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| Right now, members of Congress are negotiating funding decisions that could impact hundreds of thousands of families across the country who benefit from key birth-to-age 5 programs, including Head Start and Early Head Start, child care and the Preschool Development Grants. This is a critical moment to remind your elected officials that children, families and early learning providers across the country are relying on them to be champions for early childhood.
Visit this easy-to-use action center from our partners at First Five Years Fund to email, tweet or call your legislators today. |
FEDERAL BUDGET 101
Each year, a new federal budget term begins October 1, which means that by September 30 of that year, Congress must pass a series of funding (or appropriations) bills that set the funding levels for many federal programs the following year.
Some federal initiatives (like Medicare and Social Security) are considered mandatory spending, but nearly all early care and learning funds are considered discretionary funding and are subject to the annual appropriations process – and can see their funding levels change each year.
Currently, members of both the House and the Senate are working to complete their mark-ups of these appropriations bills ahead of the August recess and working to reconcile differences amongst the different chambers and caucuses Time is of the essence, and unfortunately, the funding levels that are currently under consideration include cuts to critical birth-to-age 5 programs and systems.
WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD TODAY?
Head Start & Early Head Start: The House has proposed a $750 million cut to Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which would result in approximately 80,000 infants and toddlers no longer being able to benefit from such impactful services next year. This is the largest proposed cut to Head Start and Early Head Start in over 10 years. Join Start Early and our partners at the National Head Start Association in emailing your members of Congress and
taking to social media to oppose these cuts.
Child Care & Early Learning: The House has also proposed significant cuts to the Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) and Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) programs, which would reduce funds available to states and communities that support low-income families, program delivery, workforce development and compensation, and more.
These and other proposed cuts to child- and family-serving programs would have real consequences for program quality, family economic stability and our collective goals of closing the opportunity gap and helping every child reach their full potential. |
| Join us in urging Congress
to protect and prioritize our nation’s youngest and to help ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential as they determine federal funding levels. |
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