Louisiana House Bill 676 has captured the attention of One Acadiana and bipartisan support on both sides of the House and Senate.
One Acadiana’s Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Communications, Anita Begnaud says early childhood education is the most proven and impactful investment for long-term workforce development. “When you start early with children early in their educational careers you have a better chance of them having successful outcomes in later grades and in their future jobs,” says Begnaud.
HB 676 would create the Early Childhood Care and Education Commission and pilot programs for community early childhood care and education networks,” according to the bill’s text. “I want to hear what the business person has. What is their experience with this? What are they seeing the needs to be but then you also want to hear from the practicioner running the Type 3 Early Learning Center or a local school superintendent,” says the bills primary author State Representative Stephanie Hilferty (R) District 94.
Begnaud says when businesses inquire about Acadiana they want to know if the workforce is viable — are the children getting the care and education they need to be the workforce of the future. “So this bill aims to address that issue by creating a commission that’s going to create a vision and a plan for both early childcare and education in Louisiana,” explains Begnaud.
“When these programs are instituted and they’re performing highly we can pilot programs in those different communities across the state of Louisana and see how we can continue to improve outcomes,” adds Begnaud
One Acadiana leaders note that more than 40% of children in Louisiana enter kindergarden behind their peers. “Those who start behind are more likely to stay behind,” says Begnaud.