ECE in the 2012 Election

"Early Childhood Education Not Marque Campaign Issue," proclaimed an article in Education Week (August 8, 2012).  The article contends...

"Of all the issues aired at a National Journal-hosted event on early childhood education recently, one theme resounded more than any other:  Politicians, and by extension, the people who vote for them, don't see early learning as a priority.  That's the case despite broad agreement across the political spectrum that investing both public and private dollars in early childhood programs pays numerous dividends down the line....

"Panelist Michael Castle, a former Republican governor of Delaware and nine-term congressman, put some of the blame on the media, saying that it 'has just not done a good job' of covering the importance of early learning, and the direct connections to the long-term health of the economy.  Reporters on the campaign trail ought to be asking about early childhood, but they don't," he said.

"[Another panelist, Arthur] Rolnick offered what is the most likely reason: Kids who stand to benefit most from public investments in early-childhood programs are years away from voting and often come from households where the adults are unlikely to trek to the polls on Election Day."

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