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BOARD RESOLUTION 

WHEREAS, 90% of a child’s critical brain development happens by age 5; and

WHEREAS, Arizona voters have twice affirmed their desire to dedicate funds specifically for early childhood education and health programs for children prior to kindergarten entry; and

WHEREAS, Arizona voters created First Things First to give more young children the tools they need to arrive at school ready to succeed and prepared to meet our state’s high expectations; and

WHEREAS, First Things First funds represent the only state monies dedicated exclusively to school readiness for Arizona’s children; and

WHEREAS, First Things First has acted responsibly in managing voter-approved resources to ensure the long-term sustainability of the State’s early childhood education and health system; and

WHEREAS, First Things First investments in programs that keep kids safe and learning – like early literacy and language programs, services for children with special needs, quality early learning programs for low-income children, preventive children’s health services, education for families, including teen parents and grandparents raising grandchildren, and more – are currently fulfilling the voters’ commitment to positively impact children and families in communities across Arizona; and

WHEREAS, First Things First support has allowed crucial early intervention and child abuse prevention programs – like child care for foster children, developmental screenings to detect health and learning issues, and home visitation programs to help struggling families – to continue despite drastic cuts in state funding to Arizona’s safety net; and  

WHEREAS, current proposals being considered by state policymakers to satisfy a court order to meet its funding obligations to K-12 education include a proposal to raid First Things First funding and change the mission of the organization, taking the focus away from early childhood; and

WHEREAS, the state General Fund and the state’s Rainy Day fund have a combined positive cash balance of $785 million; and

WHEREAS, taking funds from one part of the education system and diverting them to another part of the education system ultimately does not represent an increased investment in education.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that Arizona’s First Things First Board opposes any proposal by policymakers to divert its funding or alter its mission; and, urges every Arizonan to do their utmost to preserve early childhood education and health programs that promote school readiness for young children, including:

  • Informing and educating policymakers about the importance of early childhood to children’s future academic success and well-being;
  • Highlighting to policymakers the impact that First Things First funds are having in local communities across Arizona; and
  • Calling on policymakers to reject proposals that threaten Arizona’s early childhood education and health system by diverting funding or altering the mission of First Things First.

Adopted October 6, 2015