NAEYC Update

NAEYC Children’s Champions Update
January 6, 2006

1) CUTS IN FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE, HEAD START, NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND AND DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS

2) KATRINA RELIEF FOR HEAD START AND CHILD CARE PROGRAMS SIGNED

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CHILD CARE, HEAD START, NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND TAKE CUTS IN DISCRETIONARY FUNDING BILL
While we still have one more chance to defeat the irresponsible budget reconciliation bill, one thing the Congress finished in 2005 was the annual discretionary appropriations bill for programs in the departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor. The allocation of the total amount that could be spent on the bill was less than last year, forcing difficult choices and priorities. Tucked into the Department of Defense appropriations bill was another 1 percent cut across on top of any cuts or freezes in the Labor/HHS/Education bill. All federal discretionary programs were affected, except for veterans programs.

Below is a chart of major federal early childhood education programs, noting the final FY 2006 numbers (including the 1% cut across the board of the total FY 2006 level from each program) and comparisons with last year’s funding levels. (numbers are rounded)

Head Start – $8.786 billion; $68 million cut from original FY 2006; $57 million below last year

CCDBG (discretionary portion) - $2.062 billion; $20.8 million cut below FY 2005

Even Start – $99 million; $126 million cut below FY 2005

Early Reading First – $103 million; $1 million cut below FY 2005

Reading First – $1.029 billion; $12 million cut below FY 2005

Early Learning Opportunities Act – eliminated (was $35 million)

Foundations for Learning -- $982 thousand; $10,000 cut below FY 2005

Early Childhood Professional Development Grant - $14.5 million; $146,000 cut below FY 2005

IDEA infants/toddlers Part C - $436 million; $4 million cut below FY 2005

IDEA preschool grants -- $380 million; $4 million cut below FY 2005

IDEA Part B -- $10.582 billion; $7 million cut below FY 2005

Title I LEA grants (basic, concentration and targeted grants) -- $7.383 billion; $126 million cut

Title II teacher quality (NCLB) – $2.88 billion; $29 million cut

21st Century Community Learning Centers (afterschool) – $981 million; $9.9 million cut

English Acquisition (NCLB) - $669 million; $6.7 million cut

CAMPIS grants - $15.8 million; $160,000 cut

Pell Grants – maximum award remains at $4,050

In addition, the conference report directs the $1 million within the Head Start budget for the establishment of a panel of independent experts under the National Academy of Sciences to review and provide guidance on appropriate outcomes and assessments for young children.

KATRINA RELIEF FOR HEAD START AND CHILD CARE SIGNED
On December 30, the President signed into law the Department of Defense appropriations bill, which had attached to it the supplemental funding for Gulf coast hurricane relief. The bill provides $90 million for Head Start to serve displaced children and for renovations costs to the extent reimbursement from FEMA and insurance companies are not covering those costs. It also provides $550 million for the Social Services Block Grant (Title XX) – which can be used for child care and health/mental health services. In addition, the bill provides many of the waivers already authorized by the Department of Health and Human Services for affected Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care programs and states.