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Senate designates Feb. 5, 2025, as Early Childhood Advocacy Day
Summary
The Kansas Senate adopted a resolution recognizing Feb. 5, 2025, as Early Childhood Advocacy Day and urged investment in early childhood services, after sponsors and advocates described research on early brain development and the workforce challenges facing child-care providers.
The Kansas Senate on Wednesday adopted Senate Resolution 17-08, designating Feb. 5, 2025, as Early Childhood Advocacy Day and calling for investments in child care, early childhood home visiting and related services.
Senator Johnson, speaking for the measure, told colleagues the issue reaches beyond any single committee because early development affects education, health and the economy. “This is a unique time in which the brain is being wired at an astonishing rate of nearly 1,000,000 new neural connections per second,” Senator Johnson said during floor remarks urging support.
The resolution’s text, read into the record, cites research that “90% of a child's brain develops before the child enters kindergarten” and says investments in the first five years yield long-term benefits for children and the state’s economy. Several early-childhood providers and coalition members in the gallery — including representatives identified as Jen Pichney of Kansas Childcare Training Opportunities, Christy Smith of Child Care Aware of Kansas and Tanya Bullock of Child Start — were acknowledged on the floor.
Senate leadership moved to suspend the rules and adopt the resolution by voice vote; the chair declared the motion carried. The resolution urges continued support for licensed, affordable child care and evidence-based home-visiting programs, and it calls attention to workforce and pay challenges for child-care professionals.
The resolution is symbolic and asks state leaders and members of the public to recognize the role of early-childhood services; it does not itself appropriate funds or change state program rules.
Senate action came amid a wider agenda that included final votes on election bills and committee consideration of budget and tax measures.
Notes: The resolution text designates Feb. 5, 2025, as Early Childhood Advocacy Day and enumerates research and policy rationales for investment in early childhood services.
