Investing Early: One of the Smartest Things We Can Do | ED.gov Blog

Official Department of Education Photo by Joshua Hoover

?This is an important moment in our effort to build a world-class education system in America,? Secretary Duncan said this morning at a White House event to announce the winners of the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC). Duncan joined HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes in announcing the nine states that had won.

?Everyone who works in education can agree that investing in early learning is one of the smartest things we can do,? Duncan said. ?Whether it?s elementary school teachers or prize-winning economists, they recognize that high-quality early learning programs pay dividends down the road.?

Thirty-five states, D.C. and Puerto Rico submitted plans for the Challenge, and today?s event announced the nine winners: California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington.

Official Department of Education Photo by Joshua Hoover

?We believe progress like this won?t be limited to the nine states awarded funds today,? Secretary Sebelius said. ?By pushing everyone to raise their game, we intend to foster innovation in early childhood programs around the country. And I look forward to following their progress in the months and years ahead.?

The RTT-ELC will support these states in developing new approaches to raising the bar across early learning centers and to close the school readiness gap. Awards will invest in grantees? work to build statewide systems of high-quality early learning and development programs. These investments will impact all early learning programs, including Head Start, public pre-K, childcare, and private preschools.

Click here to read today?s press release, and visit ED?s Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge website.

Sign up to receive email updates from ED?s Early Learning?Initiative.

Source: http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/12/investing-early-one-of-the-smartest-things-we-can-do/

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