Advocacy Alert!

From the NC Early Childhood Association (ie - not my words):

Dear Early Childhood Advocates,

We need your help now more than ever!
Last week, our legislators in the House released their budget for 2011-2012. The news was not good because they seriously hinder our ability to deliver services, raise funds, or even remain in business. In addition, it would virtually eliminate two programs that have proven to be very successful...

The Smart Start Program- a 20% cut ($37 million dollar cut)

In addition to the cuts, these special provisions were added:

1. Administrative funds for local partnerships are capped at 8% and exclude the $52 million required to be set aside for child care subsidy. This means our partnership would face about a 50% reduction in administrative funds. (It is unlikely many partnerships, including ours, would be able to afford to stay in business.)

2. Local partnerships must raise 15% cash match and another 5% inkind match on all non-subsidy dollars. This doubles the match percentage expectation and means that about $15 million in cash match will need to be raised. (Currently, partnerships are required to raise 10% in cash and in kind with no requirement on whether it will be cash, in kind, or a combination of both; it is unlikely partnerships would be able to raise these funds in this economic climate).

3. The mission of Smart Start has been changed from a broad focus on the health, early education and well-being of all young children to improving the quality of early care and education in North Carolina for children from birth to five. This eliminates the funding of health, family support and perhaps most early intervention activities that are currently supported. (Although the legislature cannot change the mission of our own local organization, this would eliminate our ability to use our funds on these activities and to raise additional funds that would be able to count towards our new fundraising requirement).

4. The $52 million in subsidy funding would be taken directly off the top and the remaining $37 million in cuts would have to come from the remaining 61% of the budget. This would effectively eliminate our programming because the percentage cut would actually be much more substantial when applied to a smaller portion of the budget.



The More at Four Program- a 20% cut (32 million) and the elimination of the office of early learning

In addition, these special provisions were added:

1. More at Four is moved to Division of Child Development, and be designated as pre-kindergarten on the five-star licensing system.
2. Pre-kindergarten slots will be available to eligible children.
3. Parents will be required to pay a co-pay. (Currently the program is free to qualifying families)
4. The pre-kindergarten day will be expanded to a full day, full year program as in the subsidy system, no longer a 6 hour day, for 10 months. (This will significantly increase the costs, with many fewer children being served)
5. Payment for pre-kindergarten will be run through the SEEK system. (Payment will go directly through this new payment system and Smart Start will no longer receive administrative funding for this activity)
6. Pre-kindergarten classrooms will be expected to meet higher standards and be paid higher rates.

What do we need from you?


These cuts are absolutely devastating! They are clearly a back door way to get rid of Smart Start and More at Four. These programs won't be able to function and we will not survive. We cannot accept one single special provision. They are about reducing spending and not about doing what is best for children. We must fight now and not stop until this is over.

It has been brought to my attention that this is a "test" to see what our advocates will do. My understanding is that the senate proposal will be much worse and will probably remove subsidy funding in its entirety. Without subsidy funds, or the funds to administer them, we will have no ability to affect change. We will see the destruction of quality child care as we know it and all of our hard earned investments and work will simply go down the tubes. I am not willing to let that happen and I will fight for this program to the very end. This is not about fighting for my job. It is about fighting for the children who will be most impacted by our presence.

Advocacy DOES work. I have seen some of these special provisions in the past and I have seen them go away due to the efforts of a lot of people who care about the work we do.

Please pick up the phone and start calling our legislators today. Don't let them tell you about tough times and how we have to tighten our belt. The decisions they make now are going to impact all of our communities for the next 20-30 years. You must tell them that the cuts to More at Four and Smart Start are too deep and that we cannot accept any of these special provisions.


Senator Stan Bingham

2117 Legislative Bldg.

Raleigh, NC 27601

(919)733-5665

Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net



Representative Jerry Dockham

1213 Legislative Bldg.

Raleigh, NC 27601

(919)715-2526

Jerry.Dockham@ncleg.net



Representative Rayne Brown

638 Legislative Office Bldg.

Raleigh, NC 27601

(919)715-0873

Rayne.Brown@ncleg.net



Representative Larry Brown

303 Legislative Office Bldg.

Raleigh, NC 27603

(919)733-5607

Larry.Brown@ncleg.net

Start with your own legislators and feel free to call other representatives from other counties. Don't stop even if they ask you to. We have nothing to lose!

Other NC House Members

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/memberList.pl?sChamber=House


Other NC Senate Members

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/memberList.pl?sChamber=Senate

Thank you for your help saving these vital Early Childhood Programs!