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Advocacy and Policy News
State Budget Update: Senate democrats oppose $14 billion in budget cutsAlternate funding approach proposed, preserving childcare and education spending
California Senate Democrats are poised to reject $14 billion in budget cuts proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month, choosing instead to craft a spending plan that looks for other ways to erase the state’s deficit and assumes additional money for schools and social services will come from the federal government by early September.
The proposal relies on an alternate approach to Newsom’s plea for additional funds from President Trump and Congress, -
Advocacy and Policy News
President Signs Coronavirus Stimulus Package; will provide $750 million for Head StartToday, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (H.R. 748) which includes $750 million for Head Start. Head Start CA will provide a more comprehensive analysis next week when details are ready. Funding will include emergency staffing needs, address added operational costs, and provide summer learning opportunities. It also includes $3.5 billion in funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program (CCDBG) to support child care programs in maintaining critical operations.
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Head Start California Updates
COVID-19 Resources for Head StartThe health and safety of our members, their staff and their families are our primary concern. We encourage you and your staff to comply with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention CDC recommendations and take all precautionary measures, here. Below are some additional resources which will be updated as they become available.
Office of Head Start Resources:- Coronavirus Prevention and Response
- Wage & benefit flexibility: In response to COVID-19,
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Advocacy and Policy News
State Legislation Impacting Head Start on Our RadarThe 2020 legislative session is in full swing, and Feb. 21 was the final day for new bills to be introduced in the California State Legislature. Below are summaries of a few early childhood bills on our radar that impact Head Start:
AB 2594 (Aguiar-Curry) This bill would authorize the Superintendent, to the extent consistent with federal law, to waive staffing ratios established under existing state law for center-based programs that meet federal Head Start program performance standards. -
Head Start California Updates
Messaging Matters: Get Your Head Start Parents Involved in Census OutreachThe Census is fast approaching! Your engagement is critical. Our partnership with the First 5 Association of California and the California WIC Association is focused on counting every child aged 0-5 because:
More than a million children were not counted in 2010.
The 2020 census will impact funding and representation for the next decade.
We’ve developed a simple one-hour training for parents and are already scheduled across the state to inform, inspire, and activate as many parents as we can to help spread the word: Completing the Census is safe, -
Advocacy and Policy News
Presidents’ Day and George Washington’s WishAfter NHSA’s Winter Leadership Institute, and before my flight back to California on Jan. 31, I took two hours to walk from the hotel to the Washington Monument and back. I’ve visited a few times before, but this time I was intent upon getting a ticket and taking the elevator to the top. It was well worth it. The story of its construction was fascinating and the view from the top was impressive.
When I awoke 17 days later to Presidents’ Day, -
Head Start California Updates
Head Start at the Table
We are expanding our presence “at the table,” ensuring that Head Start is engaged in conversations that shape policy, legislation and regulation impacting Head Start programs.
Table 1: Early Childhood Policy Council. Members of this council will work to elevate the needs of young children and their families as well as advise lawmakers on education, care and development of young children. Head Start is well-represented by several leaders actively working in the Head Start community:
Stephanie Myers, -
Advocacy and Policy News
Governor’s proposed 2020 budget includes new Early Childhood Development departmentCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his $222.2 billion state budget on January 10. Among his plans to spend part of a projected $5.6 billion surplus on green technology and homeless aid, Governor Newsom’s plan would also steer more money to Medi-Cal, and boost assistance for homeless people and mental healthcare.
Head Start California is eagerly awaiting the trailer bill language and looking forward to the budget hearings in the coming weeks to learn more about the Governor’s budget proposals. -
Advocacy and Policy News
We Advocate Because They are Worth itWhat is an advocate? The Merriam Webster online dictionary offers a few definitions, but the simplest is this: an advocate is ‘one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group.’ It seems unfair or perhaps misleading that the definition should be so simple. Because advocacy is not simple. It is complicated and time-consuming. Advocacy is a lot of work.
Here’s the payoff. In our case, it is noble work. -
Head Start California Updates
No Child Left UncountedLet’s start the new year with a counting party! Census 2020 is coming fast and our Head Start community has a critical role to play. It is estimated that over one million children under age 5 were not counted in the last census. An undercount in 2020 could cost California more than $3 billion in federally funded programs, including those affecting young children. Our goal for 2020: no child left uncounted!
Partnering with the California WIC and First 5 associations to reach out to all families with young children may be the most important action we take for the next decade,
