When we invest in our children, we invest in a lifetime of opportunities. That's why early childhood education is so important; because we know that when kids have access to preschool, pre-K, and full-day kindergarten, they are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college or a learn a skilled trade through an apprenticeship program, and find a good-paying job and career in their future.

I know the value of early childhood education, because I have fought for those opportunities for my own kids. When my oldest was getting ready to start kindergarten, I found out that access to full-day kindergarten in West Des Moines was literally determined by a lottery. That wasn't something I could accept - and I pushed the school district to change that, successfully securing all-day instruction for the entire district.

Now, as Congress considers new investments in Iowa families, I want to hear from you!

Do you believe that students in Iowa and across our country should have universal access to pre-K, just like they do for other levels of K-12 education?