were named “Champions for Children,” for their extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America’s next generation. An additional 50 Members were recognized as “Defenders of Children” for their support of policies that advance the well-being of children. The 2011 Champions and Defenders are:

2011 Champions for Children

Senate

Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

House

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
Rep. Todd Platts (D-PA)
Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA)
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL)
Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ)
Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH)

2011 Defenders of Children

Senate

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY)
Sen. Mary Landreiu (D-LA)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA)
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Sen. Thad Chochran (R-MS)
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

House

Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ)
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-IL)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Rep. Jose Seranno (D-NY)
Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA)
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX)
Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA)
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Steven Rothman (D-NJ)
Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA)
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY)
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA)
Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA)
Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA)

In selecting Champions and Defenders, the First Focus Campaign for Children noted leaders who introduced, co-sponsored, and voted for legislation to meet children’s needs. In addition, the organization considered Members who demonstrated extraordinary initiative by spearheading activities such as sponsoring hearings or garnering the support of their colleagues to improve the health and well-being of children.

This is the Campaign for Children’s second annual class of Champions for Children. The 2012 Champions for Children will be announced in the fall of 2012.

For a complete list of 2011 Champions and Defenders and more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

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Washington – Leading voices for children, working families, Latinos, and immigrants united today, urging Congress to reject a proposal that would deny 5.5 million children the Child Tax Credit.

The proposal, offered as a fiscal offset by U.S. House of Representatives negotiators on the payroll tax holiday extension bill, would deny the Child Tax Credit to children whose parents file federal income tax returns using an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). If enacted, it would deny the credit to more than 5.5 million children, four-out-of-five (4.5 million) of whom are U.S. citizen children.

“It is sad that our nation has arrived at the point where we are considering sacrificing the well-being of poor and vulnerable children to pay for our tax breaks,” stated Kevin Appleby, Director of Migration and Public Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

One-in-five children in America (22%) lives in poverty, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data – a 20-year high. But poverty is much higher among Latino children: one-in-three Latino children (37%) is poor. Approximately 80 percent of families that would be affected are Latino.

“The elimination of the Child Tax Credit for ITIN filers punishes the most vulnerable segments of our community at the worst possible time,” said Gustavo Torres, Executive Director of CASA de Maryland “Given the economic recession has disproportionately impacted the employment sectors traditionally relied upon by the Latino and immigrant community, this could have a devastating blow on hard-working immigrant families struggling to make it through another month of expenses.”

The Child Tax Credit has proven effective in protecting children from poverty. In 2009, the Child Tax Credit kept the families of more than 1.3 million children above the poverty line. The credit is particularly important for the children of ITIN filers, as their average family income of $21,000 is already below the poverty line (about $22,300) for a family of four. The average child affected by this proposal would lose an estimated $1,800 in family income – more than enough to cover a month’s rent or several months of groceries.

“As a nation we must invest in our children to enjoy future prosperity. Unfortunately, current Congressional attempts threaten to undercut these important investments. We urge Congress to stand up for our children and reject any attempt to strip $1,800 from the pockets of working families at a time when every penny counts,” affirmed Marielena Hincapié, Executive Director of the National Immigration Law Center.

Advocates for America’s Latinos also observe that the proposal comes at a critical moment, as candidates of both parties seek to win the support of Latino voters. The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) reported in 2010 that there were 20 million eligible Latino voters in America and that voter turnout in the 2008 presidential election increased at twice the rate of increase among Blacks and more than 50-times the rate of increase among Whites.

“We are outraged that this proposal is even on the table,” said Eric Rodriguez, NCLR Vice President. “Latino voters are paying close attention to how policymakers treat our community. Given that one out of every four Latino children would face greater hunger and poverty as a result of this proposal, it is hard to see it as anything less than an attack on our children. Congress should pass a fair tax package that maintains access to the Child Tax Credit for vulnerable families.”

Congress has numerous alternatives to offset the budgetary impact of extending the payroll tax holiday. For example, requiring millionaires to pay just 0.2% more in federal income taxes would generate the same offset as denying the Child Tax Credit to 5.5 million children.

“The bottom line for children’s advocates is that it’s wrong to target any child, especially when child poverty’s already at the highest level in a generation. This proposal targets millions of the most vulnerable children in America and threatens to drive child poverty even higher,” stated Bruce Lesley, President of the First Focus Campaign for Children. “And our message to members of Congress: find a smarter solution, and don’t cut kids.”

While most tax filers use a Social Security Number (SSNs), millions of filers use ITINs because they are ineligible for SSNs. Immigrants and nonimmigrant visitors – those admitted through normal channels and those present without documentation – may use ITINs to pay federal income taxes. President George W. Bush’s U.S. Internal Revenue Service Commissioner testified to Congress that undocumented immigrants paid nearly $50 billion in federal income taxes using ITINs, during an eight-year period ending in 2003. The American Immigration Council reports that ITIN filers’ paid more than $9 billion in payroll taxes (which fund Social Security and Medicaid systems for which undocumented immigrants are ineligible) during 2010.

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

Washington – On December 13, 2011, the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Children and Families, chaired by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), held a hearing on child abuse, convened on the heels of the recent tragedies at Penn State and Syracuse. Testimony referenced proposals to increase protections for children victimized by abuse or neglect. One such proposal, the Speak Up to Protect Every Abused Kid Act (S. 1877, sponsored by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)), would require that state governments accepting federal child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment funding adopt a basic set of protections. All adults would be required to report known or suspected child abuse and neglect directly to law enforcement or child welfare authorities. It would also make federal funds available to help states undertake education and training campaigns to help adults who work with children detect the telltale signs of abuse or neglect, and it would encourage the establishment of state task forces to focus on strategies to improve child abuse and neglect reporting.

In response, First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley released the following statement:

"We commend the subcommittee for focusing on this critical issue. To create lasting change, the federal government must invest in preventing abuse and neglect by strengthening families, improving oversight through enhanced staffing at state and local child welfare agencies, and increasing the likelihood that abused or neglected children can find permanent homes with relatives, foster parents, or adoptive parents. But the fact remains: authorities can’t stop abuse or neglect if they don’t know about it. We need legislation to ensure that a child in danger will never be ignored."

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

Washington – Senior negotiators in the U.S. House of Representatives released a proposal Friday to offset the fiscal impact of a payroll tax holiday extension by cutting federal commitments to Medicaid, lowering federal non-defense domestic discretionary funding caps, and requiring that federal income tax returns claiming the refundable the Child Tax Credit (CTC) include the filer’s Social Security number. The CTC provision would weaken the economic stability of immigrant families that include up to 4.5 million U.S. citizen children. Tighter budget caps could affect kids’ initiatives ranging from educational support for children with disabilities to shelter and care for homeless kids. And cuts in Medicaid payment rates for hospitals – including children’s hospitals – simply shift the costs of needed care to families and small businesses. In response, First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley released the following statement:

“With child poverty way up, Congress should be making it easier for parents to meet their children’s basic needs, not tying their hands with more red tape. Lawmakers shouldn't cast a vote for this proposal until they understand exactly how it will affect the children they serve.”

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Washington – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced legislation last week to increase protections for children victimized by abuse or neglect. The Protecting Children Is Everyone’s Responsibility Act would require that state governments accepting federal child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment funding adopt a basic set of protections that: require all adults to report known or suspected child abuse and neglect to law enforcement or child welfare authorities. The proposal would also make federal funds available to help states undertake education and training campaigns to help adults who work with children detect the telltale signs of abuse or neglect, and it would encourage state task forces to focus on strategies to improve child abuse and neglect reporting.

In response, First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley released the following statement:

"A child in danger should never be ignored. We applaud Senator Casey for his leadership in strengthening reporting requirements, so law enforcement or child safety agencies are always notified when an adult knows or believes that a child is being abused or neglected. Authorities can’t stop abuse or neglect if they don’t know about it, so this legislation responds to an urgent need, and we urge congressional leadership to make its enactment a priority."

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Washington – More than 80 state and national organizations led by the First Focus Campaign for Children today endorsed the Foster Opportunity Act. The bill, introduced by Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA) and eight other lawmakers, increases the likelihood that immigrant children removed from their parents’ custody because of concerns about abuse or neglect will be protected by immigration law benefits already in place.

“The Foster Opportunity Act ensures that kids who lived in fear of abuse and neglect as children don’t have to live in fear of deportation as adults,” said First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley.

In 2008, Congress created a special nonimmigrant status in federal immigration law. This Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) allows children brought to the United States, then placed in foster care by state governments to protect them from abuse or neglect, to remain lawfully in the U.S. Children granted SIJS are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship after five years. An estimated 12,000 undocumented immigrant children are living in foster care, nationwide.

SIJS is not well known to child welfare agency officials or to judges and other court officers. As a result, many eligible children never get SIJS protections. If they do not obtain SIJS or other immigration relief options before age 18 (or, in some cases, 21), these children must either surrender for deportation to a country they barely remember or remain unlawfully in the U.S. Those who remain cannot get jobs or a college education and are often forced underground because they can’t get driver’s licenses or other identity documents.

“Immigration law already promises kids victimized by abuse or neglect a chance at a productive life, but for too many, it’s an empty promise,” said Lesley.

Congressman Stark’s Foster Opportunity Act, H.R. 3333, makes the existing immigration law work better for child abuse or neglect victims, by creating complementary protections. It authorizes federal agencies to inform state child welfare agencies and court officials about SIJS, and it requires child welfare agencies to screen immigrant children in foster care for SIJS eligibility. It clarifies that the federal government will reimburse state and local governments for costs they incurred providing care for kids who qualify for SIJS. And it ensures that SIJS-eligible children can qualify for federal health, nutrition, and other benefits without the five-year waiting period imposed on other immigrants.

“Allowing abused and neglected children to leave our foster care system and face deportation is completely unacceptable. The status quo must change. This legislation will enable us to better fulfill our responsibility to all foster children and provide immigrant youth with an opportunity to succeed in this country after leaving care. With the invaluable help of child advocacy groups like First Focus, we will make this legislation a reality,” said Rep. Stark, who serves as Ranking Member on the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee.

The First Focus Campaign for Children led more than 80 state and national organizations in commending Congressman Stark and the bill’s co-sponsors for introducing this important legislation. The text of their endorsement letter and the complete list of signatories is attached below.

“We thank Congressman Stark and his colleagues for working together to give immigrant kids living in foster care a fighting chance at leading healthy and productive adult lives,” said Lesley.

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org .

We are writing to thank you for your leadership on and continued attention to the needs of America’s children, and to express our support for the Foster Children Opportunity Act. As representatives of organizations committed to improving the health and well-being of children and families, we are pleased that the Foster Children Opportunity Act seeks to ensure that abused and neglected immigrant children have an opportunity to obtain the legal immigrant status to which they are entitled prior to aging out of the foster care system.
Immigrant children involved in the child welfare system are often eligible for special forms of immigration relief, including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) but early identification is critical given that a child can lose SIJS eligibility once the court terminates jurisdiction over the youth. More often than not, court and child welfare officials are unaware of immigration relief options available, leaving these children at risk of deportation at any time and drastically limiting their educational and work opportunities when they “age out” of the system.

Sadly, each year, many undocumented children age out of the child welfare system without the opportunity to obtain legal immigrant status. On exiting the system, they often lose their only chance to gain legal status and leave the foster care system in a state of limbo, lacking the lawful status necessary to succeed in the U.S. They face a daily risk of deportation, are unable to obtain employment authorization, a driver’s license, access to benefits and in most states, are not eligible for in-state tuition at state colleges and universities.

Child welfare staff, judges, attorneys and other service providers play a critical role in the lives of these young people. It is essential that they are knowledgeable about immigration issues and SIJS in particular, and has access to the training and resources necessary to fully protect all children in its care.

The Foster Children Opportunity Act aims to ensure that all children in the foster care system are screened for SIJS and other immigration relief options. The bill provides needed technical assistance to child welfare agencies and resources to train judges, attorneys and other legal workers on this matter. It also clarifies that a state can obtain reimbursement for the foster care costs of a child once the child obtains SIJS status and ensures that children who receive SIJS are exempted from the 5 year ban placed on receiving Federal means-tested public benefits.

This Act seeks to protect abused and neglected children by ensuring they have a fighting chance at leading healthy and productive lives when they exit the child welfare system. We are grateful for your leadership in introducing the Foster Children Opportunity Act, and we look forward to working with you to ensure passage of this critical legislation.

Sincerely,

Action for Children North Carolina
Advocates for Children and Youth
American Humane Association
America’s Promise Alliance
Arkansas Voices for Children Left Behind
Arizona Council of Human Services Providers
Asian American Justice Center, Member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
Casa Esperanza
Center for Public Policy Priorities
Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)
Children First for Oregon
Children's Action Alliance
Children’s Advocacy Institute
Children’s Home Society of NC
Children's Law Center of Los Angeles
Community Action Partnership
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
ECPAT-USA
First Focus Campaign for Children
Florida Equal Justice Center
Foster Family-Based Treatment Association
Georgia Rural Urban Summit
Global Family Legal Services
Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc.
Human Rights Initiative of North Texas
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
Juvenile Law Center
Kids In Need of Defense (KIND)
Larkin Street Youth Services
LatinoJustice PRLDEF
Latinos for Education & Justice Organization, Inc
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Maine Children's Alliance
Maternal and Child Health Access
Medical Legal Partnership at Florida State University College of Law
Mental Health America
Michigan State University College of Law Immigration Law Clinic
Michigan's Children
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
National CASA Association
National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
National Immigrant Justice Center
National Immigration Law Center
National Policy Partnership for Children of Incarcerated Parents
New Mexico Voices for Children
New Mexico Women's Justice Project
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Our Bodies Ourselves
PB&J Family Services, Inc, Albuquerque New Mexico
Pegasus Legal Services for Children
Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
Project IRENE
Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center
School Social Work Association of America
STANDUP FOR KIDS
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey
Sue Cares
TASH
Texans Care for Children
The Children’s Partnership
The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Inc.
The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy
The National Center for Lesbian Rights
The New Mexico Council on Crime and Delinquency
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
Voices for America’s Children
Voices for Utah Children
Voices for Virginia's Children
Woman's Foundation of California
Women of Reform Judaism
Women's Refugee Commission
Youth Law Center

Washington - In response to the October 20, 2011, Senate HELP Committee’s 15-7 passage of bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) Act and fundamentally re-writing the former “No Child Left Behind” Act, First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley issued the following statement:

“Parents, teachers, school administrators, and lawmakers all agree No Child Left Behind isn’t working. That’s why the First Focus Campaign for Children applauds the leadership and bipartisan commitment of HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin and Ranking Republican Mike Enzi. But the Committee-approved draft misses important opportunities, and the Senate floor debate must improve the bill by matching accountability and standards with flexibility and genuine learning, ensuring that teachers, principals, and kids have the tools they need to meet high standards, and investing in early childhood education, so kids are ready to learn when they start school.”

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Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D-HI) along with Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC), Congressman Don Young (R-AK) and Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), introduced the bi-partisan Continuum of Learning Act of 2011. This landmark legislation updates the Elementary and Secondary School Education Act (formerly known as No Child Left behind), to support a critical component of education for all children – the coordination and continuity of early childhood care and learning with K-12 education.

Bruce Lesley, President of the First Focus Campaign for Children, issued the following statement:

“Learning begins at birth. The research is irrefutable that the years between birth and entering the school system at kindergarten (or in some states, first grade), are critical to ensuring that children can begin school ready to learn and to succeed. The achievement gap that is so prevalent among far too many of our children, most of them economically disadvantaged, is firmly in place by kindergarten, many children are simply unable to ever close this gap.

“The Continuum of Learning Act finally addresses what experts and researchers have known for years – for children to achieve their fullest potential, we must begin at birth. For far too long, we have viewed the ‘early childhood’ and ‘K-12’ worlds as separate and distinct, when they are truly, as they title of the bill so succinctly communicates, one continuum of learning. It is right and appropriate that this bill amends ESEA so that the guiding legislation for education in the United States will now encourage and incentivize coordination and collaboration between early childhood programs such as child care, Head Start, pre-kindergarten programs, etc. with elementary education from kindergarten and beyond. This is a long-needed shift and one that will provide invaluable and long-reaching benefits to children all across our country.”

Some of the main provisions of the Continuum of Learning Act:

• Encourages states to review their early learning guidelines to comprehensively address emotional, social, and cognitive development and learning and coordinate it with learning in the K-3 grades;
• Supports professional development of both early childhood educators as well as teachers and principals in elementary settings, including joint professional development;
• Helps ensure that all schools have the quality teaching, supportive environments, and family engagement that all children need to succeed in school.

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