U.S. state policymakers continue to debate cuts to early learning programs, and the news out of Ohio and New York isn’t good.

Ohio may well cut early childhood programs by $100 million, which would be on top of $280 million in recent reductions, Preschool Now reports. In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed cutting child care funding to matching levels required for federal funds, and “early intervention and home visiting” would be hit, though universal pre-kindergarten would remain at its current level, according to the blog. (Check out this excellent commentary at the National Institute for Early Education Research blog.)

Meanwhile, Indiana’s new superintendent of instruction, Tony Bennett, is in no rush to begin public funding of pre-k, according to EarlyStories, “As Indiana pushes ed reform, pre-k lags.”

Over in North Carolina, policymakers are exploring eliminating More at Four, “one of the strongest state early childhood systems in the country,” Pre-K Now reports.

There is some good news. Vermont Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin said he would remove the pre-k enrollment cap for three and four year olds, Pre-K Now adds.

Pre-K Now also found:

• “…In Maryland, legislation establishing stronger reporting requirements for pre-k programs has passed the state Senate.”
• “…A bill to authorize North Dakota's first-ever investment in Head Start has passed that state’s House of Representatives.”

It is shaping up to be a tough year for early learning in statehouses around the country.

Economics of Early Learning: If you have any time after getting caught up on all the budget news, head over to Early Ed Watch and listen to a podcast on “Job Growth via Early Childhood Investments.”