{"id":22968,"date":"2024-01-17T13:29:57","date_gmt":"2024-01-17T18:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prichard-backup.com\/July\/?p=22968"},"modified":"2024-01-17T13:31:42","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T18:31:42","slug":"the-house-budget-and-the-big-bold-ask","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prichard-backup.com\/July\/the-house-budget-and-the-big-bold-ask\/","title":{"rendered":"The House Budget and the Big Bold Ask"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1705509374607{padding-right: 10% !important;padding-left: 10% !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text single_style=””]The House of Representatives has released House Bill 6, its initial budget proposal for the next two fiscal years. Here, I\u2019ll summarize the major education elements, including action on the Big Bold Ask and some continuing questions about how the limited step up for child care will work for children and the workforce. Readers can also download our more detailed looks at three parts of HB 6, one each for early childhood<\/a>, P-12 learning<\/a>, and postsecondary education<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The two-year budget being constructed now will include 2026 spending and tell us how far Kentucky has moved on the seven elements of the Big Bold Ask. As always, the Kentucky House and Senate can be expected to amend the current bill, but here\u2019s how the current edition addresses those issues for the 2026 fiscal year.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”22969″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1705509491877{padding-right: 20% !important;padding-left: 20% !important;}”][vc_column_text single_style=””]In postsecondary education, HB 6 exceed the Big Bold Ask\u2019s call to invest in CAP need-based financial aid, and it comes quite close to the call for added investment in public higher education institutions.<\/p>\n

In K-12 education, HB 6 fully funds all-day kindergarten and come close to fully funding school transportation costs. The added investment in teaching excellence is valuable, though not close to the Big Bold Ask recommendation.<\/p>\n

Early childhood, however, receives very little new investment. HB 6 will increase the state contribution to the Child Care Assistance Program by $52 million, or about one-fifth of the Big Bold Ask, and state preschool will receive no increase at all compared to FY 2020 funding.<\/p>\n

The child care proposal also leaves important questions about how the program will work as federal pandemic funding comes to an end. HB 6 earmarks most of the new dollars as being to keep recently improved rates per child, but\u00a0that leaves other questions unanswered. The Prichard team will be working to learn more about the plan, starting with two major puzzles:<\/p>\n