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Advocacy and Policy News
2020-21 State Budget SignedNearly 500 letters sent to Gov. Newsom to urge adoption of Legislature’s budget
The Governor and Legislature reached a final budget deal this week, protecting child care provider reimbursement rates and including additional protections to keep child care thriving as the essential service it is now and always will be. On June 30, Governor Newsom signed the 2020-21 state budget which protects many existing investments in children, families and care providers.
AB 77 and SB 98 are the budget trailer bills for education financing, -
Advocacy and Policy News
HSC Members Go Virtual for State & Federal Advocacy DaysChild Care & End Child Poverty in CA- Virtual Advocacy Days
On June 4, Head Start California partnered with the California Alternative Payment Program Association, End Child Poverty CA and the CA Food Bank Association to host a virtual advocacy day. We came together as a group of over 250 advocates where we learned, advocated and briefed over 50 legislative offices on our state policy and budget overview that will keep families fed, housed, and cared for. -
Advocacy and Policy News
State Budget Update: Senate democrats oppose $14 billion in budget cutsAlternate funding approach proposed, preserving childcare and education spending
California Senate Democrats are poised to reject $14 billion in budget cuts proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month, choosing instead to craft a spending plan that looks for other ways to erase the state’s deficit and assumes additional money for schools and social services will come from the federal government by early September.
The proposal relies on an alternate approach to Newsom’s plea for additional funds from President Trump and Congress, -
Advocacy and Policy News
President Signs Coronavirus Stimulus Package; will provide $750 million for Head StartToday, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (H.R. 748) which includes $750 million for Head Start. Head Start CA will provide a more comprehensive analysis next week when details are ready. Funding will include emergency staffing needs, address added operational costs, and provide summer learning opportunities. It also includes $3.5 billion in funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program (CCDBG) to support child care programs in maintaining critical operations.
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Head Start California Updates
COVID-19 Resources for Head StartThe health and safety of our members, their staff and their families are our primary concern. We encourage you and your staff to comply with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention CDC recommendations and take all precautionary measures, here. Below are some additional resources which will be updated as they become available.
Office of Head Start Resources:- Coronavirus Prevention and Response
- Wage & benefit flexibility: In response to COVID-19,
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Advocacy and Policy News
State Legislation Impacting Head Start on Our RadarThe 2020 legislative session is in full swing, and Feb. 21 was the final day for new bills to be introduced in the California State Legislature. Below are summaries of a few early childhood bills on our radar that impact Head Start:
AB 2594 (Aguiar-Curry) This bill would authorize the Superintendent, to the extent consistent with federal law, to waive staffing ratios established under existing state law for center-based programs that meet federal Head Start program performance standards. -
Head Start California Updates
Messaging Matters: Get Your Head Start Parents Involved in Census OutreachThe Census is fast approaching! Your engagement is critical. Our partnership with the First 5 Association of California and the California WIC Association is focused on counting every child aged 0-5 because:
More than a million children were not counted in 2010.
The 2020 census will impact funding and representation for the next decade.
We’ve developed a simple one-hour training for parents and are already scheduled across the state to inform, inspire, and activate as many parents as we can to help spread the word: Completing the Census is safe, -
Advocacy and Policy News
Presidents’ Day and George Washington’s WishAfter NHSA’s Winter Leadership Institute, and before my flight back to California on Jan. 31, I took two hours to walk from the hotel to the Washington Monument and back. I’ve visited a few times before, but this time I was intent upon getting a ticket and taking the elevator to the top. It was well worth it. The story of its construction was fascinating and the view from the top was impressive.
When I awoke 17 days later to Presidents’ Day, -
Head Start California Updates
Head Start at the Table
We are expanding our presence “at the table,” ensuring that Head Start is engaged in conversations that shape policy, legislation and regulation impacting Head Start programs.
Table 1: Early Childhood Policy Council. Members of this council will work to elevate the needs of young children and their families as well as advise lawmakers on education, care and development of young children. Head Start is well-represented by several leaders actively working in the Head Start community:
Stephanie Myers, -
Advocacy and Policy News
Governor’s proposed 2020 budget includes new Early Childhood Development departmentCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his $222.2 billion state budget on January 10. Among his plans to spend part of a projected $5.6 billion surplus on green technology and homeless aid, Governor Newsom’s plan would also steer more money to Medi-Cal, and boost assistance for homeless people and mental healthcare.
Head Start California is eagerly awaiting the trailer bill language and looking forward to the budget hearings in the coming weeks to learn more about the Governor’s budget proposals.
