Should New Orleans property owners be charged an extra millage to fund more early childhood education in the city? Thursday the City Council indicated they're in favor of putting the question up to voters next year.
The vote to discuss a resolution to do so at a January 6th Council meeting passed unanimously, with no public or councilmember comment in opposition.
Details of what the millage would be and how many children would benefit from it are unknown but after repeated failures by state lawmakers to properly fund early childhood education local leaders seem ready to take on the issue.
“Investing in our children early means we do not spend money on them late. Investing in an education means that we will not be wasting money on incarceration, it is just as simple as that,” said Councilman Jay Banks. “I realize that nobody wants to pay taxes, I get that, but the truth be told is that this tax is an investment, an investment that will pay dividends down the road.”
Study results from the LA 4 program show even one year of early childhood education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds can have a substantial impact on their future academic performance.
