Hello early learning partners
I hope December is treating you well.
As you know, the Governor announced his Requested Budget for the 2015-2017 biennium on December 1st. If you saw the announcement or have seen some of the ensuing press, it is clear that early learning is a priority in this budget and is highlighted as a key strategy to drive Oregon’s future prosperity.
You can view the full budget here and a budget summary here.
This proposed budget builds on the work many of you have been engaged in for decades and provides targeted funds for the locally-driven early learning system we’ve all been building together.
Here are a few of the targeted investments:
~ There is a significant proposed increase in direct funding for Early Learning Hubs. The purpose of creating the hub structure was to empower local investment decisions that deliver outcomes for kids while being accountable for results. This investment is the follow-through for all the structural work of the last three years. This funding is in addition to current service level, which means on top of the funds received this year, including former commission funds that are directed to the Hubs. The work that the Hub Metrics Committee is doing will guide the way that we propose allocating these funds. There will likely be some amount carved out for operations and coordination, some amount carved out to work toward success on family stability and kindergarten readiness metrics, and some amount carved out and held back as an innovation/acceleration fund to support Hubs working on special projects/innovations to solve some of the most challenging problems.
~ There is proposed funding for the development of a mixed-delivery preschool program that would add pre-K slots to OPK/Head Start, and to school, home, community and center based pre-K. (We were unsuccessful in securing a first round Preschool Development Grant aligned to this work) With this state investment Hubs will play a critical role in developing a preschool expansion plan for their communities in partnership with community based programs, schools and OPK/Head Start.
~ The budget proposes a continuance and expansion of the Kindergarten Partnership and Innovation fund which many of the Hubs receive and which is key to the P-3 alignment work.
~ The budget calls for an increase in funding for and alignment of home visiting programs. This funding would be used to create a unified home visiting approach, across early learning and health, based on the needs of children and families. The funds would also increase the number and percent of underserved children who receive home visiting services.
~ There is a proposed increase in funding for early intervention/early childhood special education. This additional investment would create opportunities for increased local coordination of services for children with developmental disabilities or delays and increase the number of children served through locally-coordinated early learning systems.
~ There is a large proposed increase for Employment Related Day Care (ERDC). This investment would increase the number of families receiving child care subsidy and support child care providers to meet research-based standards for child learning and development. The investment also calls for a process to provide higher rates of reimbursements to families who choose care that meets research-based standards for child learning and development.
~ In addition to these proposed new systems investments, the foundational early learning programs – Early Head Start, Oregon Pre-Kindergarten Program and Relief Nurseries, are held at current service level, preventing any cuts to these critical early learning programs. This budget did not add new money on a program by program basis for these three programs. Consistent with the vision for the Hubs, it will be up to local Hubs and their communities to determine the best use of the funds being directed to the Hubs.
~ In addition to these early learning specific budget requests, the Governor has also made a large request to support the implementation of full day Kindergarten and to support an Age 3 to Grade 3 literacy initiative. There are more details to come on what this will look like.
Please note the GRB is the second step in a three-step process for developing a biennial budget. Review and adjustments will continue as the budget makes its way through the legislative budget adoption process during the upcoming 2015 legislative session.
You can also find a one-pager that also describes most of these investments here.
Please let me know if you have questions about this. We are eager to take your calls and questions.
Regards,
Acting Early Learning System Director
