By Chloe Parkins
WASHINGTON – A local nonprofit pushed for an increase in funding for an early childhood education program, telling a Northwest Washington neighborhood meeting on Monday that education in the first three years of life is crucial to proper development.
This District of Columbia Council passed the Birth-to-Three for All DC Act of 2018 last year but only $5 million of the requested $30 million deemed necessary to fully support the act’s mission was funded by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser. The act gathered $11 million from additional sources last year.
This year, Jayme Epstein and Rebecca Barson, Jews United for Justice’s Washington Leadership Council co-chairs, want to garner support from commissioners in hopes it will show Bowser that the act is something the community cares about - and encourage her to fund it fully.
“Early childhood education, especially with our long history of racial segregation and disparity across our city, is the path between superseding class,” said Maureen Kinlan Boucher, the ANC’s commissioner and treasurer. “Education is the pathway to leave or rise above poverty.”
She hopes that Bowser will allocate full funding and doesn’t believe that her ANC, which covers the Northwest Washington area, will hesitate in fully supporting the act.
Epstein and Barson hope to introduce the funding proposal to Bowser before next year’s budget is established.
Commissioner Lee Brian Reba supported Epstein and Barson’s proposal. When asked if he thinks full funding for the Birth-to-Three for All DC Act of 2018 would encourage the rest of the nation to enact similar laws, he said, “I think it does set a precedent. I would like to think that Washington sets the tone for the rest of America.”
The Birth-to-Three for All DC Act of 2018 looks to provide support to infants and children from birth to age 3. The act focuses on child care at reasonable costs, improved early child development education and healthcare, and increased pay for those who work in early childhood development.
The meeting continued to considerations of a Board of Zoning Application and a Historic Preservation Review Board Application. Both the homeowners and their contractors’ applications were enhanced by their close communication and the consideration of their neighbor’s.
A sun study – a test to determine how the sun hits areas at different parts of the day – was conducted by those who applied for the Board of Zoning Application. One neighbor was not on board with construction, but the sun study showed that the neighbor’s home would not be affected by new shading.
Nancy MacWood, commissioner and chair, said, “In this case, we didn’t hear from the neighbor who is apparently opposing the application but when we looked at the sun study, that particular neighbor isn’t being affected by the shade.” Their opposition will likely not affect proceeding because of this.
The neighbors of those applying for the Historic Preservation Review Board Application are mostly concerned with issues of drainage. The soil in the area is known to cause several problems and the neighbors are worried that additional construction will amplify the problem.
The next upcoming ANC meeting for this Northwest region will be held on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Cleveland Park Library.
Commissioner Lee Brian Reba of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C vocalized his support for full funding for the Birth-to-Three for All DC Act of 2018 on Tuesday during Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C’s monthly meeting.
(Photo by Chloe Parkins)