March 27, 2009

Contents
+ Quick Overview for Week
+ Early Learning Take-Aways for Week
+Bill and Committee Action for Week
+ Federal Update
+ Subscription Information

Quick Overview for Week

• Internal budget discussions continue, with the release of Senate and House budget proposals delayed until the week of March 30th.  With a budget gap nearing $9 billion, tension is running high on the Capitol campus.  There is recognition that cuts will be deep and there is speculation that one or both of the budgets to be released next week may include a suggested revenue package to soften the amount of cuts.  Given the challenge of enacting revenue increases through the legislative process, there may be a proposal to bring a revenue package to the voters sometime this year allowing voters to prioritize state investments.
• Given the unique and dire budget shortfall our state must deal with, interest groups are out in full force in Olympia to speak up for the issues that matter most to them. Thus, it is timely to contact your legislators to speak up for preservation funding of the early learning programs you care about most.
• Overview of policy action.  The next legislative cutoff is Monday, March 30th when bills must be voted out of the policy committees of the opposite chamber. For instance, a House bill that is assigned to the Senate Early Learning and K12 Committee must have a public hearing and be voted out of that committee by the March 30th cutoff in order to continue progressing in the legislative process. The next step for bills will be assignment to a fiscal committee if they require money to implement; otherwise the bill will await full floor action by the House or Senate.

Early Learning Take-Aways for Week

• As legislators continue to prepare for the release of the Senate and House budgets, early learning advocacy efforts are heating up.
• On March 26, United States Sen. Maria Cantwell sent Governor Christine Gregoire a letter expressing support for the additional child care dollars provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” being used “to continue full funding to support the Washington child care resource and referral network's core services.”  This letter signals recognition at the federal level that maintaining a solid early learning infrastructure is necessary to ensure these dollars “stimulate the economy and support children, families and caregivers statewide.”  Governor Gregoire’s proposed budget cuts state funding to the child care resource and referral system by 44 percent.
• Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Washington State held a press conference on Thursday morning. Fight Crime, a coalition of law enforcement leaders and prosecutors, released a study that shows a growing occurrence of child abuse in our state. See study at: http://www.fightcrime.org/reports/WACANBriefwithendnotes.pdf. Fight Crime is advocating for protection of a $3.5 million investment in our state budget for competitive grants that pay for home visits for 1,600 at-risk families. (See news release at: http://www.fightcrime.org/releases.php?id=431.) The home visiting fund leverages $2 for every $1 invested so that’s $7 million more in match dollars from local and federal sources.   
• The Senate education reform bill, ESB 6048, was amended to more clearly include early learning items. The changes occurred without any notable public discussion among legislators in the House Education Appropriations Committee and makes ESB 6048 more consistent with its companion bill, ESHB 2261.
• While the amendment to ESB 6048 is a positive move for proponents of including early learning in the definition of basic education, there is indication strong opposition to the education reform outlined in the two bills exists from a portion of the K12 community. Thus, education reform efforts face an uphill battle not only from the Washington Education Association, but also from the Governor. 
• This week in press interviews, Governor Gregoire signaled her unwillingness to sign any education reform legislation lacking a clear funding stream.  Given the state’s budget gap, identification of a funding stream appears unlikely.  This is why the current approaches look to a more phased-in approach with funding formula recommendations being required in a report-back to the legislature by January 1, 2010.
• Additionally, the Governor sent a letter to leadership in the House and Senate this week communicating areas of the basic education packages moving forward that she supports; areas where she recommends changes; her position on revenue and areas of disagreement.  Importantly, she writes, “early learning cannot be included in a new definition of basic education.  I have a passionate belief in the importance of early childhood education.  However, I cannot, in good conscience, add early learning to the definition of basic education now when we already have an unrealized need and duty to do more to support our K-12 students.”  This message echoes the position of the Washington Education Association.

Bill and Committee Action for Week
On Tuesday, March 24th the House Education Appropriations Committee voted out ESB 6048, an education reform bill. The Committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill with Rep. Sullivan’s striker amendment. Notably, Rep. Sullivan’s striker amendment essentially made ESB 6048 stronger for early learning and mimics the contents of ESHB 2261. Per the striker amendment (available at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Amendments/House/6048.E%20AMH%20APPE%20H2836.2.pdf), ESB 6048 now proposes two critical things related to early learning: (1) shows promise that a program early learning for at-risk children may be included in the definition of basic education (see section 113) in the future; and (2) specifies that voluntary full-day kindergarten for schools with the highest percentage of children in poverty will be considered part of basic education (see section 110). Notably, the bill also requires creation of funding formulas to support changes to the definition of basic education and requires a phased-in implementation plan for legislators to consider by January 1, 2010. The phase-in plan must show how the new programs included in the definition of basic education can be concurrently implemented with supporting funding formulas.
Following the House Education Appropriations Committee’s action on ESB 6048, the Senate Early Learning and K12 Committee held a public hearing on March 25th on both ESHB 2261 and ESB 6048.  Even though the Senate Early Learning and K12 Committee had already passed out ESB 6048, it held the hearing to compare the two proposals.  During the hearing, about 90 individuals representing diverse interests signed in to testify on the bills. More than two dozen parents and concerned citizens from various organizations along with three teachers testified in support of the education reform bills. Four people specifically mentioned their support of inclusion of early learning in basic education to ensure at-risk children enter kindergarten with ready to succeed in school and life. Alternatively, 14 teachers and 3 parents testified in opposition to the bills and some reiterated that the basic definition must be fully funded before the definition is expanded.
On Thursday, March 26th the House Early Learning and Children’s Services Committee held a public hearing on ESB 5617, which proposes changes to the Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC). Engrossed Substitute Bill 5617 proposes two main things: (1) reduces ELAC membership from 25 members to 15 although allows for up to 25 members, some of which are non-voting; and (2) clarifies that ELAC is established to advise DEL on statewide early learning issues that would build a comprehensive system of quality early learning programs and services for Washington's children and families by aligning resources, establishing key performance measures, and ensuring children are ready for school.
Sen. Kauffman, the bill’s prime sponsor has expressed she introduced this bill to make reaching a quorum more efficient for ELAC, which was established by the Legislature in 2007 to advise the Department of Early Learning on statewide early learning needs and to develop a statewide early learning plan. Previously, advocates from the early learning community have expressed cautious support of the bill with understanding that there is a balance between creating a small enough work group so quorum and effective advising can take place with the desire to involve diverse early learning experts. The bill is scheduled for executive session in the House Early Learning and Children’s Services Committee today, March 27th and is expected to continue advancing through the legislative process.
On Thursday, March 26th the Senate Labor and Commerce held a public hearing on HB 1329 which provides collective bargaining for child care center directors and workers.  
Testimony and comments from legislators focused on the philosophical and mechanical issues of the bill discussed in previous updates, including whether the presence of unions is needed to increase subsidies.  The bill’s sponsor Rep. Pettigrew again spoke of why he believes unions are needed to raise subsidy rates – because the Legislature has historically failed to do so.
The committee questioned how the Legislature could ensure this effort will be funded, given the difficult economic times and the delayed implementation included in the bill.  Rep. Pettigrew stated it is important to set the policy and make a commitment to funding the policy when funding becomes available.
The financial situation is inspiring the way fiscal analysts are thinking about the longevity of policies with on-going fiscal obligations of previously negotiated contracts. For instance, Victor Moore of the Office of Financial Management (OFM) indicated that when you negotiate in good faith, economic conditions may change that impact the value of services. He requested an amendment to provide OFM with the authority to revisit the agreement should economic conditions change dramatically.
Federal Update
As previously reported, the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) dollars go to states to support child care for low-income families.  States must spend a minimum of 4 percent of their grant on quality initiatives that provide consumer education to parents and the public, increase parental choice and improve the quality and availability of child care.
Every two years Washington state must submit a plan for how the CCDF dollars will be spent. The current plan spans October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2009. Thus, the plan for the next two years is due to the federal Administration for Children and Families. Right now, the Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) wants to hear from you on how the CCDF dollars should be sent. If you have an opinion on this issue, please take the DEL survey found at http://www.del.wa.gov/government/CCDF/plan.aspx.

Subscription Info
This weekly legislative update is brought to you by the United Ways of Washington in partnership with the Washington State Child Care Resource and Referral Network. Please forward this legislative update to your early learning network. To subscribe, contact Erica Hallock at erica.hallock@unitedway.org.