Early Years Matter

Early childhood education is often overlooked in conversations about AI. We want to change that. With Boys Town’s help, we are building new ways for teachers to practice and strengthen their skills. We want educators to feel confident and supported, so they are ready for the realities of the classroom.

Early educators have long been shut out of the existing Educator Expense Deduction (EED), which allows K-12 teachers to deduct up to $300 in classroom supplies. But a new bipartisan bill introduced last fall, and recently passed in the House of Representatives, seeks to change this.

Child care and economics are deeply intertwined. Whether parents can access—and afford—child care can impact their household income and lifelong earnings, not to mention local employers and the overall labor market.

By asking, "What is this child experiencing right now?", teachers can move beyond standard lesson structures to better understand student engagement and respond with greater intention.