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2006 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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Ch. 498
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WHEREAS, Nearly 85% of brain development occurs in the first 5 years of life
and research has proven that a child's early years are the most crucial in their
cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development; and
WHEREAS, It also has been affirmed that early childhood education
measurably impacts kindergarten through grade 12 student achievement, as well as a
child's ability to integrate into society as a productive, contributing member; and
WHEREAS, The legislature finds that every $1 invested on quality early
childhood education saves $7 in welfare and penal system costs through improved
student achievement, increased college attendance rates, and a corresponding
reduction in crime and the need for welfare; and
WHEREAS, Early childhood education encourages and provides the support
that friends need to improve the quality of life of children by ensuring that children
have enhanced access to a good beginning in life, laying the firm foundation that will
enable children to reach the potential with which they are born; and
WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes the importance of providing children
with early learning opportunities of the highest quality, including parenting
programs, parent-child education programs, licensed and license-exempt child care,
and center—based programs; and
WHEREAS, Early childhood education programs, both public and private,
should meet professionally-accepted standards and be staffed by well-trained,
appropriately-compensated educators; and
WHEREAS, The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Improve early childhood education by establishing and appropriating
funds for a temporary early childhood education task force to develop a framework to
increase access to early childhood education;
(2) Improve the quality of early childhood learning programs;
(3) Support the professional and career development of early childhood
educators and service providers;
(4) Educate families about the value of early childhood education;
(5) Identify funding mechanisms to appropriately compensate early
childhood educators; and
(6) Increase the inventory of available facilities for early childhood
education programs; now, therefore,
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That:
(a) There is a Task Force on Universal Preschool Education.
(b) The Task Force shall consist of 23 members as follows the following
members:
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