Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/cuts-challenges-and-deals-what-did-you-do-with-your-summer/5020162/
As a new school year begins across the country, many are looking back on a long, hot summer and wondering where did all that time go? For early childhood public policy, three developments over the summer are likely to shape our field for quite some time.By July, many states had wound up their budgets for the coming year (or two �" some states have biennial budgets). From Florida to California, child care and early learning funding got caught up in the intense fiscal whirlwind sweeping states this year. For example:
• California reduced overall subsidy funding by 11 percent across the board, and if revenues do not come in as projected, the budget spells out triggers that will include an additional $23 million-across-the-board cut in 2012.
• As Arizona continues to cut child care, 21,000 fewer children will receive child care assistance �" a 40 percent drop over three years.
• In Ohio, eligibility was pulled back from 150 percent of federal poverty level to 125 percent and rates were reduced to the 20th percentile of the 2010 market rate survey.
• Florida cut its child care budget, including TANF funds, by $68 million, a move that will deny access ...