Policy Pick: The President's Budget and Young Children

Investments in the proposed budget include a $1.6 billion permanent increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, with $137 million dedicated to improving the quality of infant/toddler care, and a $989 million increase for Head Start and Early Head Start. These increases slightly exceed those included in last year's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Also included is $8.9 billion to support Congress' potential adoption of the Early Learning Challenge Fund. This legislation was passed by the House of Representatives last year and is currently awaiting introduction in the Senate. The legislation would provide states grants that could be used to support quality improvement efforts, such as implementation of the quality rating and improvement system currently being designed by California's Early Learning Quality Improvement System Advisory Committee.

The proposed budget also includes an elimination of Even Start, along with five other literacy initiatives, as stand-alone programs. In their place, the Administration has recommended a consolidated approach to literacy programs through a $450 million overall investment referred to as Effective Teaching and Learning.

First 5 LA will continue to track changes to the proposed budget and Congress' consideration of the components impacting early care and education, as well as other early childhood-related aspects. In the coming weeks the Monday Morning Report will feature further articles highlighting other components of the budget, including obesity reduction and place-based investment.

For more information, please contact Aleece Kelly at AKelly@First5LA.org.

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