In this Issue
- A Participant's Experience with T.E.A.C.H.
- Spotlight on: Professional Development Registries
- Vote Phyllis Kalifeh for NAEYC Governing Board
- Forum Corner
- Early Learning Coalition Briefs
- Legislative Updates
- Economic Stimulus for Child Care Equals Jobs
- State and National News
- Calendar of Events
Legislative Updates
Florida
In a Victory for the Early Learning Community, Governor Crist Vetoes Senate Bill 2-A
According to the Agency for Workforce Innovation, Governor Crist exercised
his veto power after carefully reviewing Senate Bill 2-A by restoring $90.9
million in General Revenue funds for the preservation of investing in
Florida's future, including a restoration of nearly $6 million in early
learning funding that directly impacts the ability to better serve the
people of Florida.
National
The Final American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Makes Significant New Investments
The final American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is expected to be
approved by the House and Senate and signed by the President sometime this
week, makes significant new investments in child care, early education, and
related programs, including:
- $2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, with $255,186,000 of this amount set aside for quality improvement (beyond the required 4 percent), of which with $93,587,000 is targeted for improving infant and toddler care. This funding will be available upon enactment of the legislation. These funds must be used to supplement, not supplant, existing state general revenue funds.
- $2.1 billion for Head Start, including $1.1 billion for expansion of Early Head Start programs. Of the Early Head Start funding, up to 10 percent is available for training and technical assistance and up to 3 percent is available for monitoring. The report language indicates that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is expected to work with grantees to manage resources in order to sustain FY 2009 awards through FY 2010. The report language also reminds the Secretary of HHS that the agency has the authority to waive the requirement that grantees provide a non-federal match.
- $400 million for IDEA Preschool (section 619) Grants and $500 million for formula grants under IDEA Part C to help states serve infants and toddlers with disabilities and special needs.
- $3 billion for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Contingency Fund to provide states with additional funds to serve the growing number of poor families in this recession; and $319 million to extend supplemental funds for states with high population growth and/or increased poverty, providing qualified states with the same grant amount in FY 2010 that they received in FY 2009.
- $80 million each for the Army, Air Force, and Navy/Marines for military child development centers (in addition to planning money).
- $100 million for Teacher Quality Partnership grants to address teacher shortages and modernize the teaching workforce. These grants could be used to support the early childhood workforce through compensation and other initiatives.
- $13 billion for Title I grants for education programs for disadvantaged children, including early childhood programs and activities (although there is only an expectation that states will use some of the funds for early childhood, not a specific set-aside as in the Senate bill).
- $53.6 billion for a new State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to support education, including early childhood programs, and other vital public services over the next two years.
In addition to the provisions related to early care and education, there are also several other important provisions to help low-income families in general, including a provision that reduces the eligibility threshold for the refundable component of the child tax credit from $8,500 to $3,000. For additional information about this and other provisions in the legislation related to women and families, view the National Women's Law Center web site.
While there were a few disappointments with the final legislation (for
example, it does not include $726 million for Afterschool Meals as in the
House version or $400 million for the Social Services Block Grant as in the
Senate version), overall this was a tremendous victory for children and
families.
For the full text of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, see appropriations.house.gov.
Article Courtesy of the National Women's Law Center