Policy Issues
Each year, the Mid-America Regional Council's Board of Directors approves legislative agendas that reflect regional priorities — for early learning and other important issues — for the Missouri and Kansas Legislatures and the U.S. Congress.
2012 Missouri Public Policy Agenda:
INVESTING EARLY IS THE KEY
Early intervention is the key to improving outcomes for children. Ninety percent of a child's brain architecture is established before the age of five and everything they learn – both as students and as adults – is built upon the strength of that architecture. That is why funding quality early childhood programs that ensure more Missouri children have the tools they need to succeed in school and in life is a good investment. Research shows that for every dollar invested in early childhood education, the state saves at least $7 down the road. Those savings come from such outcomes as fewer criminals in our justice system, fewer adults on public assistance, fewer teen pregnancies and a stronger workforce.
The Metropolitan Council on Early Learning (MCEL) supports public policies and investments that will increase access to high quality early learning programs for Missouri's children and families. MCEL, in collaboration with partners statewide, endorses the following goals and policy recommendations for the 2012 Missouri legislative session.
Child Care Subsidy
Maintain funding and/or increase funding for Child Care Assistance. Child care subsidies funded through the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant are a critical support that allow low income working families to fully participate in the workforce, while ensuring their children are cared for in a safe environment. Without this support many families could not afford to work due to the high cost of quality child care. The Metropolitan Council on Early Learning supports maintaining current funding and if funding is available increasing Child Care Assistance funding to reach more of Missouri's low-income families.
Background: More than 300,000 Missouri children under age 6 are in need of child care while their parents go to work. In Missouri, 926,000 people, or 15.5 percent of the state's population, were living below the federal poverty level in 2009, and almost one-fourth of Missouri's children under six years old live in poverty. Currently, Missouri provides child care assistance to low-income families up to 135 percent of poverty. The national average for child care assistance in the United States is 185 percent of poverty. Missouri has ranked near the bottom of the country in terms of supporting working parents through child care assistance for several years. With child care costing families nearly $10,000 per year per child (or more) it is important that families have support in order to continue to work and provide for their families. In addition, it is proven that children in high quality, safe child care programs perform better than other children when they reach elementary school.
Child care assistance is essential for allowing low-income families to enter and remain in the workforce.
Voluntary Pre-K
Pre-k benefits children, their families, and their communities. From improved academic outcomes to the economic savings to schools and states, the benefits of high-quality pre-k are irrefutable. High quality voluntary Pre-k programs cultivate successful elementary, secondary and postsecondary students. Pre-k increases high school graduation rates, helps children do better on standardized tests, reduces grade repetition and reduces the number of children placed in special education. The Metropolitan Council on Early Learning supports legislation that will establish statutory authority to phase-in publicly funded voluntary Pre-K for Missouri children two years prior to entry into kindergarten. This legislation will be subject to the availability of funds.
Background: Of the more than 172,000 preschool age children in Missouri, only 14 percent are currently enrolled in the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education funded quality preschool programs. This is far below the national average of 30 percent.
Currently, Missouri provides child care assistance to low-income families up to 127% of poverty. This places Missouri 49th among all states. The national average for child care assistance in the United States is 185% of poverty.
Child care assistance is essential for allowing low-income families to enter and remain in the workforce. Missouri's low-income families require assistance to provide early learning/child care for their young children. With the potential budget shortfall that Missouri is likely to experience in the upcoming fiscal year, it is critical that the state at least maintains the current level of funding for Child Care Assistance. If funding is available, it will be important to increase Child Care Assistance to reach more of Missouri's low-income families.
2012 Kansas Public Policy Agenda
INVESTING EARLY IS THE KEY
Early intervention is the key to improving outcomes for children. Ninety percent of a child's brain architecture is established before the age of five and everything they learn – both as students and as adults – is built upon the strength of that architecture. That is why funding quality early childhood programs that ensure more Kansas children have the tools they need to succeed in school and in life is a good investment. Research shows that for every dollar invested in early childhood education, the state saves at least $7 down the road. Those savings come from such outcomes as fewer criminals in our justice system, fewer adults on public assistance, fewer teen pregnancies and a stronger workforce.
The Metropolitan Council on Early Learning (MCEL) supports public policies and investments that will increase access to high quality early learning programs for Kansas' children and families. MCEL, in collaboration with partners statewide, endorses the following goals and policy recommendations for the 2012 Kansas legislative session.
Children's Initiatives Fund
Kansas' future depends on the health and well-being of our next generation. That is why, more than a decade ago, Kansas legislators made a commitment to our state's future prosperity by establishing the Children's Initiatives Fund (CIF). The CIF dollars were dedicated to quality early childhood programs — programs like Early Head Start, Pre-K and Parents as Teachers — that are making a difference every day in the lives of our youngest citizens and in the livelihood of our state. The Metropolitan Council on Early Learning supports the funding recommendations put forth by the Kansas Children's Cabinet for the CIF in FY 2013.
Background The Children's Initiatives Fund (CIF), which is administered by the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund, was created by the Legislature in 1999. Funding for the CIF comes from payments made to the state from the master tobacco settlement. . Programs that receive CIF funding serve children of all ages with the primary focus on children ages birth to five. Programs must undergo a rigorous evaluation by the Children's Cabinet to ensure that state dollars are being spent effectively. Approximately 200,000 – roughly one-third of the state's children – were served in Fiscal Year 2010 by programs that rely on CIF dollars.
Maintain Child Care Subsidy
Child care subsidies funding through the federal Child Care Development Block Grant are a critical support that allow low income working families to fully participate in the workforce, while insuring their children are cared for in a safe environment. Without this support many families could not afford to work due to the high cost of quality child care. The Metropolitan Council on Early Learning supports maintaining the eligibility level of the child care assistance program so that Kansas parents have access to affordable child care and can remain in the workforce.
Background: The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services (SRS) provides child care subsidies. The current eligibility level for low-income families is 185 percent of the federal poverty level. This translates into earnings of $33,873 annually for a family of three.
2012 Federal Public Policy Agenda
INVESTING EARLY IS THE KEY
Early intervention is the key to improving outcomes for children. Ninety percent of a child's brain architecture is established before the age of five and everything they learn – both as students and as adults – is built upon the strength of that architecture. That is why funding quality early childhood programs that ensure more children have the tools they need to succeed in school and in life is a good investment. Research shows that for every dollar invested in early childhood education, the saves at least $7 down the road. Those savings come from such outcomes as fewer criminals in our justice system, fewer adults on public assistance, fewer teen pregnancies and a stronger workforce.
The Metropolitan Council on Early Learning (MCEL) supports local, state and federal public policies and investments that will increase access to high quality early learning programs for Greater Kansas City area children and families. MCEL, in collaboration with local, state and national partners, endorses the following goals and policy recommendations for the 112th Congress.
Reauthorize and Strengthen the Child Care and Development Block Grant
Child care subsidies funded through the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) are a critical support to Kansas and Missouri that allow low income working families to fully participate in the workforce, while insuring their children are cared for in a safe environment. Without this support many area families could not afford to work due to the high cost of quality child care. The Metropolitan Council on Early Learning urges Congress to reauthorize and strengthen the CCDBG, including increased safety and quality provisions.
Background: The Child Care and Development Block Grant has not been reauthorized since 1996. CCDBG is the primary source of United States federal funding for child care subsidies for low-income working families and child care quality improvement. CCDBG sets the framework for what states can do with federal child care money. Unfortunately, many states are doing little to protect the health and safety of children in child care or promote school readiness in child care settings.
Over 11 million children under the age of 5 are in some type of child care setting every week. While most of this care is in licensed settings, state standards and oversight are generally weak and vary widely from state to state. In fact, half the states do not conduct background checks with fingerprints. Only 17 states check the sex offender registry. Few states require training in child development or basic health and safety practices. State oversight is lax, with over half the states inspecting child care for compliance with state standards only once a year (or less frequently). Some states inspect child care once every five years. One state only inspects child care programs once very ten years.
Maintain Funding for Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start serve vulnerable children and families, primarily children whose families have incomes below the poverty line ($18,530 a year for a family of three in 2011) or receive public assistance. Unlike many other early childhood programs, Head Start helps the whole child. Its four components—education, social services, health care, and parent involvement—are each essential to preparing low-income children to enter school ready to learn. Head Start also addresses families' unmet needs—for housing, job training, health care, emotional support, and family counseling—that may stand in the way of a child's full and healthy development. The Metropolitan Council on Early Learning urges Congress to maintain and strengthen funding for Head Start and Early Head Start.
Background: Since 1965, Head Start has helped over 27 million children build the confidence and skills they need to succeed in school and to become the leaders, taxpayers, and productive citizens of the future. Head Start is unique in its comprehensive approach to the needs of children and families, offering early education, health care, social services, and nutrition services, while emphasizing parent involvement and support and building upon the strengths of local communities. It can help children get ahead and improve their chances for success. In 2010, Head Start served 940,118 children nationally (873,413 preschool-age children in Head Start and 66,705 infants and toddlers in Early Head Start) with approximately $7.2 billion in funding provided through the regular FY 2010 appropriation. In Greater Kansas City over 4,300 children and their families are served by Head Start or Early Head Start by seven grantees each year. Currently Head Start serves approximately three out of five eligible preschool children and Early Head Start serves only three percent of the eligible infants and toddlers.
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