BILL ANALYSIS �
AJR 16
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 1, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Joan Buchanan, Chair
AJR 16 (Bonilla) - As Introduced: April 1, 2013
SUBJECT : State preschool programs: early learning
SUMMARY : Makes findings and declarations regarding the
importance of learning in a child's early years of life, the
impact such learning has on the child's future academic
achievement, and the benefits of providing access to preschool
to three- and four-year-old children, regardless of their
parents' ability to pay. Urges Congress to enact President
Barack Obama's budget proposal to increase funding for preschool
and early learning and the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(SPI) to prepare a plan for making California competitive for
future increases in federal funding.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes eligibility for child care services and child
development programs administered by the California Department
of Education (CDE) and requires the SPI to adopt rules and
regulations on eligibility, enrollment and priority of
services needed for implementation (Education Code (EC)
Section 8263).
2)Establishes the California State Preschool Program (CSPP),
comprised of funding from State Preschool, Prekindergarten and
Family Literacy Programs (PKFL), and General Child Care
center-based programs, for part-day and full-day services for
three- and four-year old children. (EC Section 8235)
3)Establishes the PKFL, which provides child development and
family literacy services to those who reside in the attendance
areas of elementary schools in deciles 1-3. Specifies that a
family literacy grant at a rate of $2,500 shall be given first
to state preschool programs that received the funding before
July 1, 2012 and second priority to preschool programs
operating classrooms located in the attendance areas of
elementary schools in deciles 1 to 3. (EC Sections
8238-8238.4)
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative
AJR 16
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Counsel.
COMMENTS : Background . The CDE administers a child care and
development system, maintaining 1,401 service contracts with
approximately 758 public and private agencies supporting and
providing services to children from birth to 13 years of age.
Contractors include school districts, county offices of
education, cities, colleges, other public entities,
community-based organizations, and private agencies. In fiscal
year (FY) 2011-12, $2.3 billion was provided for child care and
development programs from state and federal funds, enrolling an
estimated 345,000 children. This is down from $2.669 billion
initially provided in the FY 2010-11 budget (prior to midyear
trigger cuts) with almost 416,000 slots. According to the
Legislative Analyst's Office, overall funding for the child care
and development program has decreased by almost $1 billion since
2008-09, with the elimination of 110,000 slots. The Governor's
proposed FY 2013-14 budget provides an increase of $12 million
over FY 2012-13 funds for a total of $2.2 billion for child care
and development programs to provide an estimated 341,000 child
care and preschool slots.
In February, President Obama announced his plans for early
childhood education, including providing high-quality preschool
for all low- and moderate-income four-year-old children at or
below 200% of poverty, extending and expanding voluntary home
visits, and investment in a new Early Head Start-Child Care
partnership. In April, President Obama released his proposed
2014 budget, which includes over $90 billion for early childhood
programs, including the following:
$75 billion over the next decade to expand access to
high quality preschool for all low- and moderate-income
four-year-olds, funded by a $.94 cent tobacco tax.
$15 billion for the voluntary home visiting program over
the next 10 years. These voluntary programs provide
nurses, social workers, and other professionals that meet
with at-risk families in their homes and connect them to
resources that impact a child's health, development, and
ability to learn.
$1.4 billion for new early Head Start-Child Care
partnerships to enhance and support early learning
settings, provide new, full-day, comprehensive services
that meet the needs of working families and prepare
children for the transition into preschool.
AJR 16
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AJR 16 urges Congress to enact President Obama's budget proposal
and the SPI to prepare a plan for making the state competitive
for future increases in federal funding.
The author states, "Research shows the early years of a child's
life represents a critically important window of opportunity to
develop a child's full potential and shape key academic, social,
and cognitive skills that determine a child's success in school
and in life. Too often when students start out behind, they stay
behind. In 2012, 52 percent of California's third graders tested
below proficiency in English-Language Arts and more than 30
percent below proficiency in Mathematics. California's
population is largely diverse and as a result, early childhood
education provides enhanced readiness amongst students of all
ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds?.Providing access to
these services for low-income children is critical for their
success."
Related legislation . AB 273 (Rendon), pending in this
Committee, establishes the California Partnership for Infants
and Toddlers Act of 2013 and requires the Superintendent of
Public Instruction to apply to the California Children and
Families Commission to fund the California Children and Families
Program.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Sophia Kwong Kim / ED. / (916) 319-2087