RRCC Joins Ready La. Joint Statement of Support

We know that in Louisiana there is currently no consistent, stable state funding stream for early care and education, and that we are currently spending less than ½ of 1% of our state general funds on this.  By contrast, other states have used “sin taxes” such as lottery funds, tobacco settlement funds and tobacco taxes to specifically fund early care and education.   
 
For these reasons: • We have committed to work together to advocate for additional funding for early care and education programs from all possible funding sources – to  ensure that every child has access to high quality early education programs that meets their needs, prepares our students for success in school, and supports their parents’ workforce participation and productivity, and our state’s  economy. • We understand that given the large numbers of unserved young children in the state, the price tag to serve them all will be very large.  However, we are  committed to ensuring incremental increases in the state’s investment each year in this critical time of life.  • To start, we have further committed to work together to advocate in 2019: • For additional state funds to be appropriated to early care and  education in general, and  • For early care and education to be a top priority for all funding from any new revenues, including fantasy sports betting, which has already been legalized in the state, and regular sports betting, should the latter be legalized in Louisiana.   
 
The following organizations join in support of this statement:  
Business Groups Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of  Commerce  Committee of 100 Committee of 100 of  Northwest Louisiana  Greater New Orleans, Inc. Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Jefferson Business Council Jefferson Chamber of Commerce  Kenner Business Association  Louisiana Early Childhood Business Roundtable New Orleans Chamber  Northshore Business Council River Region Chamber of Commerce Ruston Lincoln Chamber of Commerce St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance 
 
United Ways St. Landry Evangeline United Way United Way of Central Louisiana United Way of Iberia  United Way of Southeast Louisiana United Way of Southwest Louisiana Womens United 
 
Faith-Based Organizations National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section 
 
Advocacy Groups and Community  Organizations Agenda for Children  Beary Cherry Tree  Childcare Association of Louisiana  Health and Education Alliance of Louisiana Independent Women’s Organization Kingsley House Link Restaurant Group  Louisiana Budget Project Louisiana Children’s Museum  Louisiana Public Health Institute Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families Louisiana Policy Institute for Children  New Orleans Campaign for Grade-Level Reading  Orleans Public Education Network  Step Forward