2014 National Legislative Conference Early Childhood Education: Federal Policy Update Jessica Seitz Stella Edwards Ad

1. 2014 National Legislative Conference Early Childhood Education: Federal Policy Update Jessica Seitz Stella Edwards Adele Robinson Education Policy Analyst Chair Deputy Executive Director National PTA PTA Legislative Committee National Association for the Education of Young Children

2. Agenda PTA’s Commitment to Early Education Key Federal Early Childhood Care and Education Programs Federal Early Childhood Education Updates • In the White House: President’s Early Learning Initiative • On the Hill: Strong Start for America’s Children Act • FY2014 and FY2015 Early Childhood Funding PTA Takes Action: 2014 Early Childhood Education Priorities Q&A

3. PTA’s Commitment to Early Education PTA supports federal and state incentives for high-quality child care and preschool programs for children ages 0 to 5. These programs should be: Affordable Accessible Developmentally appropriate Coordinated at all levels (federal, state, local) Characterized by high standards for teaching, training, health, and safety PTA strongly encourages the inclusion of a robust family engagement component in all early education programs.

4. Early Childhood Education Benefits We cannot afford to postpone investing in children until they become adults, nor can we wait until they reach school age – a time when it may be too late to intervene. Learning is a dynamic process and is most effective when it begins at a young age and continues through adulthood. --James Heckman, Ph.D, Nobel Laureate Economics, University of Chicago

5. Current Federal Early Education Programs Department of Education Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Early Learning Challenge Fund (with HHS) Department of Health and Human Services Head Start/Early Head Start Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV)

6. Current Federal Early Education ProgramsElementary and Secondary Education Act Description: Title I funds can be used, at the local educational agency’s discretion, for early childhood programs in addition to traditional K-12 programs Population: Less than 5% of ESEA funds spent on children younger than kindergarten Current Status: ESEA reauthorization pending

7. Current Federal Early Education ProgramsHead Start Description: Established in 1965, 80% federal/20% local match serving the poorest children and families with comprehensive standards and services Education Parent Involvement Health Social Services Population: Serves 3-4 year old low-income children • Serves less than half of eligible children annually

8. Current Federal Early Education ProgramsEarly Head Start Description: Established in 1994 as an expansion of Head Start; provides comprehensive child development and family support services Population: Serves low-income infants and toddlers from birth to three years and pregnant women • Serves less than 5% of eligible infants, toddlers, and pregnant women annually

9. Current Federal Early Education ProgramsHead Start-Early Head Start (Continued) Status: HS-EHS last reauthorized in 2007 Roughly 57,000 children were cut from HS-EHS due to sequestration, 89% were preschoolersage 3-5 Many programs reduced the number of program days/hours, causing provider termination/salary reduction

10. Current Federal Early Education ProgramsChild Care and Development Block Grant Description: Established in 1990, CCDBG is the primary source of federal funding for child care and afterschool subsidies and quality improvements; promotes family economic self-sufficiency and school readiness through affordable, high-quality child care and afterschool programs Population: Low-income working families and families with parents currently in school

11. Current Federal Early Education ProgramsCCDBG (continued) Currently CCDBG provides assistance to one out of six eligible children In 2012, CCDBG served 260,000 fewer children than in 2006 Status: Has not been reauthorized since 1996; reauthorization pending in both houses (Passed Senate committee; pending in House committee)

12. Current Federal Early Education ProgramsMaternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Description: Established in 2010 under the Affordable Care Act; provides voluntary home visiting programs to improve health and development outcomes for at-risk children by addressing issues including maternal and child health, parenting practices, safe home environments, and access to services Population: Expectant parents and families with new babies and young children Status:Funding and authorization expire FY2014—October 1, 2014

13. PTA Takes Action Early Childhood EducationFederal Policy Updates

14. In the White House: President’s Early Learning Initiative Announced in 2013 State of the Union; reaffirmed in 2014 Called on Congress to expand access to high-quality preschool to every child in America Proposed a series of new investments to establish a continuum of high-quality early learning birth to age 5

15. On the Hill: Strong Start for America’s Children Act

16. What’s in the bill? Three Key Components: • Preschool -- Development grants and larger Preschool for All • Early Head Start/child care partnerships • MIECHV

17. Preschool for All Establishes a federal-state partnership to provide access to high-quality prekindergarten programs for all low-income and moderate-income children. Also provides Preschool Development Grants

18. Early Learning Quality Partnerships Addresses problem of lowest quality of child care is typically infant/toddler care Early Head Start eligibility and standards Together work to improve quality of the child care provider for children birth through age 3; child care providers receive additional funds to meet and sustain higher quality of child care Priority for child care partners receiving CCDBG subsidies, coordinating with other funding streams and coordinating transitions to preschool and school

19. MIECHV Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs:Encourages increased funding for evidence-based, voluntary home visitation programs Program expires on September 30 – must reauthorize and fund to continue on October 1, 2014

20. FY2014 and FY2015 Early Education Funding

21. PTA Takes Action2014 Early Childhood Education Priorities

22. PTA Urges Congress to Invest in Early Childhood Education Increase access to high-quality pre-kindergarten for all students to prepare them for successful kindergarten entry. Expand family engagement initiatives that begin at birth, both in the home and in other early learning environments, to ensure coordinated family engagement throughout childhood.

23. PTA Believes that Every Child Deserves a #StrongStart

24. Is your Senator a cosponsor?29 Senators from 20 States* *As of March 7, 2014

25. Is your Representative a cosponsor?114 Representatives from 30 States, DC, Northern Mariana Islands*

27. Get out your phones and laptops! PTA.org/takesaction

28. Questions?

29. Jessica Seitz Stella Edwards Education Policy Analyst Chair National PTA National PTA jseitz@pta.orglegchair@pta.org