Early childhood education advocates are urging the state legislature to dedicate potentially tens of millions of dollars in future revenues from sports betting in Louisiana to better prepare children under 3 years old for success later in life.
The Louisiana Early Childhood Care and Education Commission, which was formed by the legislature, issued a report last month calling on lawmakers to earmark all future revenue generated through sports betting for early childhood education. The recommendation comes in the wake of voters in 55 parishes authorizing sports wagering last November.
Lawmakers should dedicate about $85 million per year to the program for the next decade, according to the commission’s report. The potential windfall for the state as a result of sports betting is dependent on whether the state restricts such wagering to casinos or expands the options to include online betting, supporters of the plan say.
“The idea is that sports betting will be new revenue, and the legislature has to make some decisions this coming fiscal session” beginning on April 12, Libbie Sonnier, executive director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, told the Louisiana Record.
Sonnier and other advocates say the state currently provides services to 90 percent of 4-year-olds who are at risk, but only 15 percent of at-risk children under 3 years old are served. Filling that gap will pay dividends for Louisiana in the future, they say.
“I’m hopeful that we can finally put children first in Louisiana and do something meaningful that will really help generations of children grow at their optimal level,” Sonnier said.
Louisiana will receive significant funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for child care, she said, but these will be limited, one-time-only funds.
“The sports betting revenue could potentially help fill the hole when the federal money for the covid response leaves” in 2024, Sonnier said.
Early childhood education supporters have spoken with both legislative leaders and rank-and-file members, she said. Many are sympathetic to the commission’s recommendations, even though they tend not to favor dedicating funding levels for specific programs, according to Sonnier.
“Early care and education of our youngest learners starting at birth is the most critical priority that we have for this generation,” she said.