Legislation & Policy
Current Policies
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA):
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), was passed in 1965. The act federally funds education programs that are administered by the states. The act is up for reauthorization in 2011. As Congress reauthorizes ESEA, it should include our nation’s youngest learners. In particular, Congress should ensure that there is greater alignment and inclusion for young learners in data, professional development, assessments, curriculum and Dual Language Learner support.
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG):
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), also known as the Child Care and Development Fund, is the primary source of federal funding for childcare subsidies in the United States. CCDBG provides California with the bulk of the funding that it uses to fund child development programs through the California Department of Education. The block grant requires that 4% of the funds be used to support quality improvement of child development programs. When Congress reauthorizes CCDBG, it is important that they place a greater emphasis on program quality and funding stream alignment to promote efficiency.
Head Start and Early Head Start:
Head Start, created in 1965, is one of the longest running early care and education programs in the country and the largest federally funded child development program. California serves more than 100,000 children in Head Start and its partner program, Early Head Start. We are committed to ensuring that funding levels for Head Start and Early Head Start are maintained and that we support the current policy efforts out of the Department of Health and Human Services to increase the quality of Head Start programs. In particular, it is important to ensure that California programs enact quality enhancement policies ahead of federal mandates.
New Opportunities
Early Learning Challenge Fund (ELCF):
The Early Learning Challenge Fund, a priority for the Obama administration since his 2008 campaign, was introduced in the House in 2009. The grant program would challenge states to develop effective, innovative systems that promote high quality standards for early care and education programs. The Obama administration initially proposed $10 billion over ten years to start this program; subsequent funding conversations about ELCF have included approximately $350 million per year for the program. Congress should work to authorize and fund ELCF. In California, we continue our work to ensure the state is eligible and competitive for the grants created through this program.
Global Languages Early Education Act (GLEE):
Introduced in 2010 by Rep. Chu (D-CA) and Rep. Lee (D-CA), the bill would establish a competitive grant program to fund bilingual early care and education programs and promote language development in schools across the country. The challenge grants will be used to fund support for dual-language learning curriculum, professional development and planning and implementation of language development programs in schools.
Regulations and Administration:
In addition to opportunities for funding and legislation in Congress, there are also opportunities through the Administration in the form of grant programs, as well as efforts to increase the quality of existing early care and education programs. Moreover, the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, among other agencies, have joined their early childhood efforts, ensuring alignment and increased inclusion of early care and education within their regulations and administrative guidelines. This alignment has opened up new early care and education opportunities within programs such as:
- Promise Neighborhoods
- Choice Neighborhoods
- Home Visiting
- Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) state plan preprint
- Head Start Re-competition and Performance Standards
We continue to work to ensure that these administrative efforts are also aligned with current efforts in California.
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