"Now that Governor Hochul announced that New York State will begin funding free childcare for 2-year-olds in New York City, this campaign promise is becoming reality. And with this historic investment comes a generational opportunity to tackle the conditions of economic inequality underscoring the affordability crisis: literacy. Universal childcare cannot fully improve socioeconomic mobility without fully integrating literacy. What we need now is a citywide framework that recognizes early literacy not as an optional enhancement, but as the heart of a child development system."
"The research is unequivocal: experiences in the earliest years shape cognitive growth, executive functioning, and long-term academic, social, and health outcomes. The foundations of language development and reading ability are built long before a child ever enters a kindergarten classroom. Learning to read starts at birth. By age two, roughly 80% of a child's brain development has already occurred. This is a critical window of opportunity to support healthy brain development. The earlier we act, the greater the impact."
Majority support exists for universal childcare and New York State will fund free childcare for 2-year-olds in New York City. This investment creates a generational opportunity to address economic inequality by centering early literacy. Universal childcare must integrate early literacy as the core of child development to improve socioeconomic mobility. A citywide framework should treat early literacy as essential rather than optional. Literacy in Community (LINC) coordinates a 17-organization coalition launched with City's First Readers in 2014. Research shows earliest experiences shape cognitive growth, executive functioning, and long-term outcomes; learning to read starts at birth and by age two about 80% of brain development has occurred.
Read at www.amny.com
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