Early Education
Early Education
The two main areas for federal advocacy on early education are:
- Head Start - This program provides educational and other comprehensive support services to approximately 1 million disadvantaged children.
- Voluntary Pre-kindergarten - Publicly funded, high quality preschool programs for all three- and four-year olds.
Why Is This Important To Your School District?
Publicly funded preschool programs can raise student achievement by providing a solid foundation on which children can build. Numerous studies have shown that programs which provide children developmentally appropriate stimulation in their early years can help to close some of the achievement gaps that exist among children even before they enter school. Research has also documented that children who participate in high-quality preschool programs demonstrate greater interest in learning, are less likely to repeat a grade of require special education classes, and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.
What to Tell Congress: NSBA's Position
NSBA urges policymakers increase funding for the newly reauthorized Head Start program, which currently serves over 900,000 low-income children and their families through a network of 1,600 public and private agencies. In addition, NSBA urges Congress to create a new federal grant program to help support high quality preschool programs for all children whose families wish them to attend.
Visit our Legislative Action Center to find out what's happening in Congress now.
Resources
- Pre-K Legislative Committee

Information on NSBA's Pre-K Legislative Committee.
- Issue Brief: Investing in Early Childhood Education
[PDF 135,416kb] - NSBA Issue Brief: Head Start Reauthorization
[HTML 5,292kb]
Learn about NSBA's position on Head Start reauthorization.
- NSBA Recommendations to Secretary Duncan: January 25, 2010
[PDF 112,669kb]
Re: Early Learning and Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
- NSBA Analysis of the LEARN Act
[PDF 190,122kb]
This chart analyzes the birth-through-kindergarten entry provisions of both the House and Senate bills.
- Analysis of H.R. 3221
[PDF 149,826kb]
The "Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009" would provide funds for early learning programs.
- Letter to the House of Representatives: September 15, 2009
[HTML 3,451kb]
Re: Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 - H.R. 3221
- Letter to the House Committee on Education & Labor: July 20, 2009
[HTML 5,126kb]
Re: Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 - H.R. 3221
- Pre-K Legislation: 111th Congress
[PDF 289,912kb]
Details on selected pre-k bills introduced in the current Congress as of May 2009.
- Planning for Pre-Kindergarten Webinar
[WMV 48,842,836kb]
Webinar April 28. 2009: Planning for Prekindergarten – A Toolkit for School Board Members.
- Pre-K Coalition Letter to the House Committee on Education & Labor: June 24, 2008
[HTML 4,062kb]
Re: Providing Resources Early for Kids Act “Pre-K Act,” H.R. 3289
- NSBA's Letter to Representative Mazie Hirono: May 12, 2008
[HTML 4,002kb]
Re: Providing Resources Early for Kids Act of 2007 (H.R. 3289)
- NSBA's Letter to the House Committee on Education and Labor: January 21, 2008
[HTML 3,176kb]
Re: Hearing on Investing in Early Education: Paths to Improving Childrens' Success
- Head Start Reauthorization Side-by-Side Comparison
[DOC 42,496kb]
A comparison of current law and NSBA recommendations with House- (H.R. 1429) and Senate-passed (S. 556) bills.
- Pre-K Legislation Side-By-Side Comparison: October 2007
[HTML 43,662kb]
A side-by-side comparison of selected pre-k bills introduced in the 110th Congress.
- NSBA Policy Research Brief: Expanding Voluntary Preschool Education
[PDF 318,725kb]
Learn about efforts to prepare our children for school, what research tells us, and how the federal government can assist school districts in implementing effective programs
- NSBA's Letter to the House Committee on Education and Labor: July 25, 2007
[HTML 8,246kb]
NSBA's Recommendations to Conference Committee on Head Start Reauthorization (H.R. 1429 & S. 556)
- NSBA's Letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: July 11, 2007
[HTML 7,566kb]
NSBA's Recommendations to Conference Committee on Head Start Reauthorization (H.R. 1429 & S. 556)
- NSBA's Letter to U.S. House of Representatives: April 6, 2007
[HTML 5,177kb]
The Improving Head Start Act of 2007 (H.R. 1429)