Weekly News - October 16, 2017
September Care4Kids Numbers Reveal a Big Drop in Children Served
The September Care4Kids numbers came out late last week and the numbers have plunged in children served. We anticipated a drop, as children went off to kindergarten and providers couldn't replace them with another child on Care4Kids, but Care4Kids served only 11,043 children in September (compared to 19,517 last September and 14,955 in August 2017 - the last month reported). That's 3,912 less children from last month and it's across the board, not just the preschoolers moving to kindergarten. We are continuing to do analysis on the information, but these numbers are alarming. The Excel spreadsheet can be found HERE.
Read moreWeeky News - October 9, 2017
102 Days and Counting...No State Budget
It's day 102 and there is no state budget to be had. Leaders met throughout the holiday weekend, and there is hope that leaders can come to a bipartisan agreement to present to the governor and to rank-and-file membership. The governor has put a deadline of this Friday, October 13, in place, due to legislator scheduling conflicts. This is the best chance to get a budget passed before November 1, according to published reports. CT NewsJunkie and CT Mirrorhave more. CT NewsJunkie also reports that the governor is working on another separate budget proposal. Click HERE for more.
If you haven't called your legislators yet to support early childhood funding, click HERE to find out how.
In addition, our friends at CT Voices for Children just released an action alert regarding the state's spending cap. The spending cap has become a central issue in the current bipartisan budget negotiations. While a spending cap can be vital to preventing runaway spending, an overly restrictive cap would mean that CT can no longer make opportunities for children and families a priority. Proposed changes to the spending cap would have that effect, limiting the state's ability to meet vital needs today or key priorities tomorrow. Please call your legislators and urge them to support a spending cap that is driven by a commitment to meet vital needs, strengthening our cities and towns, and spurring equitable economic growth.
Weekly News - October 2, 2017
No Budget Before October 1...Now What?
As promised, Governor Malloy vetoed the GOP budget proposal approved by the House and Senate. We've reached October 1 and there is still no budget. This is when the ECS funds are cut to 85 towns and reduced for 54 others via the governor's revised executive order. To read more about the executive order, click HERE. The House has been summoned to a veto override session on Tuesday afternoon. For more about the veto override session, click HERE.
We know this can become tiresome, but this is the time we need your advocacy the most.
The budget the governor vetoed would eliminate the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) and move the functions (including licensing, Birth-to-Three, Care4Kids, home visiting, and others) to the State Department of Education. The Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance strongly opposes this measure. A state agency focused on all the needs of our youngest children must be maintained.
1) Call your state Senator and State Representative and say “I am calling about the Office of Early Childhood. Please make sure it stays as its own agency so that early childhood gets the focus it deserves.” You can look up your legislator and their phone number HERE. Phone numbers for each of the Legislative caucuses are as follows:
House Democrats: (860) 240-8500 or toll-free (800) 842-1902
House Republicans: (860) 240-8700 or toll-free (800) 842-1423
Senate Democrats: (860) 240-8600 or toll-free (800)842-1420
Senate Republicans: (860) 240-8800 or toll-free (800) 842-1421