In the new year, we will kick off February with our annual Early Ed Month, featuring an entire month of initiatives and events highlighting the critical need for increased investment in high-quality early childhood education for young children, birth to age four, in Louisiana. Be sure to tune in!

 

As always, we cannot thank you enough for your continued generosity and support both financially and through your advocacy on behalf of our state’s youngest learners. We look forward to continuing to advance policies to ensure the children of Louisiana are successful in school and in life in 2025!

 

We wish you a joyous holiday season and a prosperous new year!

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News You Can Snack On

Guest column: This tax credit provides a no-cost way to support Louisiana children. Here's how.

Louisiana businesses: did you know your business can receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donating to child care resource and referral agencies? Learn more about how one business leader is making a difference in local communities through the School Readiness Tax Credits. Read the full article here.

 

Child Care in State Economies – 2024 A Report Series

The Committee on Economic Development released a three-part report series examining the current status of the paid child care industry in the U.S. Learn more about the impact on Louisiana’s economy here. 

 

Child care in the U.S. today can cost more than families pay for rent, a mortgage or college tuition

The soaring cost of child care in the U.S. can now exceed what families pay for housing or college. That's according to recently released data that outlines the heavy financial burden on the nearly 14 million American parents who rely on paid caregivers to look after their children. Families spent as much as $15,600 per year on full-day care per child in 2022 (the latest year for which data is available), although those with infants can face costs as high as $31,544 annually, according to a recently updated database compiled by the Department of Labor. Read the full article here.

 

Former Donaldsonville store transformed into needed early learning center for city's youngest residents

To alter systemic issues like poverty and incarceration, Ascension Parish decided to start with its youngest residents. Ascension Parish Government partnered with Nicholls State University and Multistudio, an architecture firm in New Orleans that focuses on community-centered projects, to develop a quality early learning childhood center in Donaldsonville. Read the full article here.

 

Louisiana online sports betting is booming, but concerns still persist

Sports betting in Louisiana is making a big impact on early childhood education. With 25% of tax revenue from online sports betting allocated to fund early care and education programs, over $15 million this year is helping families access high-quality early learning opportunities for children under age 5. These investments are building a brighter future for Louisiana's children while also strengthening our economy. Read the full article here.

 

Early Childhood State Policy Profiles

The National Center for Children in Poverty released Early Childhood State Policy Profiles as part of the Improving the Odds for Young Children project. These profiles highlight two-generation state policy choices that promote health, education, and strong families alongside other contextual data related to the well-being of young children. Read the full article here.