Budget Proposal Puts in Danger Child Care Assistance for Low Income Children

For more information, contact
Sarah Wayne at NAEYC
202-454-7603 or swayne@naeyc.org

WASHINGTON, February 8, 2006 According to the tables in the Administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2007 released today, there will be 400,000 fewer children receiving child care assistance in fiscal year 2011 than in 2005, and 650,000 fewer children receiving child care assistance in fiscal year 2011 compared to fiscal year 2000.

Affordable, quality child care programs are a key factor in helping many young children be ready for school. For working families, child care is the linchpin for a family’s job security. Congress recently made significant cuts to discretionary funding, including child care, Head Start and other education programs. This proposal adds strain to state budgets and family budgets to support young children’s safe and positive early learning experiences.

“Congress should reject this budget proposal and should pass a budget that makes investment in early childhood education a national priority,” said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). “This is the wrong start to help all children succeed in school and in life.”

In addition to child care, NAEYC is deeply concerned that the budget proposal would freeze funding for Head Start, eliminate Even Start family literacy, fail to increase spending for special education for preschoolers, infants and toddlers, eliminate the grants to states and partnerships used to improve the recruitment, preparation and licensure of teachers, and freeze funding for grants to states and schools districts for improving teacher quality.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children is the largest and most influential organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from birth through age eight. Founded in 1926, the organization now has nearly 100,000 members, and a national network of over 300 local, state and regional affiliates.