STATE BUDGET ALERT

Act Now to Protect Head Start Funding in Oregon

In 2007, Oregon invested wisely in early education. Now the Legislature has the opportunity to make good on its commitment to at-risk children by continuing — not cutting — funding for Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten (OPK).

The latest proposed cut of $11.3 million to OPK would eliminate funding for 670 at-risk children. This step backward from fully funding OPK would have immediate adverse effects on children from low-income families and would ultimately cost the state far more in remedial education and social services for children who start school behind.

With the number of children living in poverty increasing, Oregon cannot afford to turn its back on those with the most to gain from a high-quality early education.

A Fantastic Return on Investment

You’ve heard this before, but it’s worth repeating. The return on every dollar invested in high-quality early education is somewhere between $4 and $17. That’s a money maker for Oregon! Even using the most conservative estimate, this is a fantastic return on investment for taxpayers, particularly in today’s economic climate.

Investing in high-quality early education is the most effective means of addressing Oregon’s achievement gap, and make no mistake, closing the achievement gap is just the sort of thing the Legislature should be doing to rebuild Oregon’s weakened economy. The achievement gap affects everything from household economic stability to individual business success to Oregon’s economic competiveness on the international stage.

Stimulus Funding Will Not Make Up the Difference

The one-time stimulus dollars will pay for only 110-160 Oregon children to enroll in Head Start — not nearly enough to offset the 670 that the Legislature proposes to cut. Most of the stimulus funds directed to Head Start programs will pay for federally mandated cost-of-living increases for Head Start teachers and to make other quality improvements.

Now More than Ever

In these times of extraordinary hardship, it’s particularly difficult to justify moving thousands of 3- and 4-year-olds from extremely low-income families out of Head Start programs where their brains are stimulated, their bodies are nourished, and their social and emotional needs are met.

Children growing up now cannot wait for the economy to rebound. Ask the Legislature to continue investing in Head Start and to create a state-federal, birth-to-five early education funding system with an investment of $1 million in Early Head Start. Both programs are wise investments here, now and in the future.

Click here to find out how you can take action.