Early Care and Education Consortium: ECEC Ohio Action Center

Ohio Action Center

Updated June 1, 2010

Survey Highlights Impact of FY10-11 Budget Cuts on Early Learning Programs

The Alliance of Early Learning Advocates, which includes the Early Care and Education Consortium, conducted a statewide survey of child care providers to determine the status of child care availability since policy changes were implemented as a result of FY10-11 budget cuts. Some of the policy changes had immediate implications. One of the cuts, dramatically reduced subsidy payment rates, are forcing child care providers to make changes to wages, number of teaching staff, classroom size, and even their ability to enroll eligible children. Read a summary of the survey responses and stories of providers first hand.

FY2010-2011 Budget

On July 17, 2009, Governor Strickland signed the budget bill. While the legislature included $30 million intended for Ohio’s Early Learning Initiative to serve an estimated 1,500 children in the program, it was, in the end, completely eliminated.

Child care subsidy will also see a dramatic reduction in reimbursement rates. While they opted not to change current statute about the definition of “full time care” and reimbursement rates, funding cuts mean ODJFS will have to make substantial changes.

The budget documents call for a “study committee” to review in detail the impact of these cuts on real programs and real families.

Statement on the Budget
The Alliance of Early Learning Advocates (which includes the Early Care and Education Consortium) has prepared a "Budget Battle in Review," explaining developments, our victories, and our losses throughout this year's budget cycle.