Massive presidential budget proposals are worth a second, third and fourth look and a closer examination of President Obama’s plan reveals more good news for early learning, including a fresh focus on early literacy and a boost for child nutrition.
For example, President Obama tucked a proposed increase of $1 billion for child nutrition in his budget, the National Association for the Education of Young Children reports. Obama also wants to wrap together a group of literacy programs into “a comprehensive birth through high school literacy grant program. $250 million total, of which 15% for birth to kindergarten…”
Even though shiny new programs sound great, CLASP points out Obama is focused on building upon what is already there, such as child care block grants and Head Start. (The president, however, clearly wants to add the creation of the Early Learning Challenge Fund to his resume. He asked for $9 billion over ten years, CLASP reports.)
The administration's FY 2011 budget proposal represents a blueprint for the vision that President Obama would like to put in place. It is clear that high-quality, comprehensive early childhood programs that serve the needs of vulnerable children and their families are at the forefront of that vision. – “Administration Reverses a Decade of Indifference.” CLASP, 2/1/10.
To help you digest Obama’s many plans for early education here are a few resources to get you started:
Tomorrow, we will take a look closer to home, examining Gov. Christine Gregoire’s proposed cuts that could trim child care subsidies.