Facts In Action

As we go to print, Congress has not yet finalized federal appropriations for the fiscal year that started on October 1. Under consideration is the level of funding for federal early care and education and school-age programs, including Head Start, the Child Care Development Fund (also known as the Child Care and Development Block Grant, or CCDBG), and the 21st Century Schools Program, which provides funds for out-of-school time. Conferees are currently meeting to work out the differences between House and Senate proposals for funding these programs. The Senate version of the funding bill includes a $400 million increase in Head Start Funding, compared to the $276 increase in the House bill. The House bill, however, proposes more funding for CCDBG - a $200 million increase compared to level funding in the Senate. Both the Senate and the House are proposing $154 million in additional funds for the 21^st Century Schools Program.

For more information:
on federal FY 2002 appropriation bills, contact the Children's Defense Fund at (202) 662-3671 or go on-line at www.childrensdefense.org.

TANF and Child Care Reauthorization

As the year 2002 approaches, early care and education advocates are preparing for a year of federal activity critical to the immediate future of funding for services to children and families. In 2002 Congress is slated to complete reauthorization of Transitional Aid to Needy Families (TANF) and the CCDBG, creating a blueprint for spending in the programs for the next several years. (For more information about the reauthorization, see Facts In Action, October 2001.) Working with the Children's Defense Fund in Washington, D.C., Associated Early Care and Education, Inc. and Parents United for Child Care are launching Massachusetts Federal Action for Care and Education (MassFACE) - a campaign to put a face on federal funding for early care and education. In the coming month, MassFACE will be building a statewide network of advocates to support sufficient levels of funding for early care and education and out-of-school time. For more information about MassFACE or TANF/CCDBG Reauthorization, contact Christine Johnson-Staub at (617) 695-0700 x 229 or cjstaub@AssociatedEarlyCareAndEducation.org, or Maryellen Coffey at (617) 426-8288 or coffey@pucc.com.

Facts in Action, December 2001