Editorial Roundup: Louisiana

The Advocate. June 7, 2023.

Editorial: Plenty of revenue, but less money for children

In theory, everybody is in favor of early childhood education.

This year, not enough.

Louisiana is losing short-term federal funding for about 16,000 seats in early childhood programs. The state is not stepping up to fill a damaging loss.

Amid a rush of new revenues in a post-pandemic economic recovery, everybody seems to have evaporated.

Gov. John Bel Edwards proposed budget allocated $52 million to somewhat replace the lost federal funding. That would have preserved about 4,000 seats in quality programming for the earliest learners, from birth to kindergarten age.

In the budget fracas that consumed the State Capitol this year, the Houses decision to eliminate that money was disheartening for a broad array of business and labor and social service providers and educators, all of whom vouch for the vital importance of early childhood education to get kids off to a good start and help their parents fully participate in the economy.