A bi-weekly e-brief of the DEC Children's Action Network
 
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washington
WHAT'S
HAPPENING
IN
WASHINGTON
The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Michael Yudin, will be leaving the U.S. Department of Education effective April 30 th .  Deputy Assistant Secretary Sue Swenson will serve as Acting Assistant Secretary in the interim as the Department seeks to fill this role. For more information, check out Ed Week's April 6th piece on his departure. 



WHAT YOU CAN DO:

 
  • You can a lso 
    check out  the DEC  2016 Elections 
    page for the presidential candidates' views on education, early childhood, and disability rights; voter information; and classroom resources. 

states
WHAT'S
HAPPENING
IN 
THE
STATES
 
In the current legislative session, the Kansas early care and education system, has been under repeated and varied threat

The Kansas Division for Early Childhood (KDEC), as a member of the Partnership for Early Success, has joined colleagues in forming a stronger voice for all young children. This partnership has allowed KDEC to collaborate with other early childhood partners in providing a united voice for young children in Kansas.

Through a single voice responding to threats of decreasing or eliminating funding, the early childhood community has currently avoided destruction of the state's network of services. Response at this critical time has been essential in securing the early childhood system for the present and for future generations.
 
The main funding threat is related to the Children's Initiative Fund (CIF). The CIF was created by the Legislature in 1999. Funding for the CIF comes from payments made through the master tobacco settlement.
 
Gov. Sam Brownback called for the realignment of the Kansas early care and education funding system in his FY 2017 budget recommendations. The anticipated result, by the early childhood community, is the undoing of services to Kansas' youngest citizens.
 
Thanks to grassroots efforts from advocates across Kansas, including KDEC members, the Kansas Legislature collectively rejected the recommendation to eliminate the CIF.
 
Another discussion held by the administration would forfeit the CIF revenue stream by selling bonds with those bonds being secured by the tobacco money. This would allow immediate cash for now but would forfeit much of the future funds intended to support early childhood programs to pay back the bond holders.  Losing the CIF funds potentially means losing critical services provided by these programs.


KDEC shares the Kansas story in order to encourage other subdivisions to be active in advocacy. It is important to be a part of the grassroots voice, to partner with other early childhood advocates on behalf of young children, their families and the professionals that serve them. "One person can make a difference, and everyone should try." -JFK
How Many Children in Kansas Receive IDEA Services  
As of 2014:

  Ages 0-2
  

  Ages 3-21
 
 
WHO IS SERVED BY THE CIF?
Approximately 200,000 - roughly one-third of the state's children, age 5 and under, were served in Fiscal Year 2014 by programs that rely on CIF dollars.


HIGHLIGHT ON PARTNERSHIP:
Kansas Division for Early Childhood is a member of the Partnership for Early Success. The Partnership for Early Success is committed to providing Kansas children from birth to age 8 the best possible start in life through access to diverse, high quality early care and education, health and family support services. The Partnership was launched to provide a grassroots voice for young children in Kansas. The mission of the Partnership for Early Success aligns with the Kansas Division for Early Childhood's mission to be a voice for the professionals that serve young children in Kansas. The Partnership for Early Success has been a powerful voice in the effort to save the CIF.
 
Reference/Resource for this brief: Kansas Action for Children - kac.org & Partnership for Early Success - www.kansaspartnership.com
 
PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN CURRENTLY FUNDED BY THE CIF:
Child Care Assistance; Child Care Quality Initiative; Children's Mental Health Waiver; Early Childhood Block Grant (provides funding to many local IDEA programs); Early Childhood Block Grant - Autism Diagnosis; Family Preservation; Healthy Start Home Visitor; KDHE Infant Toddler Services tiny-k - Part C Services; Kansas Early Head Start; Kansas Preschool Program; Kansas Reading Initiative; KIDS Network Grant; Newborn Hearing Aid Loaner Program; Parents As Teachers 

WANT TO SHARE A STORY FROM YOUR STATE?
Contact DEC CAN Coordinator,  [email protected] to share what's happening in your state or Subdivision. 

Next on deck: 
Kansas advocacy to save the Children's Initiatives Fund (CIF)
news
DEC
POLICY 
&
ADVOCACY
NEWS
The DEC website is pleased to announce that we now have a Policy and Advocacy webpage! If you want to stay up-to-date on what's happening in Washington, explore how policy works in Washington, or learn how you can get involved, be sure to check out the great resources that are now available. The new pages include:

events
UPCOMING DEC POLICY & ADVOCACY EVENTS

1 - DEC Advocacy Webinar
  • WHAT: Webinar focused on the role of the DEC national and state Children's Action Network (CAN), highlighting state Subdivision activities
  • WHEN: Friday April 29th at 4pm ET
  • WHERE: GoToTraining
  • HOW TO ATTEND: Email [email protected] and/or [email protected] to RSVP. Registration instructions will be provided after sign-up.
    • If your Subdivision has been involved in state-level advocacy efforts, let us know! 

2 - DEC planning calls on the Proposed Rule for Preschool Grants for Children with Disabilities
  • WHAT: DEC has held one call and will be holding one more, open to all DEC members, to discuss the U.S. Department of Education's proposed rule regarding preschool grants for children with disabilities. Calls are intended to garner feedback for a DEC public comment on the issue. 
  • WHEN: Monday - April 18,  1 - 2pm EST
  • WHERE: Conference call
  • HOW: RSVP to [email protected].
telluswhatyouthink
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WHAT
YOU
THINK
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