The head of a local nonprofit organization recently testified before a U.S. Senate committee in Washington.

Henrietta Zalkind, executive director of the Down East Partnership for Children, testified May 25 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions about new ways to strengthen the No Child Left Behind Act’s investment in early care and education.

The Down East Partnership for Children has been touted as a model of early care and education. Zalkind said testifying in Washington was “a great opportunity to showcase the work of the Down East Partnership for Children in the national spotlight while also helping impact the future of this important legislation.”

“We are excited the committee is focusing on efforts to enhance high quality early education and care and are seeking input for creative approaches that have been proven to work,” she said.

Zalkind was invited to testify at the hearing to share the experiences of the Down East Partnership for Children in improving the quality of early childhood education and child care so all children enter school ready to learn and to succeed.

“Henrietta’s testimony on what she has learned through her success in North Carolina was invaluable in providing us insight for ways we can improve the early childhood education experience,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. “Our goal must be to ensure that all children, regardless of background, are able to succeed in school, college and the future workforce.”