States’ Approach To Budget Issues Threaten Early Childhood Education
As states face increasing budget shortages, they inevitably look for places to raise additional revenue or to cut services. Unfortunately, education and services to children and families are often the victims of this process, risking the well-being of the children and our nation. This year we have seen states make it harder for families, particularly lower income families, to access high quality early childhood education programs or for providers to offer services to families who may have limited funds.
A variety of direct and indirect approaches are being used, from reducing reimbursement rates for children from low income families, increasing parent co-pays, or restricting eligibility. But almost whatever their form, these actions have adverse consequences for both parents and children.
Recently Arizona announced a proposed increase in the licensing fees for child care centers to an unprecedented level, which threatens the viability of centers that are already struggling to make ends meet while providing quality care to Arizona’s children. If approved, the cost of a license would increase from $150 to as much as $13,442 per center. That is an unfathomable increase despite the fact that neither centers nor children will receive any additional services from the state. Unfortunately, centers will have to respond by either passing the cost on to parents, or by cutting back on staff, educational supplies, facilities—or perhaps shut down completely, leaving families scrambling to find quality care. To learn more about the changes in Arizona, or to contact members of the Arizona legislature, go to: http://www.azcca.org/
In Ohio, the Early Learning Initiative (ELI) Pre-K program was eliminated. Statewide more than 14,000 children lost access to care. As a result fewer children will be ready for kindergarten, early childhood education teachers lost their jobs and may well leave the industry never to return, and many families have had to choose between continuing to work or compromising the quality of care and supervision their children receive.
Ohio also cut its already low reimbursement rates for children. The state now pays, on average, about 20 percent less than the minimum level the federal government recommends, with an even wider gap for infants, our most vulnerable children. As a result, children statewide are being displaced from their programs, with the growing risk that programs may need to curtail services even further. Those who need quality care most are being deprived access to the very programs that can make a difference in their school readiness, academic performance and, ultimately, their ability to contribute to our society and our nation’s economy. We are shortchanging their future, and ours. To learn more about developments in Ohio visit: http://www.oaccp.org/
As parents we cannot take for granted that policy makers will act in the best interests of our children unless they know that we are engaged in the process, with a loud voice and a quick call to action. This is a particularly important time to find out what is happening in your state and your community and to ensure that your voice is heard.
One way to learn about developments in early care and education, at both the federal and state levels, is to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter and issue alerts of our public policy partner, the Early Care and Education Consortium. Stay informed and let your elected representatives know that the most important investment they can make in the future of our nation is in the education of young children. Together we can build a better world for the next generation of Americans.
Uncategorized | Elanna | 
October 13, 2009 1:51 pm
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