Whether or not you agree with schooling or unschooling (or homeschooling), most experts agree that the earlier kids start learning, the better. Sure, kids learn through play—everyone knows that. But not all parents have the luxury of playing with their kids for hours a day due to their jobs. Kids definitely need an opportunity to learn and grow during their crucial developmental preschool years (at ages 3 and 4).

One of the things I loved about Barack Obama when I voted for him was that he wanted to get all kids access to early childhood education at the preschool level. That’s a fantastic goal—but it’s also a difficult one to meet. We have yet to see it realized in our country, but the story actually gets worse.

There is existing federal aid for many of these programs. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to provided billions of dollars in aid for early childhood programs, providing access to the neediest kids in disadvantaged situations.

But opponents to pre-k education are actually trying to block this legislation today. Over 70% of three and four-year-olds don’t have access to public early education programs today. Half a million of these kids come from low-income families, making it even more important for them to be enrolled in these important programs.

As the mother of a child in such a program, I can vouch for how wonderful they are. My child, who was born with developmental delays, is on track at her age level with the kind and knowledgeable instruction provided by her teachers—as well as the interaction she has with her classmates.

Due to the direct intervention from state programs (among other things), my daughter—who wasn’t even sitting on her own by age one due to her prematurity—is now a happy, healthy girl who can sit, stand, run, and see with minor aid (glasses and shoe inserts). Without the help of experts, no matter how much training I’d received in college I wouldn’t have been able to get her this far on my own.

If you think that early childhood programs are a worthwhile investment and that the House should move forward with passing this legislation today, click here to tell your Senator how you feel. Be sure to mention that you support the Early Learning Challenge Fund, and that since state programs have already been forced to cut their budgets it’s more important than ever to get this legislation passed and into the schools that need it most right now.