State and Federal Legislative and Policy Updates Alameda County Early Care and Education Planning Council May 16, 2014

1.

2.

3.

State Budget, Legislation, Policy Discussions Federal Grants Legislation, Policy Update County Budget Activity

 Most voters in California believe state government should be doing more to provide young children opportunities to attend pre school and feel it's very important to make publicly supported pre-school available to all of the state's four-year-olds, regardless of their parents' income.

 Support Transitional Kindergarten: 60% to 25%  In addition, by a five to three margin (57% to 34%), voters believe it would be worth the estimated$1.4 billion cost to expand the transitional kindergarten program to provide all four-year-olds an additional year of schooling before they start kindergarten

 $2.4 billion in unanticipated revenue in this budget cycle, coupled with $1.2 billion General Fund costs due to Health Care Reform  State adoption of ACA optional Medi-Cal expansion resulted in 3.6 million more, or 11.5 million total enrollees  Governor left an opening for ece negotiations in his post presentation remarks  Assembly Subcommittee 2 hearing to do initial review is tomorrow  Field is working on restoration of slots, rates and quality with a five year plan

 In April the Legislative Analyst issued a paper recommending restructuring of the ECE system to increase:     Equity in access (CalWORKs vs. low income non CalWORKs) Choice Equal standards Reimbursement rate

Access  Continue to prioritize CalWORKS  Time limits on subsidies: 6-8 years (per family)  Choice  Similar level of funds across state, CEL

Standards  Require centers and fcc serving low income to have 3 hour education component  Developmentally approp activities for 0-3/3 hours  For school age repeal Title 5 but retain Title 22

 Vouchers except for LEA based Title 5 preschool  3 rates vs. 58 rates for low, medium, high cost counties  Rates by age  Update Rates and adjust in future

Administration  Merge CalWORKS Stage 1 and 2 into one program and DSS administers  Carve out child care funding from CalWORKs single allocation  Develop regional monitoring system

Bill AB 1902 What It Does Strong Start/HR 3461 AB 1454

Expands federal child care programs Requires annual licensing visit with no fee increases identified Eliminates parent fees for part day preschool.

Status

Assembly Appropriations/Suspense Assembly Appropriations/Suspense

PP supports ECEPC supports

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

SB 837

TK Bill Senate Appropriations/

5/19 Hearing

Senate Appropriations/Suspense Requested major rewrites to reinvest funds in existing system vs. restructure programs

SB 1123 Liu

Enhances ece programs for young children

AB 2302 Mullin AB 1444 AB 1719 AB 1944 (Garcia) AB 2125

Requires regulations to expand use of Child Care Revolving Fund Assembly Appropriations/Suspense Mandatory kindergarten Full day kindergarten Deletes parent certification that 11 and 12 year olds don’t need child care Assembly Appropriations/Suspense Standard Reimbursement rate Assembly Appropriations/Suspense 5/16 ECEPC Watch Watch 5/16 ECEPC 5/16 ECEPC

 SB 837(Steinberg) and SB 1123(Liu) are currently stuck in Appropriations Committees like most policy bills with costs.

 Due to Governor’s comment at budget press conference, we are hopeful that some aspect of child care funding can be restored this year.

 Some are talking 5 year restoration plan on access (over all increase and rate increase), quality (CCL).

 NIEER report reviewed and ranked ece access for 4-year-olds, 3-year-olds,state spending, quality standards (Maximum of 10), and an overall ranking  California did not fare well:    27 th 7 th in 4 year old access in 3 year old access 17 th nationally in state spending

 Federal Hearing and CCDBG Mark Up   The Child Care and Development Block Grant was last reauthorized in 1996 Current proposal improves health and safety, quality and for infants and toddlers in particular, children and families’ sustained access to help

 Early Head Start(EHS)/Child Care:    $500 million for number and quality of slots ECEPC meeting with over 30 interested; must meet Head Start standards Application will be supported by County

 Preschool Grants:   $250 million for a new competition to support efforts to build, develop, and expand voluntary, high-quality preschool programs. $160 m year one.

No more than $35 million to CA via Expansion Grant   Jointly administered by DoE and HHS Regulations are being finalized

 Expansion grant is for states with a State Funded Preschool or Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge grant to: (a) Implement and sustain High-Quality Preschool Programs to reach and serve additional Eligible Children in two or more High-Need Communities; and (b) Enhance preschool program infrastructure and make quality improvements to deliver High-Quality Preschool Programs

Some criteria  4 year olds below 200% ($37,700/4) of the poverty line, no less than 5 hours a day  Comprehensive services  K Readiness Assessments Online criteria received through the end of the day

   SupervisorWilma Chan convened hearing on Wednesday on the Human Impact of the State Budget focusing on income inequality and jobs, child care, and food needs.

Her child care request to Governor was to use 10% of state surplus to restore 30% of the roughly 110,000 slots cut since 2008 and phase in the rest over three years.

Parent Voices and Angie spoke highlighting:   5800 on waiting list (could fill 2 Paramount theaters or 207 school buses); Less than 5% of licensed programs served by QRIS;  $34.38 standard reimbursement rate per child per day vs. $38 doggie day care rate per dog per day in Alameda County

 50 neighborhoods in Alameda County have a child poverty rate greater than 30%  Areas with highest County services use are led by Cherryland (31% of residents; Ashland (30%), Hayward (29%) and Oakland (27%).

 Cumulative Alameda County Social Services cuts from 2008-2013 are $15 billion (IHSS, Seniors, Calworks, Medi-Cal, SSI, etc.)  1/3 of families in poverty are working

 Food stamps can decrease poverty rate by 4%; Governor’s Budget includes $10.5 million for food stamps.

 One survey which will be done again in 2015 shows an increase in homeless children from 278 in 2003 to 1,085 in 2009.