Congress gets back to work this week and a coalition of early learning groups has launched a public campaign to preserve funding for child care subsidies and Head Start in annual spending bills.
The Senate version of the appropriations bill that finances Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant includes increases for both programs, according to the National Association of Child Care and Referral Agencies. In addition, the Senate is considering legislation that would fund the Obama administration’s Early Learning Challenge Fund.
But, Congress is also considering legislation that could cut as many as 300,000 children from child care aid and Head Start.
Congress is considering appropriations bills that could go backwards in spending for child care and Head Start, and would lose the Early Learning Challenge Fund. – National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC.)
There is a greater sense of urgency now because the political climate for early learning work is expected to change dramatically when the newly-elected and more conservative Congress takes over in January.
For more details on the coalition’s campaign and ways to contact members of Congress check out:
ADHD Diagnoses on the Rise: Today, nearly one in ten children is diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, the Associated Press reports.
In the latest survey, 9.5 percent said a doctor or health care provider had told them their child had ADHD. The earlier study found that fewer than 8 percent of kids had been diagnosed with it.
….
Scientists don't have clear answers about why there was such a significant increase. Study lead author Susanna Visser of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) suggests greater awareness and stepped-up screening efforts as part of the explanation. – Associated Press via MSNBC.com. 11/10/10.
Check it out.