Greetings!
Funding for our youngest Iowans is at risk. Young children need your help! Please contact your legislator and those on the Joint Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Young children can't vote or call their legislator- please be that voice for them!
The Education Appropriations Subcommittee released a spreadsheet of their budget this afternoon. Unfortunately, as we expected, Empowerment took quite a hit. Here are some highlights or lowlights:
Net loss is 19.1% or $7.4million
* Elimination of current $2 million funding for First Years First Funding ($0 allocation for FY 2010)
* Elimination of funding for Professional Development for FY 2010
* Reduction in preschool funding
Please email or call your Senator and Representative and the members of the Education Appropriations Subcommittee TONIGHT AND/OR TOMORROW. They will meet again at 1:00 on Tuesday to pass the bill out of subcommittee, so they need to hear from you now!
Call your Representative; switchboard at (515) 281-3221 or email.
Call your Senator; switchboard at (515) 281-3371 or by email.
Call Governor Culver at (515) 281-5211or email.
1. Our youngest Iowans can't wait for the economy to get better.
2. The Iowa Community Empowerment program helps improve well being of Iowa children ages 0 to 5 years, particularly at-risk children. Empowerment is some of the ONLY dedicated funding serving at-risk infants and toddlers.
3. Empowerment helps kids and parents through critical community supports such as: offering parent education opportunities, improving access and affordability to quality child care, and providing quality preschool experiences for low-income children, including wrap around services and transportation.
4. The early childhood workforce needs economic and educational supports as they provide essential services for families and school readiness for Iowa's young children.
Please don't miss this opportunity to help Iowa 's children. Our youngest Iowans can't wait for the economy to get better.
Thank you for speaking up for Iowa's children!!!
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