Florida's Education Budget Cuts Put Young Learners at Risk

Our legislators here in Florida are currently talking about slashing our state education budgets.

Budget cuts to early education programs have consequences that go far beyond numbers on a spreadsheet. Behind every dollar slashed is a child whose future becomes more uncertain. The effects both psychological and physical on children and their families are real and measurable. Math and data can quantify changes in graduation rates, behavioral health, long-term earnings, and even crime reduction. But what’s harder to quantify—and more important—is the human cost.

Numbers may be cold and impersonal, but what they represent is not. They stand for a child’s opportunity to succeed, to find their place in a rapidly evolving world shaped by technology, innovation, and global competition. Even the games children play have changed—from cowboys and Indians to astronauts and scientists—reflecting new dreams, new frontiers. The question is: will they be prepared?

Early education is more than academics. It fosters social skills, emotional intelligence, and behavioral foundations that last a lifetime. The friendships formed, the lessons learned, and the confidence built in those early years shape who children become.

Education is the golden key to the future—and it all begins in early childhood. The investments we make today are not just in children, but in the kind of country we want to be: innovative, competitive, and compassionate. To lead in the world, we must lead in how we nurture and educate our youngest citizens.

— Alan Bergman is a member of First Baptist Church of Cocoa Beach and chairman of the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County.

The Early Learning Coalition of Brevard helps prepare children for success in school by supporting early education, literacy, and family resources through programs like School Readiness and Florida’s free Voluntary PreKindergarten for 4-year-olds. The Coalition partners with local providers—including 36 Christian schools across Brevard—to make high-quality early care accessible and affordable.

Looking for a Christ-focused Early Learning program for you child? Find one from the Early Learning Coalition's Partner List: