Budget cuts will hurt children

To the Editor:

I am a school nurse for the Oxford Hills school district as well as a parent of four children. I am very concerned about Governor Lepage's proposed budget cuts to the early childhood education programs.

Each year in the fall I am always saddened when we have a child come to kindergarten with no early childhood education. The child is at a great disadvantage and requires a lot of school resources, so that they can participate in class at the same level as other children who have had early childhood education.

We have children come to school with behavioral issues, emotional issues and health issues. We have children who are not potty trained. All could have been addressed early in the child's development through early childhood education.

Early childhood education helps children with special needs, children living in poverty, who are homeless, are in foster care, or live in areas defined as medically underserved. In addition, the program helps parents make progress toward their own educational and employment goals.

Please sign the online petition at www.mainechildcare.org/mainestatepublicpolicy.html or write or call your local legislator and tell them to please reconsider the cuts proposed by Governor Lepage to early childhood education.

These cuts would be detrimental to the children of our state. These programs are vital if we are to help children be successful in school and end the cycle of poverty.

Victoria Van loan RN BSN

School Nurse

Paris Elementary

Harrison Elementary

Waterford Elementary