Child Care Advocacy in Louisiana

In 2012, the Early Childhood Education Act (Act 3) was passed to ensure that Louisiana children have a strong foundation for success. The statute catalyzed major education reforms in the state, including the creation of a statewide, integrated early-childhood care and education network. This group established uniform standards and coordinated efforts throughout the state. This effort connected early childhood education to the cradle-to-career pipeline.

There is very clear research on the importance and benefits of providing young children with access to high-quality early care and education. As the case for investment in early childhood education grew, so did its list of champions. The Ready Louisiana Coalition is a bipartisan, statewide and cross-sector coalition seeking sufficient investment in quality, affordable early care and education in Louisiana.

The Jefferson Chamber of Commerce is one of the coalition’s business members advocating for child care in the state. For the Jefferson Chamber, early childhood education consistently makes the lists of annual legislative priorities because the organization and its board understand the intersectionality of poverty, education and incarceration. Prisons, poverty and access to high-quality education disproportionately affect minorities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. To help solve this problem, the Jefferson Chamber advocates for earlier learning.

The pandemic brought early learning and child care to the forefront of the business community’s consciousness. According to a report developed by the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center and the Louisiana Policy Institute (LPI), in Louisiana alone, child care breakdowns due to absences, turnover, or other difficulties cost businesses $762 million a year due to missed work. This loss translates to $1.3 billion in annual loss to the Louisiana economy. Reliable, affordable and high-quality care is critical for local economies, and organizations like the Jefferson Chamber show what is possible when the business community supports these efforts.