SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

 

*President’s Jobs Bill Highlights Education

*U.S. Census Release of Child Poverty Data Signals Need for More Advocacy Work

*Early Childhood 2010 Report on Integrated State Early Learning Initiatives  

 

 

PRESIDENT’S JOBS BILL INCLUDES EARLY CHILDHOOD/K-12 TEACHER JOBS, MODERN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The President transmitted to Congress his draft legislation for his jobs plan and now it is in the hands of Congress to accept, amend, or reject in whole or in part. A significant portion of the President’s job plan is focused on education. 

 

One part of the education plan would provide $30 billion for hiring/rehiring teachers and related services jobs for elementary and secondary schools, and early childhood programs. Governors would submit an application of which up to 10% of their grant would be spent on hiring/rehiring early childhood educators in state funded early learning programs and the remaining 90% or more would be spent on elementary and secondary schools (which can include preschool programs). “State-funded early learning programs” would be defined as programs that provide “educational services to children from birth to kindergarten entry and receives funding from the State.” These programs could receive funds to hire/retain/rehire early childhood educators, defined in the transmitted version as individuals who work directly in the care, development and education of children age five and younger in a state-funded early learning program in a low-income community and who have completed a baccalaureate or advanced degree in early childhood development or early childhood education, or in a field related to early childhood education.

 

A second part would provide $25 billion in funds for repairing and renovating public schools and another $5 billion to modernize community colleges.

 

Other parts of the plan includes several proposals on the tax/revenue side including tax credits to small businesses and hiring unemployed veterans as well as reductions in the payroll tax; programs of work for unemployed and displaced workers; summer and year-round jobs programs for low-income youth; and funds for improving infrastructure of roads, rail, waterways and airports.

 

 

U.S. CENSUS RELEASES POVERTY DATA - POVERTY RATE AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 6 REACHES HIGHEST LEVEL

We know the importance of high quality early childhood education for all children, and especially for children in poverty and their families. On Tuesday, the U.S. Census Bureau released its poverty data report showing the highest level of poverty in this country since 1993. Approximately 46.2 million (or nearly one in six) Americans lived in poverty last year, marking the fourth consecutive annual increase in poverty and the largest number in the past 52 years since poverty rates have been published. After adjusting for inflation increases, the average American household now earns less than it did in 1997.

 

For the first time, over 25% of children under the age of 6 now live in poverty. The overall child poverty rate climbed to 22% in 2010 with the share of Hispanic children among these young Americans significantly increasing during the recent recession.

 

While children are more likely to be poor than adults, they are also more likely to have health insurance. The percentage of uninsured children remained constant at 9.8% and both the number and the percentage of uninsured children in 2010 were lower than before the economic downturn began. This shows the importance of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) during a time when employer-based health insurance decreased among children.

 

So how do we use this data in our advocacy work? Tell policymakers at any level as they look over budgets and program choices to ask: Will this increase or reduce child poverty in my community, state or the nation? 

 

To view the U.S. Census Bureau’s full report click here. You can also view the summarized presentation on the 2010 income, poverty and health insurance data here.

 

 

EARLY CHILDHOOD 2010 STATE ISSUES AND INNOVATIONS REPORT NOW AVAILABLE 

To facilitate the building of integrated state early learning and development systems for children from birth to age eight, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education gathered policymakers and experts from across the country at the national Early Childhood 2010 meeting in Washington, DC last August. The Early Childhood 2010 team recently published its follow-up report entitled State Issues and Innovations in Creating Integrated Early Learning and Development Systems with examples of state strategies organized by the following six themes: Coordinated state leadership; Effective use of data; Systemic quality improvement; Partnerships with families and communities; Physical and behavioral health integration; and Children with multiple risks.

 

The report offers links to program and policy websites discussed in the meeting and contact information for federal programs, state officials who have worked on case studies in the report, and early childhood technical assistance resources. To view the report, click here.