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PA PUBLIC POLICY
UPDATE
September 2003
AT THE STATE
LEVEL:
EARLY EDUCATION INITIATIVE:
The General Assembly is returning to
Harrisburg on September 9. On the agenda may
possibly be finalization of the unfinished 2003-04 state budget. Now is an
excellent time to contact your state Senator and Representative. Encourage them
to support education reform with investments in pre-kindergarten, full-day
kindergarten, and smaller class sizes. Call or write them today. To find your
legislator's contact information, visit
www.papartnerships.org and click on the PPC Action Center link (on the
right side of the page) to find your legislator's contact information and send a
message.
KEYSTONE STARS: The State
Budget included $3.6 million for the expansion of Keystone Stars - The Quality
Improvement Initiative. This will enable 400 new child care programs to
participate. Keystone Stars is a statewide, voluntary, individualized pilot
program for DPW licensed Centers and Group Homes. It identifies four levels of
quality performance standards that allow providers to achieve a quality rating
designated by one or more stars. Through Keystone Stars, child care providers
working toward achieving 2, 3, or 4 stars will be eligible for support and
financial merit awards. Programs can apply for a Star 1 or Star 4 with
Accreditation at any time.
QUEST:
The QUEST Taskforce met in July and set the following priorities for the coming
year:
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1) to monitor the rollout and
implementation of the Wage and Retention Program for a successful first year
and expansion in the second year |
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2) to move forward on exploring the issue
of low cost health insurance for early childhood teachers |
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3) to support quality initiatives --
Keystone Stars, T.E.A.C.H. expansion and Loan Forgiveness 4) to address
infant/toddler issues |
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4) to work toward increasing subsidy
rates. Stay tuned for an action plan and advocacy opportunities.
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FEDERAL LEVEL:
CCDBG:
The Child Care and Development
Block Grant has helped low income families receiving public assistance and
families transitioning from public assistance to afford child care. It also
provides some of the few public dollars devoted to raising the quality of child
care. The Senate Finance Committee, which has responsibility for determining
the mandatory (guaranteed) funding for child care did not move on the TANF/CCDBG
reauthorization before going home for the August recess.
Advocates are urging the Senate to provide at least $5.5 billion in additional
mandatory funding spread over the five years. As states cut child care, raise
parent co-pays, and lower eligibility, the federal investment must grow
significantly. Children remain on growing waiting lists, and low-income working
families have to choose between stable work and stable child care.
HEAD START REAUTHORIZATION:
On July 25, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed HR 2210, the Head
Start reauthorization bill by a vote of 217 to 216. In the US Senate, several
bills have been introduced concerning the Head Start reauthorization.
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