Special Issue: Early Childhood Policy Updates
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Early Learning Council and Council Work Group Meetings |
The Rhode Island Early Learning Council and Council Work Group continue to work on improving access
to high-quality early learning opportunities. Meeting materials and the meeting schedule through June 2011 are posted on the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT website. The next meeting of
the Work Group of
the Early Learning Council will be on Thursday, September 16,
2010,
from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Community College of Rhode
Island's Knight Campus, Room 1128, Warwick, RI. The next meeting of the Rhode Island Early Learning Council will take place on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Community College of Rhode Island's Knight Campus, Room 1130, Warwick, RI. For more information, contact Leanne Barrett at
[email protected] who has been designated as the Coordinator for
Rhode Island's Early Learning Council.
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Update: Federal
Funding for Early Learning Programs |
The possibility of expanded federal funding for early learning programs is on
the horizon. There has been
significant progress on the following fronts: - Child
Care and Development Block Grant is proposed for a $700 million to $1
billion increase in the federal FY11 appropriations bill to maintain and expand
low-income family access to child care subsidies and for critical quality
improvement activities.
- Head
Start and Early Head Start is proposed for an $866 to $900 million increase
in the federal FY11 appropriations bill to maintain new slots and programs
created with stimulus dollars and to maintain cost of living adjustments to
support increased staff salaries.
- A new federal Early Learning Challenge Fund would be established with $300 million through the federal FY11 appropriations bill (Senate version only right now) to support systemic improvements at the state level that would help more young children access high-quality early learning programs.
- Our nation's key education law, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is scheduled for
re-authorization. The ESEA does not
currently include resources to help children access high-quality early learning
opportunities - which we know are critical for long-term educational
success. The re-authorization is a rare and unique opportunity to increase the
resources available for children to attend high-quality early learning programs,
including state-funded Pre-K.
Contact Rhode Island's Congressional delegation to encourage their continued
strong support for increased investments
in the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Head Start/Early Head Start
and to establish the Early Learning
Challenge Fund in the final FY11 appropriations bill. Also emphasize how important it is to build a strong
foundation for learning during the preschool years and include resources for early childhood education in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act!
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