2016 Fall Kansas Child

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Senate appropriations committees — provides a modest increase for early childhood programs, but it’s not enough to avoid cutting the number of children who receive assistance. We strongly support robust and comprehensive early childhood investments that include the Preschool Development Grants, IDEA Grants for Infants and Families and IDEA Preschool Grants. We also need to pay particular attention to the urgent and unmet needs of children receiving assistance through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Head Start and Early Head Start. We must ensure that every child in this country, especially those from low-income families, has access to high-quality early childhood education and child care opportunities to prepare them to develop the skills needed to enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed in life. Below is a list of early childhood programs, funding approved by the House and Senate appropriations committees for FY 2016, and the funding that is needed to ensure that children are not cut from services. What Can You Do? Educate your congressional representatives. If you are not sure who your representatives are or do not have their phone numbers or emails, you can locate them here: http://bit.ly/2bkoP5T. Tell them that early childhood programs matter. Tell them that school readiness and school success depend on access to high-quality early learning programs. Together, we can make a difference! < Key Early Learning and Family Funding FY 2017 Labor, HHS & Education Appropriations (Dollars in Millions) Program FY2017 Senate Approps Comm FY2017 Senate vs FY2016 FY2017 House Approps Comm FY2017 House vs FY2016 FY2017 Funding Increase Needed Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) $2,786 $25 $2,801 $40 $1,200 Head Start $9,200 $34 $9,309 $143 $434 Early Head Start & EHS/ Child Care Partnerships Preschool Development/ Expansion Grants $635 FREEZE $645 $10 $150 $250 FREEZE $250 FREEZE $100 Sources: Senate FY2017 Labor, HHS, & Education Appropriations bill approved by the Appropriations Committee on June 7, 2016. Senate Committee Report: https://www.congress.gov/114/crpt/srpt274/CRPT-114srpt274.pdf House FY2017 Labor, HHS & Education Appropriations bill approved by the Appropriations Committee on July 14, 2016 House Committee Report: http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hrpt-114-hr-fy2017-laborhhsed.pdf 10 Kansas Child A Publication of Child Care Aware ® of Kansas
Issues to Watch By Kansas Action for Children As we look ahead to the 2017 legislative session, it is clear that the decisions policymakers will make next year will have big consequences for Kansas children. Here are some of the issues that organizations such as Child Care Aware® of Kansas and Kansas Action for Children will watch as we work together to make Kansas the best state in the nation to raise a child: 2017 Early Childhood Funding In 1999, Kansas legislators made a commitment to our state’s future prosperity by establishing the Children’s Initiatives Fund (CIF) and the Kansas Endowment for Youth (KEY) Fund using monies garnered by the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. Kansas was the only state in the nation to invest tobacco settlement monies in this way, recognizing both the cost avoidance and tremendous return on investment generated by early learning. It was part of a larger vision to provide early learning opportunities for future generations of Kansans. In 2016, after swift and significant pushback from child advocates such as you, the Legislature resoundingly rejected proposals to dismantle Kansas’ premier system for early childhood education. However, children’s programs still faced funding cuts due to the state’s ongoing budget crisis. We expect that budget pressures will continue to threaten the CIF in 2017. We will depend on advocates from across the state to protect programs that ensure all Kansas children receive the best possible start in life – no matter what. Budget & Tax Policy In recent months, you’ve probably seen a news story or two about Kansas’ unprecedented budget problems. The state’s fiscal health began to weaken in 2012 when policymakers set Kansas on a path to eliminate the state income tax. Radical changes to the state tax code in 2012 and 2013 mean the state now doesn’t have the resources it needs to function day-to-day, let alone make investments necessary to flourish in the future. Even after the Legislature raised the state sales tax in 2013 and 2015 and eliminated important credits for working families, such as the child and dependent care credit, Kansas still struggles to balance its budget. The state has endured nine rounds of budget cuts in four years, with no end in sight to the deficit. In fact, the situation is actually becoming more serious. In addition to repeatedly missing monthly revenue targets, Kansas’ statewide credit rating was downgraded last summer for a third time in two years. A shift in the makeup of the Kansas Legislature in the August and November elections might create the political will necessary to reform the state’s tax policy, allowing Kansas to protect the state’s most important assets — including investments in our children. Child advocacy organizations are eager to both support and actively lobby for common sense tax reform in 2017. Child Care Regulations Changes to the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) present the opportunity for Kansas to re-examine and improve its child care system. The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is a major source of federal funding for child care assistance and other critical pieces of the Kansas child care system, such as the statewide resource and referral system and initiatives that improve child care quality. Early childhood stakeholders will be able to shape the future of child care in the state in several ways. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) will seek public comment and update regulations for child care providers to comply with the new federal law. The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) will launch a pilot program as it works to develop a statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). While all this is happening, the Kansas Legislature will update Kansas law as necessary. Each of these changes gives advocates for early learning the chance to build the best Kansas child care system possible. www.ks.childcareaware.org Kansas Child 11
Page 1 and 2: A publication of Child Care Aware
Page 3 and 4: p. 7 p. 4 IN THIS ISSUE #SaveTheCIF
Page 5 and 6: and early childhood education in Ka
Page 7 and 8: Early education National is an issu
Page 9: Head Start and Early Head Start Hea
Page 13 and 14: the Kansas Statehouse Timeline Kans
Page 15 and 16: Telling Your Story to Affect Policy
Page 17 and 18: Advocacy in the Age of Social Media
Page 19 and 20: three efforts to dismantle Kansas
Page 21 and 22: classrooms were needed, as well as
Page 23 and 24: Growing Up to Be Competent, Success

2016 Fall Kansas Child

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