BATON ROUGE, LA—Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White tonight released a statement regarding the commitment by Gov. John Bel Edwards to support an amendment to add $8.76 million in funding for early childhood education to the proposed FY 20 state budget. White said:

“Governor Edwards has done the right thing for our state and its children by committing to support an amendment to add $8.76 million in funding for early childhood education to the proposed state budget. These funds will preserve child care opportunities for working families who would have otherwise lost them due to expiring grants.

However, this proposed funding does not eliminate the growing waiting list, now thousands of families long, for child care services.

I continue to urge the Legislature to clear that waitlist and to invest in the “LA B to 3” plan unanimously put forth by the Louisiana Early Childhood Care and Education Commission. Our youngest learners, our working families, and our state depend on it.”