A total of 27 governors (as well as the mayor of the District of Columbia) referenced early care and education in their 2013 state of the state addresses—an increase from 22 governors in 2012 and 17 governors in 2011. These governors recognize that early care and education helps prepare young children for future educational success, provides crucial support for parents, and strengthens our nation’s economy.
Governors in a number of states—including Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia—called for expanded access to prekindergarten. The governors of Connecticut and New Mexico and mayor of the District of Columbia highlighted previous expansions of prekindergarten. Governors in several states expressed support for efforts to maintain or increase access to child care assistance (New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia), improve the quality of child care (Delaware, Mississippi, and Montana), or expand the availability of child care (North Dakota). In a number of these states, the governors’ proposals are now moving forward in the legislature.
Download the full summary below.
Find the 2012 Summary of Governors' State of the State Addresses here.
