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Imagine this: A child鈥檚 first experiences with school are determined not by her potential, but by her parents鈥� paycheck or ZIP code. In one community, preschool is a well-staffed, affordable program with structured play and early literacy. In another, a family is left with no option at all鈥攖oo expensive, too far away, or simply nonexistent.

This is the current reality of early childhood education in the United States. Yet, across the globe, nations have already made the bold choice to treat early learning as a public good, not a private burden.

What the World Already Knows

• Sweden, Denmark, Estonia: Families pay little to nothing for early education. In Sweden, no family pays more than 3% of its income for a child鈥檚 care, with additional children paying even less.鹿
• Germany: Public spending on early care reached 鈧�46.5 billion in 2024, split nearly evenly between state (L盲nder) and local authorities.虏
• Canada: A federal鈥損rovincial partnership has created $10-a-day childcare across provinces, supported by a $30 billion federal investment.鲁
• Singapore: Subsidy schemes such as the Anchor Operator and Partner Operator programs cap parent fees and prioritize access for lower-income families.鈦�
• Brazil: The FUNDEB fund redistributes 20% of state and municipal tax revenues for education, ensuring poorer regions receive proportionally more resources.鈦�

These countries operate on a simple principle: every child deserves a strong start, regardless of circumstance.

Why the U.S. Can鈥檛 Wait

Here at home, the average American family pays nearly $1,000 a month for childcare鈥攈igher than rent in many communities.鈦� Programs close when temporary federal relief expires, and early educators continue to earn near-poverty wages.

Meanwhile, decades of research demonstrate that every $1 invested in early learning returns up to $7 in long-term economic and social benefits.鈦�

We are leaving opportunity on the table, and children behind, by refusing to act boldly.

The Policy Opportunity

School leaders know the readiness gap is not a concept鈥攊t walks into kindergarten every September. Districts spend precious resources on remediation that could have been prevented with access to strong early learning. Federal IDEA funding has long been under strain, yet early intervention and early childhood programs remain among the most cost-effective educational investments we can make. 鈦�

It鈥檚 time for federal policy to catch up to global reality:

1. Universal Access: Establish early childhood education as a federally guaranteed right from birth through school entry.
2. Shared Responsibility: Use federal鈥搒tate partnership models, like Canada鈥檚 CWELCC, to ensure sustainable, predictable funding.
3. Equity First: Direct resources toward rural, underfunded, and marginalized communities, following Brazil鈥檚 redistributive example.
4. Affordability: Cap family costs at a reasonable percentage of income, modeled on Sweden鈥檚 sliding-scale approach.
5. Invest in Educators: Treat early childhood teachers as professionals with competitive pay and professional development, not as disposable labor. 鈦�

A Call to Action

As educational leaders and advocates, we cannot remain silent while inequity is cemented before a child ever steps into a kindergarten classroom. Our charge is to ensure that the promise of public education begins at birth, not age five.

Federal investment in early childhood education is not just an educational issue, it is economic policy, family policy, and equity policy rolled into one. It is, quite simply, the smartest investment our nation can make.

Closing Thought

Universal early childhood education is not a luxury鈥攊t is a necessity. The true question before us is simple: will we invest in beginnings, or continue to pay for the consequences of neglect?

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