The First Five Years Fund: Early Education Elimination 'Bitter Disappointment'

WASHINGTON, March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The First Five Years Fund expressed disappointment that the Early Learning Challenge Fund was eliminated Thursday from the Budget Reconciliation Bill that will include health care and student loan reform. The Challenge Fund would have provided competitive funding for states to build high quality early learning systems.

"Obviously, this is a bitter disappointment to all of us who have been working on this bill since last summer," said Cornelia Grumman, Executive Director of The First Five Years Fund. "We are looking forward to working with Congress and the Administration to find another vehicle to fully fund this vital initiative. Today, our question to Congress is:  What is Plan B for getting it done?"

FFYF is committed to improving the lives of at-risk children by leveraging cost-effective investments in early learning. FFYF focuses nationwide attention and resources on comprehensive, quality early care and learning programs for children from birth to age five.

Additional information is available at www.ffyf.org.

SOURCE First Five Years Fund