On Friday, May 25, the Massachusetts Senate passed a $32.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2013 that includes $486.65 million for the Department of Early Education and Care. Click here for final Senate funding levels for items related to early education and care.
The budget now moves to a six-member conference committee (composed of three members from the House of Representatives and three from the Senate), charged with reconciling differences between the House and Senate FY13 budget recommendations.
With $7.44 million at stake across seven line items, including $4 million for full-day kindergarten grants, we need to advocate.
Our recommendation for the conference committee is as follows:
- Full-Day Kindergarten (7030-1002) – Fund at House level, $24.95 million
- EEC Administration (3000-1000) – Fund at Senate level, $12.5 million
- Access Management (3000-2000) – Fund at House level, $5.93 million
- Supportive Child Care (3000-3050) – Fund at House level, $77.33 million
- Income Eligible (3000-4060) – Fund at House level, $231.87 million
- Services for Infants and Parents (3000-7050) – Fund at Senate level, $18.19 million
- Reach Out and Read (3000-7070) – Fund at Senate level, $800,000
We expect the conference committee members to be announced this week. Massachusetts readers, stay tuned for ways to take action in support of these critical line items for young children and families.
Eye on Early Education focuses on the twin goals of ensuring that Massachusetts children have access to high-quality early education and become proficient readers by the end of third grade.
