Preserving the Federal Role in Advancing Educational Opportunity

One of the most cherished founding principles of the United States, equal opportunity for all, is one that has yet to be fully realized for too many Americans. Mountains of data, most recently summarized in a consensus report of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2023), show us the many ways that opportunity continues to be uneven and unfair, from birth, impacting historically marginalized communities. For over sixty years, born from the Civil Rights Movement, the federal government has funded local communities to build opportunity and bridge gaps in opportunity across the nation, starting with our youngest children. From Head Start to Title I and IDEA, to investments that address hunger, homelessness, and access to quality healthcare, these investments deeply impact the lives of millions of children and families in every state in the nation and contribute to healthy, safe, thriving children, families, and communities. This report outlines key programs that play a vital role in communities and families to nurture healthy child development and promote quality education and learning. We highlight research that demonstrates programs’ constructive impacts and the consequences of reducing or eliminating funding, transparency, and oversight.