On Tuesday night, the first step in the state budget process began as Gov. Andy Beshear released his budget proposal, which placed education funding as a top priority. The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence\u00a0has analyzed<\/a>\u00a0the governor\u2019s proposal through the lens of its\u00a0Big Bold Ask<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a strategic investment framework that calls for an additional $1 billion state reinvestment in education from early childhood, to K-12, to postsecondary over the next six years.<\/p>\n The\u00a0analysis<\/a>\u00a0by the Prichard Committee shows much needed relief\u00a0for higher education in the proposal. However, investments in early childhood programs did not receive any boosts, and in some cases, cuts were proposed. K-12 schools did see an increase in the SEEK base guarantee per pupil, however additional investments are needed to ensure local districts have resources to properly invest in equitable student learning.<\/p>\n \u201cTo deliver the promise of education excellence for every Kentuckian, the Commonwealth must reverse years of budget cuts and lost buying power,\u201d said Prichard Committee President and CEO Brigitte Blom Ramsey. \u201cThe governor\u2019s proposal is a promising first step to funding all components of the Big Bold Ask. However, we will now look to the Kentucky General Assembly for commitments to elements where his proposal fell short \u2013 particularly in early childhood, in state funding for public school transportation costs, and for all-day kindergarten, and to deepen investments in higher education.”<\/p>\n Since the Great Recession of 2008, state investments have: declined 33% in our colleges and universities; declined 12% in our K-12 per-pupil base guarantee; and have been inadequate to ensure high-quality early learning opportunities for our youngest children. This declining investment in education \u2013 and our future \u2013 threatens to reverse the progress Kentucky has made in student success and national rankings.<\/p>\n Due to an estimated $1.256 billion in additional resources over the biennium, major elements of the Governor\u2019s proposed budget include investments to fully fund pensions, a $2,000 raise for school teachers, a restoration of textbook funding, a 1% increase in the base SEEK per-pupil guarantee, increasing the base funding to colleges and universities, and increasing student financial aid continuing a commitment to allocate 100% of lottery proceeds to scholarships.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are all positive steps,\u201d said Ramsey. \u201cHowever, we remain concerned by the lack of investment in other critical programs that support teaching and learning \u2013 from early childhood through postsecondary.\u201d<\/p>\n Early Childhood<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Governor\u2019s budget proposal did not include line items for the child care assistance program (CCAP), or the preschool program, both of which are key components of the Big Bold Ask. The Prichard Committee\u2019s proposal for early childhood funding of $24 million over the biennium, phases in investment for eligibility up to 200% of the federal poverty level, adds higher per-child rates to support quality programs, and continues support for preschool\/childcare partnership grants to support families with full-day learning opportunities for kids. For CCAP, the Big Bold Ask requests $92 million over the biennium to begin phasing in investment for eligibility up to 200% of the federal poverty level, as well as higher reimbursement rates to support quality programs \u2013 for infants, toddlers, and preschool age children.<\/p>\n \u201cAchieving high-quality early learning opportunities for all children requires additional investment \u2013 investment we cannot fully see in the Governor\u2019s proposal,\u201d said Ramsey. \u201cThis is critical when almost 50 percent of our children enter kindergarten not ready to learn, and 50% of Kentucky families live in a child care desert and quality child care is either non-existent or unaffordable for working parents.”<\/p>\n \u201cIt is critical that the Kentucky General Assembly ensures state funding\u00a0for early childhood education,\u201d said Ramsey.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/prichard-backup.com\/July\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/EarlyChildhood-BBA.png\")
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