Speaking Out! 06/01/2010
Congress leaves town; leaves states hanging
Last week, the House Democratic leadership passed a scaled-back jobs bill in an effort to draw more support from lawmakers concerned by the cost of the bill and its impact on the deficit.
Lawmakers trimmed the price tag of the measure by not including some expected program extensions, like federal unemployment benefits (COBRA) and the enhanced federal match for Medicaid (referred to as FMAP), which helps states pay their Medicaid costs.
The Senate is anticipated to take up the measure once Congress returns next week from the Memorial Day recess.
Voices for America’s Children calls on the Senate to support the extension of FMAP and COBRA. Without additional federal support for Medicaid, several states will be forced to further cut their programs, putting the health of our most vulnerable children and families at risk.
Learn more:
Summary of Compromise Bill (HR 4213)
Act Now to Protect Benefits for Children and Families
Child nutrition amendment passes
An amendment to a recent defense bill shows that Congress may be getting serious about child nutrition. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), was a show of support for expanding children’s food programs, although it made no legal commitments. Reps. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Sanford Bishop (D-GA) co-sponsored the amendment. Rep. McGovern is on the Budget and Rules Committees and is a champion for child and hunger issues.
The amendment highlights hunger and obesity and its impact on military recruitment while urging Congress fund the child nutrition authorization at $1 billion a year over 10 years, the level requested by President Obama. It passed by a 341-85 margin, with support from 87 Republican members of the House.
Learn More:
“Too Fat to Fight” – a report by Mission: Readiness, a child nutrition advocacy group composed of retired military leaders
Feed Today, Lead Tomorrow – Voices campaign for a robust child nutrition reauthorization
Report: 1 in 6 public schools a high-poverty school
The National Center for Education Statistics released the Condition of Education 2010 report that reviews trends and developments in education. It indicates that 1 in 6 public school students are now in high-poverty schools, an increase from 12 to 17 percent from 2000 to 2008. Also, the findings indicate that a higher percentage of 4-year-olds are in center-based care (including Head Start) than in other arrangements as their primary type of early education.
Learn more:
The Condition of Education 2010 report
More 4-year-olds in center-based care
The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Listening and Learning About Early Learning Tour
Can early education find a place in the school reauthorization bill?
The movement to bolster early learning initiatives in the education bill is growing.
In a hearing on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Tom Harkin (D-IA) argued, “ESEA reauthorization offers an important opportunity to help states and school districts ensure that more young children are prepared to succeed in school. We must find more effective ways of supporting them as they transition into and move throughout elementary school. We must think about how early education programs can better align with existing K-12 systems. And we must better understand what educators, school administrators, and parents need in order to effectively support and prepare young children to succeed.” Throughout the subsequent testimony and question-and-answer session, the following themes emerged:
- The importance of mutual school readiness: Several witnesses emphasized the fact that school readiness is two-sided. Not only do children need to be ready to learn upon entering school, but schools also need to be ready to accommodate all children, regardless of their circumstances.
- The financial benefits of investment in early education: Many senators were extremely interested in the high return rate of investment that has been proven to exist in investments in early education. Witnesses argued that spending early in a child’s life deters later social spending on welfare and incarceration.
- The disorganization of current early learning programs: According to expert testimony, the current system of early education is loosely organized and the goals of these programs are unclear and contradictory. A more standardized and coordinated effort is imperative to successful early education.
- The importance of quality: The witnesses agreed that ensuring high quality is an essential component of successful early education. Without well-trained teachers and first-class facilities, children will not benefit. Consequently, quality ratings systems are imperative.
A common theme emerged in testimony before Congress: a failure to seriously consider investment in education will result in the continued failure of the education system as a whole. In order to produce quality graduates who are ready and able to compete in the global economy, the federal government must take a leadership role in the coordination of early education.
Emergency supplemental bill postponed
Last week, the House Appropriations Committee was scheduled to debate its emergency appropriations measure that will fund overseas military operations, disaster relief, and some much needed funding for states. The House bill is about $25 billion larger than the Senate bill, and includes about $71 billion in non-war spending. Key policy items for states include:
- $23 billion to prevent layoffs of teachers when the stimulus package (PL 111-5) education dollars are used up
- $1.2 billion to maintain police jobs
- $500 million for firefighting jobs
- $5.7 billion for Pell grants to help low-income students pay for college costs
It is unclear when the committee will be considering the measure, but the House leadership wants to begin full debate in June.
Learn more:
