In This Issue
Summer 2010 |
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Illinois Update
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Federal Update
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Focus on the Issue
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Advocacy Tip
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| Reports |
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| State Budget and Early Childhood Update |
Last week, the General Assembly passed the FY2011 budget bill previously approved by the Senate. Similar to FY2010’s budget, the bill gives Gov. Quinn lump sum amounts to distribute to departments. One sum would go to state grant programs, including early childhood programs, and another to state operations.
The lump sum for grants was kept at the FY2010 level, but the state operations budget was cut by 5 percent. The legislature passed an emergency budget act giving the governor tremendous flexibility in how the budget is implemented. Over the coming weeks, the governor’s office will determine how programs will be funded for the year. The Illinois State Board of Education will also adopt a final budget at its meeting on June 23 and 24.
The legislature adjourned May 27 without resolving some additional revenue issues – including public employee pensions – that could impact funding for early childhood programs. Legislators may return soon to resolve this issue.
The Ounce of Prevention Fund and our partners will continue to advocate for full funding for early childhood programs as budget decisions are made at the governor’s office, the State Board of Education, and other state agencies. We encourage you to contact the governor's office asking them to fully fund early childhood programs.
The Ounce will continue to keep you updated on any new developments with the Illinois budget.
Early Childhood Legislation
Despite this year’s unprecedented budget challenges, support for early childhood remains strong in the General Assembly. A number of significant early childhood bills passed with overwhelming support.
Early Childhood Capital
After intense advocacy, legislation passed the General Assembly on May 6 that sets the required match for early childhood capital funds at 10 percent of the grant. When the multibillion-dollar capital plan became law last year, it included $45 million for early childhood construction grants but required schools and nonprofits to fully match the state grant dollars. That would have made it difficult for providers to access funds, thereby compromising the goal of increasing services to underserved children. Early childhood advocates have worked for the past year to educate lawmakers on the need to change the required match language and their hard work has paid off.
The legislation, SB3460, also ensures that these public dollars will be used for the intended purpose by requiring facilities built or renovated with capital dollars to continue to be used for early childhood education for a period of 10 years. SB3460 now heads to the governor for his signature and then rules for the Early Childhood Capital program will be written.
Preschool for All Sunset
Legislation to eliminate the sunset date for the Preschool for All program passed the General Assembly and awaits the governor’s signature. Created in 2006, Preschool for All made Illinois a national leader in providing early learning, but has been subject to a “sunset,” or ending, date since its enactment.
While removal of the sunset date does not guarantee funding for the program, this legislation ensures that the goal of Preschool for All - access to voluntary preschool for all three and four year olds while prioritizing at-risk children - remains the law in Illinois. This funding prioritization will guide any future increases the program might receive once the state budget has stabilized.
Preschool Transportation
The preschool transportation bill (HB4879) passed both the Illinois House and Senate on May 4 and awaits the governor’s signature. This bill amends the school code to address the lack of reimbursement for preschool transportation costs. The bill allows school districts to be reimbursed for busing preschool children if they are transported at the same time as other students who are eligible for reimbursement. While much work remains to be done on the cost of preschool student transportation, the bill is an important first step. |
Early Childhood Initiatives Move Forward in DC |
As the Illinois legislature wraps up, Washington, DC, remains abuzz with Congressional activity. Over the next six months federal legislators will be working to solidify the FY2011 national budget and other critical legislation that impacts early childhood.
Budget Appropriations
Earlier this year, President Obama proposed increasing funding for several early childhood services in his FY2011 budget request. He called for an additional $989 million for Head Start and Early Head Start and a $1.6 billion increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant. Early Head Start would receive funds designated to continue to serve the 64,000 children and families funded through last year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The increase in the child-care dollars would allow states to provide child-care subsidies to an additional 235,000 children and working families across the nation and implement initiatives to improve quality.
The FY2011 budget likely will not be finalized until after the elections in November, but budget appropriation conversations are happening now. . The fact that the president included these items in his budget is an important first step, but the Illinois Congressional delegation needs to hear from you about how these investments would benefit Illinois.
Early Learning Challenge Fund
The Early Learning Challenge Fund was unfortunately taken out of the budget reconciliation bill. However, the good news is that President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have both made public commitments to the fund. Conversations are happening throughout Congress about the appropriate vehicle to move this forward.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Early learning plays a very small role in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), so early childhood advocates hope to expand its role as the law comes up for reauthorization. Early education is a key building block for achieving the ESEA’s college- and career-readiness goals and should be considered a viable strategy to improve long-term student outcomes. Read more about the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and be on the lookout for additional information and actions to take around this issue.
Federal Home Visiting
A new law that reforms our country’s health care insurance practices includes $1.5 billion over five years for home visiting, which will have a remarkable impact on at-risk young children and families. In voluntary home visiting programs, trained professionals work as parent coaches with families - starting in pregnancy and during the first three years of a child’s life - to promote early learning, support healthy development, and prevent child abuse. States will be able to establish and expand high-quality, evidence-based, voluntary home visiting services to expectant families and those with young children. .
As federal legislation that affects young children moves forward, we will keep you updated with news and advocacy opportunities.
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Focus on the Issue - Early Learning in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act |
As the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) comes up for reauthorization this year, early childhood advocates are working hard to expand the role of early learning in the law.
The ESEA was first enacted in 1965 as one pillar of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty. The law created the Title I federal aid program, aimed at reducing the achievement gap between rich and poor students and among students in racial and ethnic groups. Every few years, the law has been amended and reauthorized. It is currently known as the No Child Left Behind Act, which was the name given during the Bush administration to the reauthorization signed into law in January 2002.
Early childhood education currently plays a small role in ESEA as a permitted use under Title I. An expanded role for early learning in the ESEA reauthorization could lead to better policies that help children succeed in school, thereby meeting the law’s college- and career-readiness goals. Such changes would also help solidify connections between the birth-to-five years and later school success.
While the president’s blueprint for the ESEA reauthorization mentions requiring states to develop literacy plans for preschool to grade 12, we believe that more should be done. The First Five Years Fund, along with the Ounce and other national organizations, is advocating for amended measures to ESEA that better leverage early learning in service of improved long-term student outcomes. For example:
- Title I funds should be specifically targeted for early learning. Title I is an underutilized opportunity for early learning and it could be amended by:
- Requiring reporting on Title I funds used for early learning to better understand where Title I is being used to effectively support early learning.
- Requiring elementary schools preparing improvement plans to address how they will work with early childhood providers to ensure a smooth kindergarten entry for children.
- Setting aside a percentage of all new funds for high-quality early learning programs and providing matching funds for districts that commit resources to early learning.
- Title II funds should be used to improve the effectiveness of early childhood teachers as well as K-12 teachers. Title II dollars cover teacher preparation, mentoring and induction, and ongoing professional development. Federal funds should also support the sharing of best practices between early childhood and K-12 educators.
- Elementary schools receiving school improvement funds should use some of those dollars for birth-to-eight planning and improving school readiness. In addition, those schools with the greatest academic challenges should be directed to use school improvement funds to build early learning access and quality.
- The school readiness definition should address comprehensive development, including language, literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills. The definition should be developed in partnership with state early learning advisory councils.
We will keep you updated as reauthorization of ESEA makes its way through the federal process.
If you are interested in doing outreach with your federal legislators (e.g., hosting a site visit) or the media on this issue please contact us at advocacy@ounceofprevention.org. |
Advocacy Tip for the Season - Educate Candidates about Early Childhood Issues |
Across the state, candidates are campaigning for state and federal seats in the November election. Candidates will be in your district to participate in debates, town halls, rallies, and parades to connect with voters. This is the perfect time to educate candidates about the importance of early childhood investments and to ask them to fully fund programs such as preschool, home visiting and quality child care.
Use the following talking points on the importance of early childhood and don’t forget to share personal stories about why early childhood programs matter to you.
- High-quality early education programs are proven to:
- Help children enter kindergarten with the skills needed to succeed in school
- Increase high school graduation rates
- Reduce long-term costs for special education, grade retention, and public assistance
- The academic achievement gap between low-income children and their peers is evident as early as 18 months. Early childhood programs help level the playing field for low-income children and prepare them for success throughout their school years.
- 85% of brain development happens in the first five years of life. The quality of brain development during those early years creates a foundation for future learning, development, and behavior patterns.
Look up your current elected official and other candidates running for office.
Watch a short video for tips on talking to your legislator and email Ounce staff if you have questions. |
Reports, Announcements, and Events |
Reports
The Case for Home Visiting: Strong Families Start with a Solid Foundation
This Pew Center on the States report describes the proven benefits of evidence-based home visiting programs, showing that mothers are healthier, and children are safer, better prepared to learn, and more likely to become successful adults.
Link Between Child Care and Academic Achievement and Behavior Persists Into Adolescence
Teens who were in high-quality child-care settings as young children scored slightly higher on measures of academic and cognitive achievement and had fewer behavior problems than their peers who were in lower-quality child-care arrangements, according to a recent report by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Compendium of Quality Rating Systems and Evaluations
This Administration for Children and Families publication provides definitions, a description, and an analytic framework for assessing the critical elements of quality rating systems in child-care facilities.
Promoting Young Children’s Health and Development: Taking Stock of State Policies
Young children’s health is essential to their overall development, well-being, and school readiness. This policy brief from the National Center for Children in Poverty reviews state policies that affect the health and well-being of young children.
Healthy Early Childhood Toolkit
The Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children developed this toolkit for early childhood providers to identify and access free resources on child nutrition, physical activity, and health.
Announcements
Competition Opens for Promise Neighborhoods
The U.S. Department of Education opened competition for $10 million in grants to organizations to create “promise neighborhoods,” which encompass cradle-to-career services designed to improve educational outcomes for students in distressed neighborhoods.
Events
Illinois Action for Children Public Policy Caucus
June 17, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Registration is open for the Statewide Public Policy Caucus, which will review the state legislative session and discuss federal issues. |
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