In one of the toughest budget seasons in recent years, Washington State Gov. Christine Gregoire offered some good early learning news, restoring funding for 1,500 public preschool slots and child care subsidies for working poor families in her new budget.
The plan Gregoire unveiled this week is a welcome change from recent reports of cuts in others states. In one of her most dramatic moves, the governor would restore $10.5 million for the state supported preschool system known as the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program.
Back in December,
Gov. Gregoire proposed cutting that money, along with child care support for 17,000 working poor families and funding for all-day kindergarten in high-poverty areas, as part of a balanced budget she is required to submit. This round, she restored her support for targeted all-day kindergarten and some money for child care subsidies
She also made it clear her latest budget, not December’s plan, is a far better reflection of her priorities.
"This budget more adequately funds our public schools, pays for the basic safety net for our most needy, helps more of our students achieve the higher education they need, and sets the stage for a more prosperous future," Gov. Gregoire wrote in a letter sent to state lawmakers Tuesday.
Now the hard work begins, as lawmakers have to decide whether they agree with the governor’s decisions and how to pay for those efforts.
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