State Development Updates: September 26, 2002

State News:

Pennsylvania Launches Keystone Stars Program

Governor Mark Schweiker launched the Keystone Stars Program on September 12, 2002. Keystone Stars is a quality improvement program that recognizes child care providers who consistently excel in meeting or exceeding health and safety licensing regulations. The program is built on a four-star ratings system, with the highest level reflecting standards of the NAEYC accreditation system. The program will be managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare's four regional Child Care Resource Developers (CCRDs), which provide technical assistance and funding to child care programs to expand their services. Grants will be available to programs working to achieve two, three, and four stars (one star is achieved by meeting basic licensing requirements). The CCRDs will also award financial merit awards to providers who meet the program requirements. The specific amount of money awarded to each center will vary with size of the program and the star level that the program has achieved. The average awards will be $9,600 for a two-star award, $13,000 for three stars, and $16,000 for four stars. For more information, http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ocyf/childcarewks/ccwKeyStars.asp.

Indiana Families to Lose Child Care Benefits

State officials in Indiana approved $60 million in cuts to the state's welfare program. The parents of about 6,700 children are expected to be notified this week that they will lose their vouchers for child care. The new state policy will require families to live 127 percent below the poverty level, rather than 114 percent. In addition, to parents who are losing their child care vouchers, the low-wage parents who still qualify for vouchers will have to pay a larger co-pay if they earn more than the federal poverty limit, which is $15,020 for a family of three. The cuts are also expected to reduce training programs, addiction services, and administrative costs across the state. For more information: http://www.myinky.com/ecp/home/article/0,1626,ECP_775_1434559,00.html.

Maine Makes Child Care Licensing Changes

Maine had proposed some dramatic changes to their child care licensing regulations, but due to opposition from parents and child care providers, a more "watered-down" version was approved. The proposed regulations would have reduced the minimum child:staff ratio by one child to 9:1; and reduced the group size for four-year-olds from 30 to 18. Three-year-old group size would have been 16. The final regulations have no change in group size or child:staff ratio for four- to five-year-olds. Maximum group size for three-year-olds was reduced from 30 to 24. Infant group sizes were reduced from 12 to 8, and toddlers from 15 to 10.The new regulations also address food safety, environment and transportation, and increase the amount of ongoing training for teachers from 24 to 30 hours per year. For more information: http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/09192002/news/25069.htm.

Legislation adopted (signed/approved by Governor) between July 27 - September 25, 2002

Paid Family Leave

California - SB 1661

California is the first state to enact a paid family leave law. This bill establishes a family temporary disability insurance program to provide up to 6 weeks of partial pay (55%) to workers who take time off to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, domestic partner, or to bond with a new child. The benefits are paid through additional employee contributions to the state disability insurance program. This bill also authorizes employers to require that employees must first use up to 2 weeks of earned but unused vacation leave before receiving these additional benefits. These benefits would be payable for family temporary disability leaves that begin on and after July 1, 2004. Signed by the Governor on September 23, 2002.

Teacher Preparation

Illinois - SB 1953

Beginning with the 2002-2003 academic year, a student may not enroll in a teacher preparation program at a recognized teacher training institution until he or she has passed the state basic skills test required for certification. The areas covered on this test include the basic skills of reading, writing, grammar and mathematics. Starting in the 2003-2004 academic year, a preparing teacher may not student teach until he or she has passed the subject matter test in the discipline in which he or she will teach. This applies to early childhood, elementary, special education, high school, school service personnel, and administrative certificates. Signed by the Governor on July 25, 2002.

State Ballot Initiatives in the November 2002 Election (source: www.ballotwatch.org)

California - Proposition 49

Increases state grant funds available for before and after school programs providing tutoring, homework assistance, and educational enrichment. Establishes priority for continued funding level for schools already receiving grants. Makes public elementary, middle and junior high schools, including charter schools, eligible for grants ranging from $50,000 to $75,000. Provides priority for additional funding for schools with predominantly low-income students. Declares that funding for before and after school programs shall be above Proposition 98 base funding, and at least $85 million for first year increasing to $550 million annually if state revenues grow.

Florida - Amendment 8

Every four-year-old child in Florida shall be provided a high quality pre-kindergarten learning opportunity by the state no later than the 2005 school year. This voluntary early childhood development and education program shall be established according to high quality standards and shall be free for all Florida four-year-olds without taking away funds for existing education, health, and development programs.

Florida - Amendment 9

Proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to require that the Legislature provide funding for sufficient classrooms so that there be a maximum number of students in public school classes for various grade levels; requires compliance by the beginning of the 2010 school year; requires the Legislature, and not local school districts, to pay for the costs associated with reduced class size; prescribes a schedule for phased-in funding to achieve the required maximum class size.

Washington: Espresso Tax Not on November Ballot in Seattle

Advocates in Seattle, Washington had been working this year to ask voters to consider a 10 cent tax on all espresso drinks that would be used to raise money for child care and other early childhood programs (called Initiative 77). However, it was strongly opposed by the Seattle business establishment-the Chamber of Commerce. After extensive discussion acknowledging the need for more money for child care, and a debate about the fairness of a tax that targets one business to raise money for an unrelated cause, the City Council opposed two resolutions that would have placed the measure on the ballot this year. The council failed to pass measures to place the tax on the ballot, or an alternative proposal that would raise money for child care through a property tax increase. A law suit was brought against the City Council to force them to put the initiative on the ballot, but the judge did not rule in its favor. It is likely that it could be on the ballot in September 2003. For more information: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134539794_espressotax21m.html.