(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D - Sacramento), Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance led a bipartisan effort today to reject Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal to reduce support for state child care and preschool programs and voted to restore $527 million in critical child care and preschool funding.
California families are typically eligible for subsidized child care if their household income is below 70 percent of the 2007-08 State Median Income (about $42,000 for a family of three), if the parents have a need for care related to work, training, or education, and if the children are under 13 years-old. The 2016-17 budget agreement included a multi-year investment in early childhood education programs, including increased provider reimbursement rates and additional slots for the California State Preschool Program. Governor Brown’s 2017-18 proposed budget would cut over half a billion dollars from that multi-year commitment.
“California’s successful child care and preschool programs help parents get to work, reduces poverty, closes the K-12 achievement gap and fights crime in our communities,” said Assemblymember Kevin McCarty. “I am proud of today’s bipartisan work by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee to reject the Governor’s cuts to critical child care and preschool programs and reaffirm our commitment to make early childhood education a priority in California.”
The California Constitution requires the Legislature to approve the Budget Act by June 15th.
Kevin McCarty represents California’s 7th Assembly District, which include the cities and communities of Antelope, Elverta, North Highlands, Rio Linda, Sacramento and West Sacramento. McCarty serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance.