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The California Federation of Teachers (CFT) was a proud co-sponsor of Early Learning Advocacy Day in Sacramento, On June 9, 2009. The event was a rousing success with more than 300 early learning advocates – including teachers, early care educators, parents, business and labor leaders and others – coming from across California to the state Capitol to advocate for high-quality early learning. Participants met with more than 100 state legislators and staff to share their stories about how high-quality early learning programs benefit California's children, families and communities.
Voices form the Field Panelists: Greg Robitaille, Parent and Early Care and Education Advocate; Shaun Taylor, Assistant Director, Family Matters Child Care Center; Betty Robinson-Harris, CFT ECE Committee Member and Preschool Teacher; Sandy Escobedo, Deputy Field Director, Preschool Advocacy Initiative, California Community Foundation.
CFT ECE Members Participate in Early learning Advocacy Day: Isabel Delgadillo, ABC Local 2317; Alejandra Cisneros, Early Childhood Federation, Local 1475, Betty Robinson-Harris, United Educators of San Francisco, Local 61; Arleen Rivera, Early Childhood Federation, Local 1475; Ramiro Hernandez, AFT National Representative assigned to work with Local 1475; Ruth Molina, Early Childhood Federation, Local 1475.
The event, hosted by the California Association for the Education of Young Children and Preschool California and co-sponsored by more than 40 organizations, highlighted the strength of our movement as we came together to speak with one strong voice for California's youngest children. While we were talking with legislative offices during a time of unprecedented fiscal crisis in our state, we were able to get our message across that high-quality early learning programs are an essential long-term investment for California, and that in these difficult economic times it is more important than ever to protect our most vulnerable children.
Earlier in the day, advocates heard from a lineup of early care and education (ECE) luminaries. Betty Robinson-Harris, a CFT ECE Committee member and long time ECE teacher in San Francisco, spoke to the group as a member of the Voices from the Field panel.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell explained that investing in preschool and closing the readiness gap in California is essential to achieving his top two priorities of continuing academic progress and closing the achievement gap. O'Connell also rallied the audience for their legislative visits. "You may hear now is not the right time," O'Connell said, "We have to operate in a no excuses zone. Our kids are not going to wait for us."
Assemblymember Tom Torlakson also stopped by to talk about the importance of high-quality early learning as a "spring board for success" in school and in life. The audience also heard inspiring remarks from two early learning champions, Carl Guardino, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and Kris Perry, Executive Director of First 5 California.
Thank you to the CFT ECE members who participated in Early Learning Advocacy Day and helped "Seize the moment for California’s youngest children!"
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