New Jersey-2022-AJR171-Enrolled

A Joint Resolution permanently designating the first full week in April as the "Week of the Young Child" in New Jersey.

Whereas, Learning and development are shaped by the earliest years of a child's life; and

Whereas, The State's future depends on the high-quality early childhood experiences provided to young children today, preparing them for school success and brighter outcomes; and

Whereas, Providing high-quality early childhood education services represents a worthy commitment to our children's future by preparing them to succeed in school, earn higher wages, and live healthier lives; and

Whereas, Providing high-quality early childhood education services also makes working families more economically secure by reducing child-care costs, thereby saving taxpayer dollars that would otherwise go to child care assistance programs dedicated to low-income families; and

Whereas, Working families need a mixed-delivery early childhood education system where the quality of services is not ¹[comprised] compromised¹ by economic factors or lack of accessibility when selecting child care arrangements that best meet the needs of their family; and

Whereas, The State's early childhood education workforce needs skilled, qualified, and adequately compensated early childhood educators who reflect a diversity of linguistic, racial, and cultural identities, and provide children and families of this State with developmentally appropriate child care services in educational settings that are both accessible and affordable; and

Whereas, The State of New Jersey needs to provide robust subsidies, scholarships, and tax credits for families at all income levels to help alleviate the true cost of high-quality early childhood education; and

Whereas, The Week of the Young Child ¹[(WOYC)]¹ is a week-long celebration that focuses public attention on the needs of young children and their families, recognizes the programs and services that meet those needs, and coordinates music, food, and art activities to help develop children's math, literacy, and motor skills; and

Whereas, The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), in partnership with state and local organizations, early childhood professionals, and families and children, are celebrating ¹[the of]¹ the ¹[WOYC April 2 through April 8, 2022] Week of the Young Child April 1 through April 7, 2023¹; and

Whereas, By calling attention to the need for high-quality early childhood education services for all children and families within the State of New Jersey, the NAEYC and its partners groups hope to improve the quality and availability of such services; and

Whereas, It is fitting and proper to designate the first week in April as the "Week of the Young Child" in the State of New Jersey to recognize the importance of high-quality early childhood education that is affordable and accessible and advance the child care and early childhood education professions; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The first full week in April shall be permanently designated as the "Week of the Young Child" in the State of New Jersey to recognize the importance of high-quality early childhood education that is affordable and accessible and to advance the child care and early childhood education professions.

2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the first full week in April as the "Week of the Young Child" in New Jersey and calling upon public officials, the citizens of the State, and other interested groups to observe the week with appropriate activities and programs.

¹[3. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children.]¹

¹[4. ] 3.¹ This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

Permanently designates first full week in April as "Week of the Young Child" in New Jersey.