Speaker Melvin Neufeld Appointed to National ChildhoodScience and Policy Group

FROM THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER NEUFELD

June 25, 2008

Contact: Sherriene Jones-Sontag
Director of Communications and Caucus Information
Office of Kansas Speaker Melvin Neufeld
785/296-2302


Cambridge, MA — Kansas Speaker of the House of Representatives Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls) has been selected to join ten other elected state legislators and top-level executive branch leaders, representing both major political parties and states in every region of the United States, to form the Working Group on Early Childhood Science and Policy. This national advisory group will offer guidance about how to make the science of early childhood development most useful to state policymakers across the country.

Convened by the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Working Group is comprised of leaders who have expertise in a range of early childhood issues and play a key role shaping policy in their respective states.

Speaker Neufeld was selected because of his specific expertise and ability to contribute to new ideas that promote effective decision-making informed by science.

“Kansas understands the connection between cutting-edge science and sound public policy,” said Speaker Neufeld. “States are leading the way on early childhood policy, and it is critical that our decisions are based on hard science and real results.”

The purpose of the Working Group is to:

• Identify ways in which science can be helpful in decision-making at the state level on early childhood development and early learning. • Catalyze rich discussions across various divides—between academia and policymakers, the executive and legislative branches of state government, and individual state borders. • Contribute to the capacity of the Center, along with the NGA Center and NCSL, to identify core policy areas where new science can be most useful. • Advise the Center on policy-oriented research, communications, and future initiatives.

“We value the knowledge and experience of Speaker Neufeld and very much look forward to working with him in this new venture,” said Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D., Director of the Center on the Developing Child. “Legislators, executive branch leaders, and developmental scientists have much to learn from each other. By bridging these worlds, we hope this innovative Working Group can help improve the lives of young children through effective, science-based state policies.”

The group’s first meeting is June 26 and 27 at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.