Presidential Candidates Questionnaire

Senator Christopher Dodd Response

What are your views on the needs of young children (birth to kindergarten) and what specific steps would you take to address these needs?

To be successful in school and life, children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development must be considered the building blocks for success. Factors such as proper nutrition, adequate health care including screenings for vision, dental and overall health, quality, engaging child care and high quality preschool are essential. 

As President, I will provide more money for states to invest in early learning and child care and ensure access to high-quality, affordable preschool.  I will support family nutrition programs and continue to expand and strengthen programs like Head Start and Early Head Start, which help ensure that children living in poverty are given a healthy start in life.  My universal healthcare plan will cover all children regardless of their parents’ ability to pay.

What are your views on the ways in which our nation can close the education achievement gap with a particular focus on the early elementary grade years?

I’ll reform No Child Left Behind by providing states with the flexibility to use multiple measures to demonstrate student learning. I’ll allow schools to target resources to the students who need them the most.  And instead of penalizing public schools that need help, I’ll invest in them.

I will also implement universal pre-k and double the number of nationally board certified teachers.  By paying for the cost of national board certification for teachers who commit to teach in a high need school for five years and providing them with a salary supplement of $10,000 a year, I’ll ensure that every school has experienced teachers.

What kinds of expertise and experiences will you be looking for in people when filling the senior Administration positions that have a responsibility for the key federal and early childhood education programs, such as child care and Head Start?

Senior Administration positions in a Dodd Presidency would be leaders in their fields.  Specifically, those responsible for Head Start and early childhood education programs would be those who have experience working in and supporting these programs.  They will be those people who have proven their dedication to bringing early childhood programs and quality preschool to all American children.  My Administration will include those who have shown bold leadership with proven results.

What do you consider the appropriate federal investment in programs that support young children’s early care and education (such as child care and Head Start)?  Please be as specific as possible.

I will spend more than $10 billion annually on early childhood education and early care, the majority through enactment of my Early Childhood Investment Act which will establish and enhance public-private partnerships in early childhood development at the state and local levels.  Outside of these partnerships, I will also increase funding for Head Start and invest in infant and toddler programs.  In addition, I will implement my universal preschool program.

What are your views on raising the compensation of child care workers and what steps would you take to make attracting and keeping quality educators in the early childhood education field?

I authored the Focus on Committed and Underpaid Staff for Children’s Sake Act (FOCUS) to provide scholarships and increased compensation for the further education of child care professionals and supported efforts to expand access to early learning and pre-school programs.

Under my Universal Pre-K Incentive Fund, priority will be given to states that ensure lead teacher salaries are comparable to K-12 teachers and to applications that assist lead teachers in meeting the bachelor’s degree requirement.  Lead teachers would be required to have a bachelor’s degree and training, education, and/or experience in child development or early childhood education within six years. 

As President, what would be your top 4 priorities for legislative action in the first 100 days of your Administration?

• End the war in Iraq and restore our Constitution..
• Implement my Universal HealthMart, ensuring quality health care for all Americans, starting with children.
• Pass my No Child Left Behind Reform Act and fully fund the law’s mandates.
• Ensure that American workers are given a fair shake by passing the Employee Free Choice Act and raising the minimum wage.