NEW ORLEANS - City Council President Jason Williams is calling for a one million dollar 2018 Budget allocation for early childhood education across the city. The New Orleans City Council will hold a press conference on Wednesday, November 1st to stress the need for this budget request.
Agencies such as the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Youth Empowerment Project, Democrats for Education Reform, Agenda for Children and Stand for Children have long requested investment in high-quality early care. Studies show that such programming prepares students for success and allows families to be productive in the workforce. However, less than 16 percent of at-risk New Orleans children birth through age three have access to a publicly-funded child care seat.
Councilmember Williams says, "We have a real opportunity here to place our city at the national forefront of early childhood education. This budget allocation would not require any additional taxpayer dollars; it simply moves money in the general fund to where we need it most: investing in our young people from the very start. We can create generations of educated, prosperous New Orleanians by putting children on a track for success with high-quality early care and education."
The press conference will be held at 9:30 a.m. in Room 2w47 of City Hall. Speakers will include members of the City Council.