What does the sequester mean to Walla Walla Public School’s Head Start/ECEAP Preschool? - By Preschool Director Kerri Coffman
What does the sequester mean to Walla Walla Public School’s Head Start/ECEAP Preschool? - By Preschool Director Kerri Coffman
Currently, Walla Walla Public School’s Head Start/ECEAP preschool serves 217 of our community's most at-risk 3 and 4-year-old learners, 136 of these children are funded by Head Start dollars. With the proposed 5.3% across-the-board cuts in the federal budget, $398 million would be cut from Head Start. Head Start is a federal program for preschool children from low-income families.
According to the Washington State Association of Head Start/ECEAP, nearly $9 million, or at least 1,000 children, would be eliminated from Washington State Head Start programs.
Walla Walla Public Schools could experience a reduction in funding of over $50,000. The potential impact to the WWPS Head Start/ECEAP preschool could result in the closure of an entire classroom, which equates to the loss of early learning opportunities for up to 17 children as well as reductions in staff. This would increase numbers of the already long waiting list we maintain throughout the year. Many children qualify based upon income and family need, but lack of funding from the state and federal government already hinder the number of children we can provide preschool services for. Funding losses will further prohibit our program from meeting the needs of our valley’s young learners.
If cuts do go into effect, they would not likely affect our current program year as we are considered a 2012 funding year with a September 1st start date. This would give us time to plan for a smaller program next year if the government shut down does indeed happen. This will be a sad day in our community as these families and students desperately need our services.
I encourage our elected officials to work together to minimize the negative impact this sequestration would have in our community.
Currently, Walla Walla Public School’s Head Start/ECEAP preschool serves 217 of our community's most at-risk 3 and 4-year-old learners, 136 of these children are funded by Head Start dollars. With the proposed 5.3% across-the-board cuts in the federal budget, $398 million would be cut from Head Start. Head Start is a federal program for preschool children from low-income families.
According to the Washington State Association of Head Start/ECEAP, nearly $9 million, or at least 1,000 children, would be eliminated from Washington State Head Start programs.
Walla Walla Public Schools could experience a reduction in funding of over $50,000. The potential impact to the WWPS Head Start/ECEAP preschool could result in the closure of an entire classroom, which equates to the loss of early learning opportunities for up to 17 children as well as reductions in staff. This would increase numbers of the already long waiting list we maintain throughout the year. Many children qualify based upon income and family need, but lack of funding from the state and federal government already hinder the number of children we can provide preschool services for. Funding losses will further prohibit our program from meeting the needs of our valley’s young learners.
If cuts do go into effect, they would not likely affect our current program year as we are considered a 2012 funding year with a September 1st start date. This would give us time to plan for a smaller program next year if the government shut down does indeed happen. This will be a sad day in our community as these families and students desperately need our services.
I encourage our elected officials to work together to minimize the negative impact this sequestration would have in our community.
Suggestion Box
School Closures
