This month marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, an event that forever reshaped Louisiana and deeply affected our families and communities. For many, the memories of that time remain vivid and heavy. As we reflect on this anniversary, we are reminded of the storm’s profound and lasting impact on children and the early childhood system. Katrina laid bare how vulnerable child care access can be during times of crises and reinforced the need for a resilient, sustainable system that supports families no matter the circumstances. 

 

This theme of resilience was also at the top of mind during our recent team retreat. It was a valuable opportunity to reconnect, recharge, and align around our strategic priorities. We took time to examine our organizational structure through the lens of our long-term goals, strengthen collaboration across our team, and recommit to advancing policies that improve outcomes for Louisiana's youngest learners. We are especially grateful to one of our donors whose generous support made this retreat possible.

 

Finally, we recently hosted a press conference to share the results of our 2025 Provider Survey, and you can read the full report on our website. The results paint a clear picture of the persistent challenges early childhood education providers face across the state, from workforce retention to rising operational costs. These insights are critical as we continue to advocate for the strategic, sustained investments needed to strengthen Louisiana’s early childhood education system. We are deeply thankful to the providers who lent their voices to this effort. 

 

As business leaders, your voices are instrumental in making sure these challenges are heard by key decision-makers. Congress is returning from its recess, and Speaker Johnson will play a central role in determining funding levels for critical federal programs, including Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). These programs support Louisiana’s working families, develop our future workforce, and strengthen our state’s economy. 

 

Please take a few minutes to contact Speaker Johnson directly and help elevate the importance of continued federal investment in programs like Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). 

 

Speaker Johnson

Phone: 202-225-2777

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If you’d like any support or would find it helpful to have a talk track, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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Thank you for your continued leadership and engagement as we work together to build a stronger future for children and families across our state.

 

News You Can Snack On

1. Letters: If Louisiana wants to succeed, invest in early childhood education (NOLA.com)

2. We never lost our joie de vivre: How Louisiana rebuilt for its youngest learners (I Am New Orleans)

3. Child Care in America Is Broken. Here Are Five Ideas for How to Fix It. (Wall Street Journal)

4. From $24,000 to $147,000: How Much Daycare Costs Across America (Wall Street Journal)