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Eric J. Karolak, Ph.D, Executive Director of Exchange's Strategic Partner, Early Care and Education Consortium, shared this information of the status of early childhood funding in the federal budget:

Fiscal Year 2009 began on October 1, 2008. At the end of 2008, Congress adjourned without completing all of the federal appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2009 — the legislation that funds programs of all kinds, including child care and Head Start, but also transportation, water, schools, and hospitals. Instead, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution that extended federally-funded programs until the appropriations legislation could be completed.

Congress hit the ground running in January, taking up debate on the state of the economy and how to fix it. Meanwhile, the various unfinished pieces of appropriations legislation were rolled into what is called an "omnibus" package. The House and the Senate could then debate and vote on the package as a whole.

On February 25, the House of Representatives passed the $410 billion omnibus package. The Senate passed the package unchanged on March 10. President Obama signed the bill into law the next day. The FY09 budget includes a $65 million increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, a $235 million increase for Head Start, as well as increases to other important early childhood initiatives. For details, please visit http://www.ececonsortium.org/federal.php.

In the middle of the FY09 budget news, the President released the Administration's FY10 budget proposal, officially starting the budget and appropriations process for FY10. While the President's budget outline does not include specific funding amounts, it does indicate the Administration’s general commitment to investing in early care and education programs, including a new Early Learning Challenge Grant. The White House will provide more details including its recommended funding levels for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Head Start and Early Head Start, and Child Nutrition in April. Congress will be working on the budget process throughout the spring and summer.

For a quick guide on the federal budget process, please go to http://www.ececonsortium.org/federal.php.

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