State and Federal Legislative and Policy Updates

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

2. Overview --Updates • State Budget, Legislation, Policy Discussions • Federal Grants Legislation, Policy Update • County Budget Activity

3. Field Poll on ece—4/2014 • 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.

4. Field Poll on ece—4/2014 • 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

5. state budget/ May REvise • $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

6. state Policy/Legislative Analyst’s Proposal • 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

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

8. LAO Recommendations 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

9. Lao recommendations • 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

10. Lao recommendations 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

11. State legislation/Update

12. state Legislation/update • 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).

13. Federal context: 2013 NIEER • 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: • 27th in 4 year old access • 7th in 3 year old access • 17th nationally in state spending

14. Federal Level--CCDBG • 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

15. Federal Level-Early head start • 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

16. Federal Level-preschool grants • 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

17. Federal level-prEschool grants • 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

18. Federal level-preschool grants 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

19. County Human Impact Budget hearing Featured child care • 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

20. Human impact budget highlights: assorted • 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

21. Human impact budget highlights: assorted • 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.