The Early Care and Education Consortium is a voice for child care providers on Capitol Hill, focusing on issues including child care subsidies, quality rating systems, prekindergarten and early learning initiatives, and challenges for the early education workforce.

Federal Funding Update July 11, 2008
In February 2008, the President presented the FY09 budget proposal to Congress. The proposal froze child care funding. Soon after, the Senate and the House of Representatives each passed a Budget Resolution, which is not binding, but sets a tone and provides a guide for the Appropriations Committees when allocating funding to different programs.

In May, the House and Senate reached an agreement on a congressional budget plan for FY09, which proposes total discretionary funding of close to $25 billion above the President’s budget request for FY09, most of that money going to domestic programs whose funding has been frozen or cut in recent years.

Now, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have each met to review and determine funding levels for programs for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Their recommendations are as follows:

Program  House Appropriations Committee Bill for FY 2009  House Appropriations Committee Bill compared to current year House Appropriations Committee Bill compared to the President's request Child Care & Development Block Grant  $2,112,081,000  $50,000,000 more  $50,000,000 more Head Start  $7,120,000,000  $242,024,000 more  $93,429,000 more 21st Century Community Learning Centers  $1,131,166,000  $50,000,000 more  $331,166,000 more  Program Senate Appropriations Committee Bill for FY 2009 Senate  Appropriations Committee Bill compared to current year Senate  Appropriations Committee Bill compared to the President'srequest Child Care & Development Block Grant  $2,137,081,000  $75,000,000 more  $75,000,000 more Head Start  $7,104,571,000  $226,595,000 more  $78,000,000 more 21st Century Community Learning Centers  $1,081,166,000 same  $281,166,000 more

 

 
According to the House Committee Report, “The Committee believes that child care is a wise investment. First, child care assistance is essential to enable low-income parents to work and become self-sufficient. Single mothers who receive child care assistance are 40 percent more likely to remain employed after two years than those who do not receive assistance. Second, studies have shown that high-quality child care helps ensure that children enter school ready to succeed. By second grade, children who have received high-quality care demonstrate greater mathematical ability, greater thinking and attention skills, and fewer behavior problems than children who receive lower-quality care.”

The Senate Committee Report also emphasized the need for high quality care, explaining “The Committee has provided additional quality funds [in CCDBG] because of the considerable research demonstrating the importance of serving children in high quality child care settings which include adequately compensated, nurturing providers who are specially trained in child development.”

Check back soon for updates as the appropriations process moves forward and we move closer to the end of the Congressional session.

Child Care and Development Block Grant Act
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the primary federal funding stream for child care. Funds support quality initiatives in the states for all children, and funds provide subsidies to help eligible families pay for child care. CCDBG has been due for reauthorization in Congress since 2002. fore other major legislation. Opportunities in reauthorization include:

*Increasing funding levels so that more eligible families can access subsidies and quality initiatives can be expanded
*Supporting higher reimbursment rates
*Preserving parent choice and expanding mixed delivery in state early childhood programs
*Strengthening state requirements for child care and raising the bar on the quality of care

Starting Early, Starting Right Act (S. 2980)
On May 5, 2008, Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) introduced a new federal child care bill.
 
The Starting Early, Starting Right Act (S. 2980):
*Authorizes a $10 billion increase in the Child Care and Development Block Grant
*Requires states to reimburse at the 75th percentile of the current market rate or higher based on a market rate survey
*Includes provisions for access to and continuity of child care
*Requires states to increase licensing regulations
*Includes set-asides for quality initiatives with options to develop and implement quality rating systems, ensure full day programs, and to provide access for infants and toddlers
The bill is a much needed move forward for child care, focusing attention on funding while also addressing quality and Birth-to-Five.
 
For more information about the bill, visit Senator Casey's website. Watch your email inbox for ways you can support the bill!

ECEC Testifies at U.S. House Hearing on Early Education
Executive Director Eric Karolak testified before the House Committee on Education and Labor on "Investing in Early Education: Paths to Improving Children's Success," on January 23.  What one program is the answer? How much does a year of infant care in California cost? What's the role of community-based providers? What should policymakers consider when it comes to ECE workforce qualifications? View the archived hearing and read the written testimony online for answers to these and other issues.


Federal Legislative Report
Key early care and education legislation pending in the 110th Congress.