BILL ANALYSIS �
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AJR 16|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: AJR 16
Author: Bonilla (D), et al.
Amended: 5/6/13 in Assembly
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 5/6/13
SUBJECT : State preschool programs: early learning
SOURCE : Early Edge California
DIGEST : This resolution makes findings and declarations
regarding the importance of learning in a childs 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; and 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.
ANALYSIS : 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:
CONTINUED
AJR 16
Page
2
1. $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 $0.94 cent tobacco tax.
2. $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.
3. $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.
This resolution urges Congress to enact President Obama's budget
proposal to increase funding for preschool and early learning,
and the SPI to prepare a plan for making the state competitive
for future increases in federal funding.
Comments
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."
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/13/13)
Early Edge California (source)
California County Superintendents Educational Services
AJR 16
Page
3
Association
California Federation of Teachers
California School Employees Association
PQ:d 5/14/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****