Effects of Governor Rell’s Fiscal Year 2010 Deficit Mitigation Plan on Early Care and Education

Governor Rell’s deficit mitigation plan for Fiscal Year 2010 proposes a number of significant reductions to early care and education. Some of the most detrimental losses include a $530,870 immediate rescission to State-funded Centers, plus a $3,970,275 reduction pending legislative approval; elimination of funding for Community Plans for Early Childhood, pending legislative approval; elimination of funding for Improving Early Literacy, pending legislative approval; elimination of funding for the Office of Early Childhood Planning, Outreach, and Coordination, pending legislative approval; a “forced lapse” (refusal to spend budgeted money) of $10.7 million from Care4Kids (10.3% reduction); and a $571,173 immediate rescission to the Children’s Trust Fund, plus a $4,023,144 reduction, pending legislative approval.