Thread by @TheRealHoarse

It is impossible to overstate just how great it is that the Biden Admin is funding universal pre-K.

If I can just gush for a minute…

Universal pre-K supports young learners in the critical moment when “learning to read” sets the table for “reading to learn.”

1/

https://twitter.com/joycewhitevance/status/1453713463985987585

It does more to change outcomes for disadvantaged learners than almost any amount of later support could.

I’ve had back-and-forths with people about this before.

“But Headstart is already free for poor families…” they say.

2/

The federal poverty threshold is so low, in my state, a family could make *double* the amount the government considers poverty-level… and still be in the bottom 20% of incomes.

For many of those families - above the poverty line but struggling - childcare is a hardship.

3/

Private daycare in my area is over $1k a month *for one child*.

It is flatly unaffordable for a large swath of the population.

So, parents are forced to find some other way to take care of their kids while advantaged kids are in private, structured environments.

4/

Universal pre-K changes that. It levels the playing field for students entering kindergarten - or makes it less uneven, at least.

Want to close the “achievement gap” in 5th, 8th or 12th grade?

Target pre-k and early learning.

5/

This is a big deal.

It saves some struggling families thousands of dollars; it frees some parents to return to work earlier if that is the right answer for their family.

Universal pre-k is a big deal.

I am so happy the Biden Admin is making it happen.

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