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Head Start California Updates
2022 Annual Conference RecapWe definitely colored outside the lines!
Head Start California would like to applaud the 2022 Annual Conference planning committee members for their diligent work in selecting the content for the more than 45 sessions for the 2022 Virtual Annual Conference!
This year’s planning committee included:
Billiejo LaBriola, Sandra Gonzales-Pabon, Elizabeth Holloway, Christine Feenstra and Threasa Hernandez. The conference committee provides program perspective on training needs, participates in the selection process of workshops, and identifies speakers. -
Advocacy and Policy News•Head Start California Updates
Governor’s Budget Falls Short of Dedicated Head Start Funding, Despite a Budget SurplusSacramento, Calif. (January 10, 2022) – On January 10, Governor Gavin Newsom released his proposed 2022-23 budget. Head Start California was disappointed that despite another enormous surplus — $20.6 billion in discretionary spending — Head Start programs again did not receive dedicated funding in the state budget.
“Head Start programs are life-changing,” said Christopher Maricle, Executive Director of Head Start California. “A state investment in Head Start would help tens of thousands of families who would benefit from Head Start’s comprehensive, -
Advocacy and Policy News•Head Start California Updates
Press Release: Child Advocacy Group Thanks Legislative ChampionAssembly Majority Leader Reyes Champions Budget Request
on Behalf of California Families
(Sacramento, CA) – In a briefing on Head Start programs for the capitol community today, California State Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes (AD 47) announced she will champion a $50 million budget request for Head Start agencies in California. Head Start California, the membership association representing local Head Start programs, deeply appreciates the continued support from the majority leader.
As the majority leader noted, -
Advocacy and Policy News
Op-Ed from Leading Child Childcare ExpertEvidence matters. Dr. Michael Olenick’s summary of the history of childcare expansion efforts, and the research of how different policy initiatives impacted early childhood systems, is clear and succinct. The implications for California’s most recent policy changes are serious. And a solution is completely achievable.
For more than a century, California has supported an early care system with small incremental changes while leaving much of the system to the marketplace. Plans laid by the governor to implement a Universal Transitional Kindergarten statewide by 2025 have been similarly imposed in other states, -
Advocacy and Policy News
California Budget UpdateIt’s been a hectic few weeks. We did not get our $50M budget request for Head Start. Not yet! However, our Roar Back with Start campaign had some promising outcomes:
1. Over 50 agencies signed on to our budget request letter.- 16 Statewide agencies, including Parent Voices, First 5 of California, Children Now, the California Teachers Association, and California Federation of Teachers.
- 38 providers including:
- 30 private non-profits
- 5 Community Action Programs
- 3 County Offices of Educations
2.
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Advocacy and Policy News•Head Start California Updates
Press Release: Head Start California Urges Legislature and Governor to Agree on Budget that Supports Head Start Programs
Current proposal could leave out 60% of Head Start programs, which serve over 70% of Head Start children and families
Sacramento, Calif. (June 23, 2021) – As the legislature and the Governor continue to negotiate the 2021- 2022 budget, Head Start California continues to advocate for funding so that its programs can remain viable and stable.
In his May Revision budget, Governor Newsom included a proposal to expand Transitional Kindergarten (TK) to all four-year-olds. -
Advocacy and Policy News•Head Start California Updates
Press Release: California Lawmakers Urge Funding for Head Start, Serving Most Vulnerable ChildrenChair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus joins Assembly Majority Leader in urging lawmakers to support Head Start’s budget request
Sacramento, Calif. (June 9, 2021) – Today, a bipartisan, bicameral group of California lawmakers urged Governor Newsom, legislative leaders, and their colleagues to support state funding for Head Start programs.
In a letter led by Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes, 16 legislators urged Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon, -
Advocacy and Policy News•Head Start California Updates
Press Release: Over 50 California Organizations Call for State Funding for Head StartAssembly Majority Leader issues letter of support
Sacramento, Calif. (June 2, 2021) – Over 50 California organizations showed their strong support for state funding for Head Start programs.In a letter to legislative leaders led by Head Start California, they urged the lawmakers to allocate $50 million for Head Start programs in the 2021-22 budget.
This follows Governor Newsom’s announcement of the state’s $75 billion budget surplus and a proposal to expand Transitional Kindergarten (TK) to all four-year-olds. -
Advocacy and Policy News•Head Start California Updates
Press Release: Head Start California’s Statement on the May ReviseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2021
Contact: Jamie Mauhay
916-505-7450, jamie@headstartca.org
Head Start California’s Statement on the May Revise
SACRAMENTO, Calif., (May 14, 2021) – Christopher Maricle, Executive Director, Head Start California, issued the following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s May Revision:
“We applaud Governor Newsom’s commitment to increasing access to early childhood learning and care for California’s families, and we agree that a deep and permanent investment is long overdue. -
Advocacy and Policy News
AB 22 Is Not the Only Solution for California’s Children and FamiliesHead Start California is in strong opposition to Assembly Bill 22 (McCarty), which would expand transitional kindergarten to all 4-year olds. While we appreciate the bill’s intent to ensure that children are ready to thrive when they enter a public school system, we believe there are unintended consequences that will arise as a result of implementation of AB 22 that would harm, not help, California’s low-income children and families. Head Start California is opposed for the following reasons:
AB 22 does not address what at-risk children need.
