The country may be slowly emerging from the recession, but cuts to state prekindergarten spending are only getting deeper, a new report says.

So far, prekindergarten programs have lost $348 million in funding in fiscal 2010 and 2011, according to a report from the National Institute for Early Education Research.

And those state cuts are only part of the story.

As many programs depend on local funding as well as state funding, total cuts of government funds likely exceed state cuts. – “Brief Report: Funding cuts to state-funded prekindergarten programs in FY10 & 11.

If you recall, spending on state pre-k programs slowed last year, and some states cut spending, NIEER reported in “The State of Preschool 2009.” But, the report warned more cuts could be coming. 

“The immediate future of pre-K seems much more perilous than past trends might suggest…State budgets will more fully bear the brunt of the recession in 2010 and 2011.” NIEER co-director Steven Barnett, author of the 2009 report and co-author of the recent update, said in a statement earlier this year.

Washington is among the states that cut, trimming $1.7 million in fiscal ’10 and $10.4 million in fiscal ’11, according to the latest brief. 

 Senate Adds Money for Toddlers and Infants with Disabilities:  There was some good budget news today. The Senate Appropriations Committee added $20 million for the main federal program for disabled infants and toddlers, known as Part C, The Council for Exceptional Children reports.

At almost the 11th hour in a vote backing right up to recess, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an increase in IDEA Part B funding of $420 million dollars and - somewhat more surprisingly – it approved an increase in IDEA Part C funding of $20 million dollars. – “Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Increases in Funding for IDEA B and C.”