The Federal Landscape

Washington State Head Start & ECEAP DirectorsAdele RobinsonDecember 5, 2014

The Federal Budget and Early Childhood Landscape for 2015

Questioning Federal RoleWhat is the role of the federal government? (should it be in the business of education and human services and if yes, to what degree and under what conditions)Who should pay federal, state, local, private? (e.g., My Brothers Keeper; prek)What should the federal government expect as a result of its investment?

Federal Budget FightPause in sequestration ends in FY 2016 unless Congress creates another dealTax reform could lower revenues, change entitlement programsConcern about needs for international/homeland security vs domestic human services funding Early Childhood Education Multiple national and state polls show the public cares about, and wants, a public investment in early childhood educationEarly childhood traditionally a bipartisan issue at the federal level Governors across the political spectrum increasing state funds for preKMayors and other local policymakers moving on preschool when the state is notHead Start Issues Since 2007 ActBoth sides of the aisle believe improvements made in 2007, notably:DRS creates more accountability72% of teachers in Head Start have a BA

Yet:Revision of the program performance standards not yet out for public commentQuestions on DRS is it accurate and fair? Why arent others competing?Child outcomes and school readiness concerns across the political spectrum

Different from a Traditional Reauthorization --Options OfferedRep. Paul Ryan (former Budget chairman; incoming Ways & Means chairman) proposes giving Head Start (not Early Head Start) to the statesSen. Lamar Alexander (new chairman of education committee) offered amendment to Strong Start to allow states to combine Head Start and CCDF to fund birth to five and set their own standards, ages, etc.

Other childrens programsAlso scheduled for reauthorization in the next CongressChild Nutrition CACFP, school lunch and breakfast, WICHome visiting extension ends in MarchSCHIP health care

CCDBG reauthorized, needing funding -- more requirements on inspections and background checks; one-year redetermination of a childs eligibility; more attention to infants and toddlers; encourages more professional development balancing rates, copays, use of the quality dollars

For conversationWithin the Act:Length of day/year (dosage)Teacher quality (beyond degrees) and compensationAccountability: program administration and child outcomes/readiness for kindergartenEarly Head Start and serving more children who are youngerComprehensive services

Within changing federal, state and local landscape:

Growth in state-funded preK for 4 year olds and 3 year oldsNew Preschool Development and Expansion grants - mixed delivery/schoolsNew Early Head Start/child care partnership grants and expansion of EHS Changes in CCDBG