Photo: Micaela Bedell for Strategies for Children

President Obama has made an inspiring call for the country to invest $75 billion in early education and care. Now the White House is following up, providing estimates of how this money would be distributed to states — if the president’s proposal became law.

“These investments – made in partnership with States and fully paid for in the President’s budget – will help close America’s school readiness gap and ensure that America’s children enter kindergarten ready to succeed,” a White House fact sheet explains.

The president’s Preschool for All program would increase access to high-quality programs and encourage states to adopt full-day kindergarten programs. If Massachusetts participated, it would receive an estimated $27.2 million in the first year of the program, the White House fact sheet explains. “This funding, combined with an initial estimated state match of $2.7 million, would serve about 3,317 children from low- and moderate-income families in the first year of the program alone.”

Infants and toddlers would benefit from a new national $1.4 billion competitive grant program.  According to the fact sheet: “About 12,835 children in Massachusetts from birth to age three are currently served by the Child Care and Development Block Grant. Through Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, more of these children will have access to high quality early care and education.”

Obama would also invest in parents, by expanding the Home Visiting programs that bring nurses, social workers, parent educators and other professionals into parents’ living rooms.  “Under the President’s proposal, Massachusetts is estimated to receive $7.4 million in the first year it participates in the expanded Home Visiting program. Each year, 15,200 low-income mothers in Massachusetts give birth to a new baby and may benefit from these voluntary services.”

To see estimates of how other states would fare, click here.

The potential of Obama’s proposal is huge. States would get much-needed federal dollars to support early learning initiatives.  Parents would get guidance on how to be their children’s first (and best) teachers.  And children would get the early boost they need to succeed in school and life.