Early childcare programs are a central theme in this year’s House budget for the coming biennium – as legislators are charged with the tough tasks of making decisions on funding intended for at-risk children throughout the state. House leadership went to lengths to ensure that changes made were to the greatest extent possible targeted at infrastructure and administration, rather than impeding vital programs for vulnerable children.
Two programs – Smart Start and More at Four – aimed at childcare subsidies and furthering early education, were specifically put under microscopic scrutiny to prioritize administrative cuts in lieu of halting critical services.
Each underwent an individual series of changes, yet several key ideas were prominent in the recently manifested budget. The main processes of savings involved reduction in administrative overhead as an easy way to save money, putting caps on certain types of state government expenditures, as well as old-fashioned budget cuts to meet fiscal requirements.
The following are articles discussing at greater length the variety of changes and reforms to take place for Smart Start and More at Four in the coming biennium…
More at Four Consolidation: Administrative Restructuring Helps Kids
Smart Start House Budget Analysis
North Carolina’s current More at Four curriculum and program has proven nationally that it is great. The proposed changes with regard to subsidies will lower the program’s objectives in preparing lower income and at-risk children for better achievement. What is 1 cent on the tax rate when better preparing children for future years? I know from personal experience the standards of current More at four classrooms are greater and offer an outstanding learning environment for preparing children than other facilites.
You need to quit making statements on things you have not experienced first hand.