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| State Budget Issues | Federal Appropriations & Budget Issues | American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) | WI Early Learning Coalition |
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Breaking News
Wisconsin State Budget
From Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF), June 18, 2009:
Department of Children and Families
June 19, 2009 Press Release:
DCF Releases New W-2 Request for Proposals
Research
On June 1, 2009, the National Head Start Association (NHSA) sent its latest edition of "Research Nuggest Updates" to NHSA membership. The Update included the 11 following Research Nuggets:
1) Chicago School Readiness Project (CSRP) Intervention Model Reduces Children’s Behavior Problems
2) Health Consultations, Screenings, and Services in Head Start and non-Head Start Child Care Centers
3) The Impact of a Part- and Full-Day Prekindergarten Programs on Student Academic Performance
4) Special Issue of the NHSA Dialog: A Research-to-Practice Journal for the Early Intervention Field on Positive Behavior Supports
and Interventions in Early Childhood Education
5) A Brief Examining Relationship between Program Quality and Child Outcomes
6) Report of the National Early Literacy Panel (NELP), a Scientific Synthesis of Early Literacy Development and Implications for
Intervention
7) Mental Health Problems in Early Childhood Can Impair Learning and Behavior for Life
8) Promoting Academic and Social-Emotional School Readiness: The Head Start REDI Program
9) The Cost of Doing Nothing: The Economic Impact of Recession-Induced Child Poverty
10) The Serious Need for Play
11) Child Well-Being Index 2009 and Special Focus Report Released
Spotlight on Wisconsin
As part of the Center for Law and Social Policy's (CLASP) "Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care Project," CLASP featured the Wisconsin Infant Toddler Professional Credential as an example of a state training, education, and support initiative which promotes a strong workforce and support for caregivers of infants and toddlers. More initiatives are described in CLASP's Starting Off Right: Promoting Child Development from Birth in State Early Care and Education Initiatives.
...on State Budget Issues
In an April 29th press release Governor Doyle announced "that more than 50 Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Wisconsin will receive $9.7 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funding will help Wisconsin Head Start programs work with more children, improve classrooms, expand hours of operation and upgrade transportation services."
All Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Wisconsin are eligible to apply for this funding and additional guidance is forthcoming.
Resources
Resources from Wisconsin's Early Learning Coalition:
Policy Positions and Response to the Governor's 2009-11 Budget Proposal, which includes the following concerns regarding the Head Start State Supplement and Wisconsin Shares, the child care subsidy program:
HEAD START STATE SUPPLEMENT: The Head Start State Supplement Program was one of many programs facing a 1% cut in the Governor’s budget proposal, resulting in a reduction of $72,125. The Department of Public Instruction had initially proposed to increase the funding by $2.9 million per year. The Coalition is concerned about the gradual depletion of per-child funding in state-funded Head Start through several years of flat funding. The state program now provides only 71% of the amount per child provided in the federal Head Start program, threatening the quality of services. We support keeping Head Start annual funding at least at the $7,212,500 level.
WISCONSIN SHARES: The Coalition recognizes the fiscal constraints facing policy-makers in this budget, and appreciates the substantial increases in Wisconsin Shares over the last 2 years. However, we would be remiss not to express our concerns about likely negative consequences to low-income families and child care providers due to proposed cost-saving measures: raising family co-payments, freezing payment rates again for a biennium, implementing an attendance payment policy that will result in further payment cuts to child care providers, and possibly imposing waiting lists. We support efforts, where possible, to ease the negative impacts of these policies, particularly on high-quality programs. We further hope these interim cost-containment measures contribute to a foundation on which to build in supports and incentives for quality improvement. We urge that any cost savings be redirected to those quality improvement efforts.
Resources from Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF):
WCCF Info. Brief - Early Childhood Education: What is a Quality Rating and Improvement System?
WCCF Info. Brief - Cost-Containment Proposals in Wisconsin Shares 2009-2011 Biennial Budget
031909
Wisconsin Budget Project
"Analysis of Assembly Bill 75: The 2009-2011 Biennial Budget Bill"
Some Good Websites for Your Use in Following the State Budget Activity:
Wisconsin State Legislature Joint Finance Committee (JFC) Website - Official website of the JFC. Includes links to Senate and Assembly member information, informational papers, and more.
Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) Website - Includes Bureau information regarding its duties and staff and links to its publications.
Wisconsin Budget Project - a WCCF initiative engaged in analysis and education on the state budget and tax issues, particularly those relating to low and moderate income families.
Wispolicits.com Budget Blog – Dedicated Joint Finance Committee coverage provides updates on JFC action on the Wisconsin state budget, from the first JFC meetings through the governor's final vetoes; includes an interactive link to each of the JFC members too.
The Wheeler Report - A daily summarization of statewide new stories and editorials concerning state government.
...on Federal Appropriations & Budget Issues
| 2009 Appropriations | 2010 Federal Budget | United States Congress |
On March 31, 2009 WHSA joined 29 other state, regional, or national Head
Start associations and undersigned two letters regarding Head Start funding
in fiscal year 2010. The original letter was co-authored among all 3
national Head Start associations - NHSA, the National Migrant and Seasonal
Head Start Association (NMSHSA) and the The National Head Start Indian
Directors Association (NHSIDA). One letter went to the House
Appropriations Labor, HHS, and Education subcommittee’s leadership and the
second letter went to the Senate Appropriations Labor, HHS, Education and
related agencies subcommittee’s leadership.
Each letter thanks the Legislators for their support of
Head Start and asks that they “consider providing $8,112,786,000 for
activities under the Head Start Act for FY 2010 Appropriations to foster
sustainable growth and help the funding base keep up with the pace of
inflation. " A PDF of each letter is available below."
033109
"Head Start Funding for Fiscal Year 2010" Letter to House Appropriations
Leadership
033109
"Head Start Funding for Fiscal Year 2010" Letter to Senate
Appropriations Leadership
National Head Start Association (NHSA) 031209
"Legislative Alert, Appropriations Bill Signed”
FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Signed
Into Law
As we noted in the most recent Legislative Update, Congress has been working
on an omnibus appropriations bill to fund the federal government for fiscal
year 2009. (Recall that the government has been operating under a
"Continuing Resolution" since the last fiscal year ended).
We have some good news to report:
On February 25th, the House introduced and voted on HR.
1105, the omnibus appropriations bill for FY 2009. The bill passed the House
245-178. Roll call for House votes can be found at:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll086.xml. The bill passed the Senate
on Tuesday March 10th by a voice vote after a 62-35 vote to invoke cloture
(which cut off debate on the bill). The roll call vote on cloture can be
found at:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00096.
On Wednesday March 11, 2009, President Obama signed the FY 2009 omnibus
appropriations bill into law.
The FY 2009 appropriation includes $7,112,786,000 for
"making payments under the Head Start Act." It reserves $2,000,000 of that
amount to fund Section 657B of the Head Start Act (Centers of Excellence in
Early Childhood). The Centers of Excellence funding is "to remain available
through September 30, 2010."
The $7.1 billion for FY 2009 for Head Start is about
$235 million over the program's FY 2008 appropriation and is separate from
the $2.1 billion that Head Start and Early Head Start just received through
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "stimulus").
Democratic Policy Committee (DPC) 030209
“H.R. 1105:
the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009” Legislative Bulletin
Division F of the Omnibus Appropriations Act
of 2009 would provide funding for health care, research, job training,
financial aid and other initiatives. In total, Division F would appropriate
$152.3 billion in discretionary funding for the Departments of Labor, Health
and Human Services, Education and related agencies. The amount is $7.4
billion above the Fiscal Year 2008 comparable level for these agencies and
departments. Major provisions of Division F include:
Health and Human Services - H.R. 1105 would fund:
Head Start Services for More Young Children. Head Start, a highly-successful federal-to-local grant program established in 1965, provides early childhood education and services, including health, nutrition, and social and behavioral development for low-income, preschool children and their families. The program promotes readiness among America's low-income children. H.R. 1105 would provide $7.1 billion, $235 million more than 2008, to ensure that 900,000 low-income children have access to high quality preschool services.
US House of Representatives
Committee on Appropriations 022309 Press Release
“FY 2009
Omnibus Appropriations Act - Labor, Health and Education Appropriations
Summary”
Head Start: $235 million above 2008 to ensure
that 900,000 low–income children have access to high quality preschool
services, with total funding of $7.1 billion.
National Women's Law Center (NWLC)
“Head
Start: Helping Children Learn & Supporting Families” Head Start Fact
Sheet
An increase of $1.072 billion in Head Start
and Early Head Start funding in the FY 2009 appropriations bill would
compensate for the real (inflation-adjusted) cut in funding since FY 2002
and enable programs to meet the goals set out in the 2007 Head Start
Reauthorization Act. . . . .
The small increase for Head Start proposed by the
Administration for FY 2009—$149 million—is not even sufficient to cover
inflation. As a result of this inadequate increase and the $11 million cut
in the FY 2008 budget, 14,000 fewer low-income infants, toddlers, and
preschoolers will be able to enroll in this comprehensive child development
program in FY 2009 compared to FY 2007 [Source: The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 908,412 children
were served by Head Start in FY 2007, and estimates that 894,347 children
will be served by Head Start in FY 2009 under the Administration’s proposed
budget. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for
Children and Families, Justification of Estimates for Appropriations
Committees (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
2008), D-33.].
National Women's Law Center (NWLC)
"Testimony
of Helen Blank, Director of Leadership and Public Policy at the National
Women’s Law Center Before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, Education and Related Agencies Hearing on House Appropriations
Committee U.S. House of Representatives March 18, 2009”
Unfortunately, until the much-welcome increase for Head Start and Early Head
Start included in the ARRA and the increase in the recently passed Omnibus
Appropriations bill, Head Start’s funding had been virtually flat since
2002, making it challenging for programs to accomplish the goals of the
reauthorization. Instead, programs were forced to make do with less while
striving to give children and families what they need. Programs cut the
number of hours and days they offered during the school year, eliminated
summer hours, reduced staff, cut training, could not replace equipment or
buy new books, and reduced or eliminated transportation for children to the
core program as well as transportation to medical and dental appointments,
threatening the poorest children’s access to Head Start.
Budget Debates
Fiscal Year 2010 Budget debates continue during the week of March 29th. Currently, the Senate is holding floor debates and the House Rules Committee is discussing how to proceed with its version of the budget. Both chambers hope to pass their budget resolutions before the two-week spring recess beginning next Monday, April6. Keep up with the Senate and House proceedings at C-SPAN.org.
Resources
President’s Budget of the United States Government Fiscal Year 2010, “A New Era of Responsibility, Department of Health and Human Services”
Funding Highlights:
• Supports families by providing additional funding for affordable, high-quality child care, expanding Early Head Start and Head Start, and creating the Nurse Home Visitation program to support first-time mothers.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the Federal Government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and for providing essential human services. This Budget provides $76.8 billion in support of HHS’ mission.
Makes a down Payment on the President’s “Zero to Five” Plan. The recovery Act makes a down payment on the President’s comprehensive Zero to Five plan, providing $1.1 billion to double the number of children served by Early Head Start over two years, an additional $1 billion to expand and improve Head Start, and an additional $2 billion in funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The Budget sustains critical support for young children and their families by building on these investments.
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) 031309 “The Congressional Budget Resolution: An Opportunity to Renew Support for Low‐Income People”
President Obama’s FY 2010 budget proposal is a clear and bold departure from the misdirected policies of the previous eight years and charts a new course for the country. The President’s budget proposes to reset our nation’s priorities by making major investments in health care reform, education, and clean energy. The proposal will jumpstart our economy, create jobs, and tackle long‐term challenges. It calls for long overdue investments in a broad range of programs that support low‐income children, youth, and families, helping to rebuild an economy that works for all of us. The President’s proposal makes a serious commitment to deficit reduction by investing in future economic growth, increasing revenues, restoring fairness to our tax system, and reducing military expenditures over time in a responsible manner.
Congress should adopt a budget resolution that supports the President’s priorities, ensures that low‐ and moderate‐income working people share the benefits of economic recovery and long‐term growth, and commits to fiscal responsibility. . . .
The President’s budget proposes investments where they count. Government can work for all of us by increasing investments in effective strategies and programs to ensure that all children, young people, and adults have the skills and supports they need to thrive and their communities can prosper in tomorrow’s economy. For example, the President’s budget proposes:
• New investments in early childhood education, including doubling the number of children in Early Head Start. Currently, fewer than 3 percent of eligible children receive Early Head Start services [Source: 3 Calculations by National Women’s Law Center based on Census data on children in poverty and Office of Head Start data]. This will ensure that more vulnerable children grow up safe, healthy, nurtured, and prepared to succeed.
National Head Start Association (NHSA) 030209 "Legislative Update and Call to Action”
President Obama's Budget Blueprint for 2010 and Beyond
Last week, President Obama unveiled the contours of a 10-year budget plan, beginning with FY 2010 entitled "A New Era of Responsibility: Renewing America's Promise." The document is available for download at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/. Although specific budget numbers will not be released for some time, this document outlines the President's priorities in each area of government. Importantly, this overview document specifically mentions Head Start. In the Department of Health and Human Services summary page (p. 67) it says that the President's budget "Supports families by providing additional funding for affordable, high-quality child care, expanding Head Start and Early Head Start, and creating the Nurse Home Visitation program to support first-time mothers." Then on page 70, it notes that the budget "Makes a Down Payment on the President's Zero to Five Plan. The Recovery Act [meaning the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, "ARRA"] makes a down payment on the President's comprehensive Zero to Five Plan, providing $1.1 billion to double the number of children served by Early Head Start over two years, an additional $1 billion to expand and improve Head Start, and an additional $2 billion in funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The Budget sustains critical support for young children and their families by building on these investments." We look forward to learning what the mark for Head Start will be in the President's budget and will keep you informed as we do!
US House of Representatives Committee on the Budget 022709 “Summary of the President’s Fiscal Year 2010 Budget"
Education and Other Domestic Priorities
The Bush Administration left the country a legacy of soaring budget deficits and debt, a crumbling economy, and faltering public services due to persistent underfunding and inattention. The 111th Congress has already taken steps to create jobs and rebuild our economy by passing the Recovery Act. And yesterday the President released his budget for 2010, which continues to rebuild our economy, restores needed services, and starts putting the budget back on a path to sustainability.
The President’s 2010 budget provides a significant investment in education and other key domestic priorities that will help ensure our children learn, thrive, and graduate with the skills they need to be successful and productive. The budget provides an appropriated program level of $46.7 billion for the Department of Education (ED) – a total that excludes Pell grant funding, which the budget transfers to mandatory spending – an increase of $441 million over the likely 2009 level. (The Recovery Act provided ED with an additional $96.8 billion for 2009, which includes $15.6 billion for Pell grants, additional funding for several existing K-12 programs, and a $53.6 billion state stabilization fund primarily for education.) . . . .
Invests in Early Childhood Education and Development ― The Recovery Act made a down payment on the President’s “Zero to Five” plan with a $2.1 billion increase for Head Start and Early Head Start and a $2 billion increase for child care. The budget adds to that by creating a new program that will provide states with $8.6 billion over the next ten years to provide home visits by trained nurses to low-income first-time mothers and mothers-to-be. Evaluations have shown that investments in early visits can generate long-term savings of three to six dollars for every dollar provided by reducing child abuse and neglect, preterm births, and arrests for both parents and adolescents served by the program.
National Women's Law Center (NWLC) 022709 “President Obama's FY 2010 Budget: A New Direction for Women and Families, Early Care and Education”
The budget outline emphasizes the long-term benefits of investments in early care and education programs and states that “the Administration will broaden the reach of these programs and boost their quality—encouraging new investment, a seamless delivery of services, and better information for parents about program options and quality.”
• Funding for early childhood programs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)—including $2 billion in additional funds for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and an additional $2.1 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start—is described in the document as a “down payment” on the President’s commitment to early childhood, and is expected to be combined with funding provided in the budget to support a strong early childhood system.
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) 022609 “President's budget proposal supports early childhood education expansions” on the Child Care and Early Education Federal Policy Updates Webpage
President Obama submitted his FY 2010 budget proposal summary to Congress today. The document offers a blueprint of the president's spending priorities. Details on proposed funding levels for individual programs are not available at this time, but the budget document signals the president's intention to support important expansions in child care and early education. Importantly, the document refers to funding for Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Child Care and Development Block Grant that was included in the economic recovery Act as a down payment and indicates that the budget proposal builds on these investments. The president's budget proposal will:
• increase funding for affordable, high-quality child care;
• support the creation of a Nurse Home Visitation program to support first-time mothers; and
• create incentives and supports for states to build comprehensive, coordinated, high-quality early childhood “Zero to Five” systems.
Further details on the above proposals are expected in the weeks to come. Given the significant unmet need for quality child care and early education across states, we are excited that the Administration continues to note the importance of supporting young children and their families.
UNITED STATES CONGRESS - COMMITTEES RELEVANT TO FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS & THE BUDGET
US House of Representatives Congressional Committees
The Committee on Appropriations has jurisdiction over the annual appropriations measures and thus sets the federal government's specific expenditures of money for discretionary programs (those programs which must have their funding renewed each year in order to operate). Discretionary funds make up about one-third of the entire US budget. Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District Rep. Dave Obey (D) is Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations. As Chairman, Rep. Obey is the Ex-Officio voting member of all 12 Appropriations Subcommittees. Additionally, Rep. Obey is Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
The Committee on Budget is responsible for legislative oversight of the federal budget process, reviews all bills and resolutions on the budget, and monitors agencies and programs funded outside of the budgetary process. Rep. Paul Ryan (R) of Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District, is the Ranking Member of the Committee on the Budget.
The Committee on Education and Labor oversees federal programs and initiatives dealing with education at all levels, from preschool to higher education and continuing education, and over workforce initiatives aimed at strengthening health care, job training, and retirement security for workers. Rep. Tom Petri (R), of Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District, is a member of the Committee and the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
The Committee on Ways and Means has jurisdiction over revenue-raising measures (including taxes and tariffs), as well as a number of other programs including: Social Security Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment benefits, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Both Rep. Ron Kind (D), of Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, and Rep. Paul Ryan (R), of Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District, serve on the Ways and Means Committee. Each Representative serves on multiple subcommittees.
US Senate Congressional Committees
The
Committee on Appropriations has legislative jurisdiction over
appropriations bills, which provide funding for government programs. The
Appropriations Committee is responsible for approving expenditures made from
the Federal Treasury. The Committee also writes annual appropriations bills
that allow federal funds to be disbursed through a variety of government
organizations, agencies and departments. Wisconsin
Senator Herb
Kohl (D) serves as a member on this Committee and six of its
Subcommittees including the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education.
While the budget resolution prepared by the
Budget Committee sets out
a broad blueprint for the Congress with respect to the total levels of
revenues and spending for the government as a whole, these other Committees
prepare the legislation that actually enacts specific tax and spending
policies. Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold
(D) serves on
the Budget Committee.
The Finance Committee (like the Ways and Means Committee in the House
of Representatives) has legislative jurisdiction in the areas of taxes,
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and some other entitlements.
... on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
An Overview
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into law on February 17, 2009. The Act, worth a total of $787 billion, is comprised of both spending and tax provisions. ARRA contains significant investments in early childhood education and care to support young children and their families, including $2.1 billion for Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS). These funds are divided into two funding streams:
• $1 billion in funds will be for current Head Start and Early Head Start grantees and allocated under the existing Office of Head Start (OHS) funding formula. Cost-of-living allowance (COLA) and quality improvement funds are included in this funding, as are monitoring and T/TA set-asides assured by appropriations in the Head Start Act of 2007.
• $1.1 billion of ARRA funds are for Early Head Start expansion, which is subject to an as-yet-unknown funding formula that ensures equitable distribution geographically across the nation and balanced across both urban and rural communities. New EHS grants will be awarded on a competitive basis--applicants may or may not be current HS/EHS grantees.
Additional investment related to early childhood education and care include, by Department -
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):
• Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) -- $2 billion
• Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) -- $1 Billion
• Higher Education Teacher Quality Partnerships -- $100 million
• IDEA Part B -- $11.2 billion
• IDEA Part B, Section 619 Preschool Special Education Grants -- $400 million
• IDEA Part C Infants/Toddlers Special Education -- $500 million
• Title I Grants to LEAs -- $10 billion
• Title I School Improvement Grants -- $3 billion for school improvement
• State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Education --$39.5 billion
Official Guidance
Expansion Announcements
HHS/ACF/OHS grant funding opportunity annoucements for Head Start, Early Head Start, American Indian/Alaska Native Head Start, and Migrant/Seasonal Head Start Expansion under ARRA were released on Friday, May 8.
View the full announcements at:
American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Expansion: HHS-2009-ACF-OHS-CI-0097
Head Start Expansion: HHS-2009- ACF-OHS-SH-0089
Early Head Start Expansion: HHS-2009-ACF-OHS-SA-0087
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Expansion: HHS-2009-ACF-OHS-CM-009
Additionally, a funding opportunity synopsis, link to the full announcement, and application materials are available at each funding opportunity's grants.gov page. Access each page using the links below.
American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Expansion: HHS-2009-ACF-OHS-CI-0097
Head Start Expansion: HHS-2009-ACF-OHS-SH-0089
Early Head Start Expansion: HHS-2009-OHS-SA-0087
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Expansion: HHS-2009-ACF-OHS-CM-0099
040209 "The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 Head Start Expansion" Grant Opportunity Synopsis
040209 "The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 - Early Head Start Expansion" Grant Opportunity Synopsis
Office of Head Start - Individuals and organizations interested in guidance on the use of ARRA funds, including information about Head Start/Early Head Start expansion, should visit Office of Head Start's (OHS) Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) website. All official OHS assistance will be posted at the site. OHS informs Head Start and Early Head Start grantees and delegate agencies of requirements, policies, and information through the issuance of Information Memorandums (IMs), Program Instructions (PIs), and Policy Clarifications (PCs). Below you will find links to OHS communications to grantees and delegates which may be useful when considering the use of ARRA funds.
PI-09-01 "Conversion of Enrollment Slots from Head Start Children to Early Head Start Children"
PI-09-02 "Conversion of Part-day slots to Full-working day slots or sessions"
PI-09-06 "Head Start Funding Increase"
PI-09-06 Attachment A "Estimated State Allocations - COLA and Quality Improvement Funds"
US Department of Education - Recovery Webpage
040109 Press Release "$44 Billion in Stimulus Funds Available to Drive Education Reforms and Save Teaching Jobs"
. . . Today's announcement includes the application and guidelines for $32.6 billion under the State Stabilization Fund, representing two-thirds of the total dollars in the Fund. This includes $26.6 billion to save jobs and improve K-12 and higher education and a separate $6 billion in a Government Services Fund to pay for education, public safety or other government services.
. . . Part 2 of the State Stabilization Fund Application, available later
this year, will allow states to apply for the last third of the
stabilization funds, which includes $13.1 billion for education and $2.9
billion designated for the Government Services Fund. Guidelines for Part 2
require states to submit the required data or provide an explanation of why
the data is currently unavailable and a plan for collecting the data by
2011.
Finally, $5 billion in competitive grants, the "Race to
the Top" fund, will be awarded to states that are most aggressively pursuing
reforms. In order to ensure that Recovery Act funds are driving classroom
improvements, states competing for Race to the Top funds will be judged on
how well they are using the first round of stabilization and Title I funds
to advance education reforms.
. . . In addition to the stabilization funds, $11.4 billion is available immediately under the Title I, IDEA, Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living programs. Title I programs serve schools with large concentrations of low-income students. IDEA funds serve students with disabilities. A second round of Title I and IDEA funds will be available later in the year.
US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Recovery Webpage
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that Head Start and Early Head Start programs will receive funding and be eligible to apply for grants worth $2.1 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Head Start will receive $1 billion, while $1.1 billion will benefit Early Head Start. Head Start will also benefit from a separate $235 million increase in funding for fiscal year 2009, bringing the total funding increase for Head Start and Early Head Start to more than $2.3 billion.
. . . Grants totaling nearly $220 million will allow current Head Start grantees to serve 16,600 additional children and families. Grants worth nearly $1.2 billion, will support Early Head Start expansion and allow the program to serve 55,000 more pregnant women, infants, toddlers and their families and nearly double the number of Early Head Start participants. Applications for these grants will be available in the coming weeks. The increased number of children and families served by these grants will create new jobs at Head Start and Early Head Start centers as more additional staff are hired to handle increased enrollment.
Head Start ARRA funds worth nearly $354 million will help improve staff compensation and training, upgrade Head Start centers and classrooms, increase hours of operation and enhance transportation services. An additional $466 million, $110 million from Early Head Start ARRA funds and $356 million from Head Start ARRA and fiscal year 2009 appropriation funds, will be used to award all Head Start and Early Head Start grantees a nearly five percent cost-of-living increase and bolster training and technical assistance activities.
The Recovery Act will also bolster coordination between Head Start, Early Head Start and state-run early childhood care and education programs by providing grants worth $100 million in Head Start ARRA funds to states to establish advisory councils on early childhood education and care.
Additional Resources
DHHS/ACF/OHS Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECKLC)
Early Head Start Webpage - You'll find: resources for key grant application elements, a link to the "OHS EHS Expansion "Pre-Application Webcast," and more.
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA)
Early Head Start Expansion Grants Webpage - From this link, you can view the DCF/WECA webinar about EHS's vision and standards, federal grant writing, and specific requirements for this grant; request T/TA for your expansion grant; and more.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) 030309 “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: State-By-State Estimates of Key Provisions Affecting Low- and Moderate-Income Individuals”
The paper provides short descriptions and tables with estimated state-by-state impacts of several key provisions. These estimates are based on the best available data to CBPP. The agencies that administer these programs will provide the official allocations of formula grants in the coming days.
Provisions examined in the paper:
• Temporary Increase in State FMAP
• State Fiscal Stabilization Fund
• Education
• Higher Education Tax Credit
• Unemployment Insurance
• Child Care
• Child Support
• Training and Employment Services
• Food Stamp (or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance) Program
• Homelessness Prevention Fund
• Child Tax Credit
• Making Work Pay Tax Credit
• Economic Recovery Payments for Those with Social Security, SSI, and Veterans Benefits
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
"Title I Early Education: Models for Using ARRA Funds" Webpage
Includes information regarding how Title I funds can be used for early education, the benefits of using Title I, models of Title I funded early education, and additional resources.
“Reinvesting in Child Care: Resources for Economic Recovery” Webpage
This page is intended to provide state policymakers and advocates with information on the ARRA, including strategies for spending ARRA funds effectively. CLASP will continue adding resources as they become available.
Resources Include:
• Information on ARRA legislation and implementation - overview of ARRA early childhood provisions; state-by-state breakdown of CCDBG funding; state-by-state breakdown of education funding; principles for State implementation of the ARRA; CLASP Child Care and Early Education Audio Conference: Opportunities to Serve More Low-Income, Working Families; ARRA Unemployment Benefits Increase and Income Determination for Public Benefit.
• Federal Guidance - Office of Management and Budget (OMB) initial implementing guidance on ARRA.
• "CCDBG: What is the Law?" - Learn what CCDBG law requires of states and options for spending economic recovery funds within the CCDBG law.
• "Making Use of Economic Recovery Funds: Child Care Policy Options for States" - CLASP & NWLC paper offering stimulative policy options for spending CCDBG economic recovery funds.
• "Benefitting Babies" - Ten policies states can implement now to improve infant/toddler child care with economic recovery funds.
• State Infant/Toddler Policies Series - Brief "Fact Sheets" with policy recommendations and examples including: Build Supply; Establish Core Competencies; Improve Child Care Ratios and Group Sizes; Improve Subsidy Policies; Promote Access to Comprehensive Services; Promote Continuity of Care' Provide Information on Infant/Toddler Care; Support a Diverse and Culturally Competent Workforce.
• Improving Access for Immigrant Families.
The ARRA provides $2 billion in funding for CCDBG. These are federal funds that do not require a state match. Included in the $2 billion is $255 million for quality improvement, of which $93.6 million is targeted for activities to improve the quality of care for infants and toddlers.
Estimated Wisconsin Allocations - CLASP Calculations:
CCDBG Economic
Total CCDBG Recovery Funds:
Economic Recovery Excluding Targeted Targeted Funds: Targeted Funds:
Funds : Funds Quality Expansion Infant/Toddler
Wisconsin $30,493,314 $26,512,564 $2,520,848 $1,459,902
Education Week
032709 "Stimulus Providing Big Funding Boost for Early Childhood"
Advocates for early-childhood education are taking President Obama at his
word that the billions of dollars for programs like Head Start included in
the recent economic-stimulus package are merely a “down payment” on future
expansion.
So, while other education officials are weighing the
risks of starting new programs with federal money that may dry up in two
years, early-childhood programs are ramping up for expansion after years of
being underfunded, their supporters say. . .
Early Head Start is receiving a dramatic
increase from the stimulus legislation, compared with its $689 million in
funding in fiscal 2008. The money is expected to double the number of
children and families served by the program. Early Head Start works with
pregnant women and helps promote the development of very young children, but
is still just a fraction of the size of the older Head Start program. About
95,000 families and children are served by Early Head Start, compared with
976,000 in Head Start programs.
Only about 3 percent of eligible women are currently
served through Early Head Start, said Matthew Melmed, the executive director
of Zero to Three, a nonprofit organization that supports professionals,
policymakers and parents on issues related to infants and toddlers. Although
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which administers Head
Start and Early Head Start, has not released guidance on how the Early Head
Start money can be spent, Mr. Melmed anticipates that the aid will allow for
the expansion of programs, as well as the creation of new ones. But some of
the money also will be spent on improving programs.
The First Five Years Fund (FFYF)
040509 "FFYF Mini-Update"
Continuing from our most recent update, our crack team of consultants has dug a bit deeper into the guidance issued last week to provide even more details on: State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF); Title I, Part A, SESA; and IDEA, Part B and Part C.
040209 "FFYF Mini-Update"
The information floodgates have officially opened! This week brought bucketfuls of guidance from the Department of Education and even some droplets from the Department of Health and Human Services.
On the Department of Education (ED) recovery website, you can find hundreds
of pages of guidance detailing how the Department plans to quickly disburse
nearly $44 billion. Documents released yesterday include guidance on the
State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF), Title I, and IDEA. . . . .
HHS has been busy as well and today released
information on Head Start and Early Head Start expansion grants. Their press
release lays out how the buckets of money will flow through the Head Start
funding formula, with $326 million going to Cost of Living Adjustments, $354
million going to quality improvements, $220 going to Head Start expansion,
$1.1 billion for Early Head Start expansion, and $100 million for state
advisory councils. Some of the funds for COLAs and training and technical
assistance are being made available to grantees immediately. We’re still
awaiting guidance on the expansion funds and the advisory councils. Some
hints about how the granting process might work can be discerned from the
synopses on the grants.gov website, which has skeleton entries for both
Early Head Start and Head Start.
In other news, despite alleged tax woes, Kansas
Governor Kathleen Sebelius had a pretty easy time of it at her confirmation
hearing before the Senate Finance Committee today and could be confirmed as
HHS Secretary before the weekend. Health care was definitely the hot topic
of the hearing, but any hearing that gets us one step closer to having
someone with her track record in the Department is a big win for early
childhood.
032709 "FFYF Mini-Update"
Important Happenings for the Week for March 30th:
• Information on Head Start is expected
to be released on Monday, March 30.
• On Tuesday, March 31st, IDEA Part C guidance will be issued, as well as
the application and guidelines (with
FAQs) for the State Fiscal
Stabilization Fund.
• Child Care guidance will be released on Wednesday, April 1.
• IDEA and Title 1 money may also move out the door sometime during the
week.
One Step Closer to a Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary - On Thursday, April 2 HHS Secretary-Designate Kathleen Sebelius testify before the Senate Finance Committee, which will then decide whether to send the nomination to the full Senate. She's expected to face little opposition. On Tuesday, as a courtesy, Sebelius is also scheduled to go before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
From the Deep, Dark Corners of ARRA:
• USDA - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), National School Lunch Program, Rural Community Facilities Program.
• HUD - Community Development Block Grant, Neighborhood Stabilization Program, Homelessness Prevention.
• Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs school upgrades.
• Treasury - Temporary increase of refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit, Temporary increase in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
• School Construction - Tax Credits,
Impact Aid.
National Head Start Association (NHSA)
NHSA 031609 "Legislative Update and Call to Action"
The National Head Start Association is delighted to inform you that on Tuesday of this week, President Obama signed the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (the "stimulus" or "ARRA") into law. On Friday of last week, the House and Senate voted in favor of the conference committee's version of the stimulus package consisting of a mix of tax breaks and spending for a total of about $787 billion.
We are thrilled that Head Start programs did very well in this package. A total of $2.1 billion will be appropriated for our programs. Congratulations and thanks for all your hard work! This breaks out to $1 billion additional dollars (beyond our current appropriation) that will be available for activities under the Head Start Act. In addition, $1.1 billion dollars will be available for Early Head Start expansion. Funds will come through the Office of Head Start ("OHS") for distribution through September 30, 2010. We expect that OHS will be providing more information on how these funds will be distributed in the coming weeks. As we know more, we will keep you posted. Dust off your project lists, get ready to write proposals which we expect will be needed in some instances, and prepare for some positive changes!
NHSA 022309 "We Did It! Head Start in the ARRA"
The ARRA provides increased funding of $1 billion for Head Start and $1.1 billion for Early Head Start.
What could this money mean to you and your program? While we don't know all the details yet because OHS is working them out, we believe that these new funds will include:
• A significant cost-of-living increase for staff;
• Substantial quality funds that could be used to provide: improved compensation to retain and attract qualified staff, assistance to teachers for completion of postsecondary course work, funds to employ additional qualified classroom staff to reduce the child-to-teacher ratio in the classroom, and improvements for physical environments of Head Start programs;
• Training and technical assistance funds that could be used to provide: assistance with staff career development plans, in-service and Pre-service training as well as tuition reimbursement, and improvements to the management and implementation of Head Start services and systems; and
• Funds to expand Head Start and Early Head Start enrollment and hire additional staff.
Pre-K Now
031009 "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Provisions Pertaining to Early Childhood Education" Matrix
Pre-K Now "Timeline for Distribution Funds of Education Funds under ARRA"
Pre-K Now "Excerpts from Department of Education Preliminary Guidance on ARRA Funds"
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) ARRA Webpage
030909 NAEYC “Brief on ARRA”
021909 NAEYC Webinar PowerPoint "ARRA Overview"
021909 NAEYC "ARRA (Final Conference Agreement) Chart on Funding Sources"
What Does ARRA Mean for Wisconsin?
STATERECOVERY.org - A Service of the Council of State Governments
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides over $300 billion in potential funding for states and state-related programs. In order to deliver the services their citizens need, while also addressing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, states need to access, utilize, and account for stimulus funding as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, the sheer enormity and complexity of the legislation makes this a daunting challenge. STATERECOVERY.org is a service of The Council of State Governments (CSG) designed to help states: 1) rapidly decipher potential funding opportunities; and 2) share best practices by tracking how the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government are responding to and impacted by this historic legislation.
Wisconsin-Specific Information - Including updates, official documents, and press releases.
Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment Website
Website offers recovery information including: funding estimates; program and funding opportunities search page; links to state agency webpages; press releases; FAQs, and more.
"American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Estimates for the State of Wisconsin"
A total of about $3.8 billion dollars in ARRA funds are expected to be allocated to the state of Wisconsin.
Preliminary State Allocations by Program:
Child Care and Development Block Grant $30,493,313
Community Services Block Grant $12,253,215
Dept. of Education - Special Education Part B, Section 611 $208,200,000
Head Start $9,276,172
Wisconsin Budget Project - A Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF) Initiative
...on Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition
Working Together to Ensure that All
Wisconsin’s Young Children Get a Great Start
…by providing all Wisconsin children access to high quality early learning
experiences and nurturing
care so they are happy, healthy, eager to learn and prepared to succeed.
Disability Rights Wisconsin · Madison Area Accredited Early Childhood Association · Milwaukee Child Care Alliance · Parents Plus · School Administrators Alliance · Supporting Families Together Association · Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health · Wisconsin Association of School Boards · Wisconsin Child Care Administrators Association · Wisconsin Council on Children and Families · Wisconsin Council for Exceptional Children, Division of Early Childhood · Wisconsin Early Childhood Association · Wisconsin Education Association Council · Wisconsin Family Child Care Association · Wisconsin Head Start Association
The members of the Early Learning Coalition (a broad-based and diverse alliance representing child care, Head Start, programs serving children with disabilities and special needs, and public schools) believe that high quality learning experiences are important for Wisconsin kids, parents, communities, and economies.
Our Great Start: Early Learning Matters statewide campaign seeks to promote public policies and public investments that make high quality early care and education a top priority in Wisconsin. Together, we collaborate on a legislative agenda and encourage our constituents to get involved in order to move this agenda through state government to affect positive change for children, families, and our profession. To learn more about the campaign and to get involved, please visit our website at http://www.greatstartwi.org/.
POLICY POSITIONS AND RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S 2009-11 BUDGET PROPOSAL
1. Improving Early Learning in Child
Care
Coalition Agenda: Great Start Improvement Initiative
Wisconsin should launch a statewide initiative to ensure that children
through age 5 have access to high quality early learning experiences in
early childhood programs. To begin with, these efforts would target children
from low-income families receiving Wisconsin Shares child care assistance.
The Coalition supports the establishment of quality standards for early
learning programs, helping programs meet those standards, and rewarding
programs meeting the higher standards through higher rates or other fiscal
incentives.
Coalition
Response to the Governor’s Budget Proposal
The Coalition supports the Governor’s proposal to invest $2.8 million over 2
years to establish a child care quality rating and improvement system (QRIS).
The Coalition strongly supports investing an additional $3 million (at a
minimum) to help child care programs improve their programs to meet quality
standards established in the QRIS. We believe that $2 million of that amount
is available from federal stimulus funds already set aside for quality
improvement in the Child
Care and Development Block Grant. The additional funding should go for
enhanced technical assistance, scholarships and wage supplements through the
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood program and the R.E.W.A.R.D program, and grants
or higher payments to programs meeting quality standards. We envision
regional public-private partnerships that would leverage private funding to
improve child care quality.
2. Home Visiting
Coalition Agenda: Great Start Home Visiting
To help new parents and parents with very young children enhance their
children’s healthy development
and early learning.
Coalition Response to the Governor’s Budget Proposal
The Coalition supports the Governor’s proposal to strengthen the Family
Foundations home
visiting program, and supports efforts to expand training on high-quality
home visiting practices to a
broader set of home visiting programs operating throughout the state.
Well-designed home visiting
programs are effective in improving parent-child relationships and enhancing
child development.
3. Four-Year-Old Kindergarten
Coalition Agenda: Great Start in 4K
Provide early learning experiences for more children through “community
approaches” to 4-year-old Kindergarten (4K).
Coalition Response to the Governor’s Budget Proposal
The Coalition supports the Governor’s proposal to increase start-up
funds for 4K by $1 million per year, with preference for “community
approaches” to 4K delivery. 4K provides strong early learning experiences to
young children, enhancing their school readiness.
4. Child Care Tax Credits
Coalition Agenda: Great Start Tax Credits
Use the tax system to encourage parents to place their children in higher quality child care settings.
Coalition
Response to the Governor’s Budget Proposal
The Governor supports the roll-out of child care tax deductions passed in
the 2007-09 budget. The Coalition supports statutory language that would
establish child care credits that are tied to use of child care programs
meeting higher quality standards. Such a provision would provide an
incentive for parents to use higher quality programs and will increase the
number of children in beneficial early learning programs. Tying the child
care tax credit to higher quality child care settings could reduce the cost
of the tax credit. This additional funding should go into providing further
incentives to child care providers to increase their quality rating (or
maintain it if they already have the highest rating).
5. Concerns About Wisconsin Shares,
the Child Care Subsidy Program
The Coalition recognizes the fiscal constraints facing policy-makers in this
budget, and appreciates the substantial increases in Wisconsin Shares over
the last 2 years. However, we would be remiss not to express our concerns
about likely negative consequences to low-income families and child care
providers due to proposed cost-saving measures: raising family co-payments,
freezing payment rates again for a biennium, implementing an attendance
payment policy that will result in further payment cuts to child care
providers, and possibly imposing waiting lists. We support efforts, where
possible, to ease the negative impacts of these policies, particularly on
high-quality programs. We further hope these interim cost-containment
measures contribute to a foundation on which to build in supports and
incentives for quality improvement. We urge that any cost savings be
redirected to those quality improvement efforts.
6. Concern: Head Start State
Supplement
The Head Start State Supplement Program was one of many programs facing a 1%
cut in the Governor’s budget proposal, resulting in a reduction of $72,125.
The Department of Public Instruction had initially proposed to increase the
funding by $2.9 million per year. The Coalition is concerned about the
gradual depletion of per-child funding in state-funded Head Start through
several years of flat funding. The state program now provides only 71% of
the amount per child provided in the federal Head Start program, threatening
the quality of services. We support keeping Head Start annual funding at
least at the $7,212,500 level.
You may also download a PDF of the ELC's Policy Position and Response to the Governor's 2009-11 Budget Proposal.
Contact Us:
Wisconsin Head Start Association
122 E. Olin Avenue, Suite 110 · Madison, WI 53713
Phone: 608-442-6879 · Fax: 608-442-442-7672