October 24, 2019
In this issue:

  • Exciting Changes for LPIC
  • Upcoming Elections Could Be a Turning Point for Louisiana Early Care and Education
  • No Small Matter Documentary – Free Screening TONIGHT in New Orleans
  • Save the Date: November Meetings of Interest
Exciting Changes for LPIC
We are also very excited to announce that we have moved into the brand new Louisiana Children's Museum in City Park in New Orleans!
Upcoming Elections Could Be a Turning Point for Louisiana Early Care and Education
The upcoming gubernatorial election, along with runoffs across the state, represent an opportunity to elect officials who support early childhood education. We encourage everyone to go vote on November 16, 2019. 

The candidates for governor may disagree on many things, but they do agree on the importance of early childhood care and education. During a September debate, Gov. Bel Edwards said, “Early childhood education will be my number one priority for additional education funding in the second term.” And Eddie Rispone said, “We don’t have a choice. We have to give these children a chance. We have to get them prepared for kindergarten…so they have a future in education.” For more on the candidates responses, click here . 

RESET Louisiana’s Future , a nonpartisan effort focused on issues critical to Louisiana, says with the will and the way, we can reset Louisiana’s future including the future of early care and education in the state. This is why the November elections are so important. For more on RESET’s agenda for improving education, state finances, transportation and public safety, you can watch the September episode of Louisiana Public Square , a production of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. You can also read their policy briefs at reset-louisiana.com . 

This is an exciting time for Louisiana, with growing bipartisan support for prioritizing funding for early care and education. 64 organizations, including Chambers of Commerce, United Ways, multiple advocacy and community organizations, signed on to Ready Louisiana’s Joint Statement of Support , asking all candidates to include a comprehensive plank providing for a substantial increase in investment in early care and education in their platforms. Currently, our state invests less than 1% of its state general funds on early care and education. Ready Louisiana is a bi-partisan, statewide coalition of businesses, advocacy organizations, early care and education professionals, parents and citizens seeking sufficient investment in quality, affordable early care and education in Louisiana. For more from Ready Louisiana on the 2019 elections, click here . 

The future of Louisiana depends on how willing we are to care for and prepare our youngest citizens. Let’s make sure we are supporting candidates who support early care and education.
No Small Matter Documentary – Free Screening TONIGHT in New Orleans
No Small Matter is the first feature documentary to explore the most overlooked, underestimated, and powerful force for good in American today: early childhood education. Through poignant stories and surprising humor, No Small Matter lays out the overwhelming evidence for the importance of the first five years.

The film reveals how failure to act on that evidence has resulted in an everyday crisis for American families, and a slow-motion catastrophe for the country.

  • When: Wednesday, October 24, 5:30-8:00 pm
  • Where: Delgado Community College City Park Campus, Student Life and Success Center- 2nd Floor, Lac Maraupes Room
  • Tickets: Click here.

Following the screening, a moderated panel discussion with early childhood education and business leaders, including:

  • Dr. Libbie Sonnier-Netto, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children 
  • Dr. Corey Hebert, Pediatrician 
  • Jen Roberts, Agenda for Children 
  • Maria Blanco, LSU Human Development Center 
  • Rhonda Taylor, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans Head Start 
  • Kenneth Francis, Agenda for Children

For more information, please contact Melanie Richardson melanie@mytraininggrounds.org, 504.408.0506
Save the Date: November Meetings of Interest
The following meetings are scheduled for October and November 2019. Agendas, materials, and a link for live streaming are posted approximately a week before each meeting on the BESE website .

Early Childhood Care and Education Advisory Council
  • November 13, 2019 at 1:00 pm (Location: Thomas Jefferson Room 1-136, Claiborne Building, 1201 N. Third Street, Baton Rouge)

Early Childhood Care and Education Commission
  • November 18, 2019 at 12:00 pm (Location: Thomas Jefferson Room 1-136, Claiborne Building, 1201 N. Third Street, Baton Rouge)

Children's Cabinet Advisory Board (CCAB)
  • November 20, 2019 at 1:00 pm (Location: TBD)
About Us
The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC)
is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization
that is a source of data, research and information
for policymakers on issues concerning young
children in Louisiana.   

For more information, contact Libbie Sonnier-Netto
at lsonniernetto@policyinstitutela.org.
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