Entergy Advocates for Early Child Care and Education at the Louisiana State Capitol

Rhea-AI Summary

Entergy (NYSE:ETR) participated in the Louisiana State Capitol event alongside the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children and United Way of Southeast Louisiana to launch the report titled 'A Modern History of Early Care and Education in Louisiana'. The report, funded by Entergy, evaluates the evolution of early childhood education (ECE) in Louisiana, highlighting significant progress and ongoing challenges.

In the early 2000s, Louisiana had only 27% of 4-year-olds enrolled in pre-kindergarten and ranked last in childcare access for 3-year-olds. The report outlines improvements in ECE, driven by collaborations with advocates and policymakers. Governor John Bel Edwards emphasized the state's historic budget investment in early childhood education, marking a pivotal shift in prioritizing children's educational needs.

Positive

• Entergy's efforts have significantly advanced early childhood education access in Louisiana.
• The report documents progress in the state's ECE reform movement, highlighting collaborative efforts.
• Governor John Bel Edwards noted unprecedented budget investments in early childhood education, reflecting a positive trend.

Negative

• In the early 2000s, only 27% of 4-year-olds were enrolled in pre-K, and Louisiana ranked last for 3-year-old childcare access.
• The state's ECE regulatory structures met only four out of ten national benchmarks.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 18, 2023 / Last week, Entergy (NYSE:ETR) joined the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, or LPIC, and United Way of Southeast Louisiana at the Louisiana State Capitol for the release of a new report, "A Modern History of Early Care and Education in Louisiana." The report analyzes the modern history of early care and education in legislation and funding. The report was funded with support from Entergy.

Dr. Libbie Sonnier, Gov. John Bel Edwards , Patty Riddlebarger and Charmaine Caccioppi advocate for early child care and education at the Louisiana State Capitol

Patty Riddlebarger, Entergy vice president of corporate social responsibility, attended a press conference alongside Gov. John Bel Edwards and Dr. Libbie Sonnier, executive director of the LPIC.

"At Entergy, we firmly believe that an investment in our children is an investment in our economy," said Riddlebarger. "Over the past two decades, Entergy has worked with countless advocates, legislative champions, policy makers and community leaders to expand access to high quality early childhood education for Louisiana families. This report documents that progress, while also highlighting how much further we have to go."

The report provides a comprehensive modern history of the early care and education, or ECE, reform movement in the state, including lessons learned. In the late 20th century, scientists concluded the vast majority of brain development takes place during the first three years of a child's life. At the same time, increasingly, child care was becoming one of the most common contexts in which child development unfolds.

In the early 2000s, Louisiana served only 27% of 4-year-olds in pre-kindergarten (pre-K), and the state ranked last in the country for access to child care for 3-year-olds. The state's ECE regulatory structures met only four out of 10 national benchmarks, with no required teacher professional development or minimum staff-child ratios. Yet Louisiana's ECE advocates understood that affordable, high-quality ECE opportunities could be a game-changer for both children and their families, as well as for the state as a whole, and they began to organize themselves to support families with young children.

At the press conference, Edwards offered his remarks about the report.

"When I first took office, the state had spent years disinvesting in education. Now, we have the best budget for education in the history of the state," said Edwards. "This year's budget includes the largest investment of state general fund in early childhood education in state history. We all know how important increasing both access and quality of early childhood education in Louisiana is, and I'm incredibly proud of the strides we've made to put our children first."

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:
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SOURCE: Entergy Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/750045/Entergy-Advocates-for-Early-Child-Care-and-Education-at-the-Louisiana-State-Capitol

FAQ

What is the focus of Entergy's recent press release from April 2023?

Entergy's press release highlights their participation in a report release regarding early childhood education in Louisiana.

How has Entergy contributed to early childhood education in Louisiana?

Entergy has funded reports and collaborated with organizations to improve access to early childhood education.

What did Governor Edwards say about early childhood education funding in Louisiana?

Governor Edwards announced the largest investment in early childhood education in Louisiana's history.

What was Louisiana's ranking in early childhood education access in the early 2000s?

In the early 2000s, Louisiana ranked last in the nation for access to childcare for 3-year-olds.

What does the report 'A Modern History of Early Care and Education in Louisiana' cover?

The report analyzes the history, progress, and challenges of early childhood education legislation and funding in Louisiana.