News from First Five Nebraska
 April 2017
 

 

Our vision is that all Nebraska children begin kindergarten with the experience they need to become successful students and productive citizens.  

 


Sixpence Debuts 
New Website

Sixpence
  has given thousands of Nebraska infants and toddlers at risk a strong start in life through high-quality early learning opportunities. Sixpence-supported grants deliver measurable, fiscally responsible results that show more of our most vulnerable children are better prepared to succeed in school and life. Sixpence recently launched a new website as part of its 10-year anniversary celebration.


Quick Links
  • York News-Times: Rep. Adrian Smith's House subcommittee is working to reauthorize MIECHV 
  • The Brookings Institution's new report on pre-K shows that more than one year of quality preschool is necessary to change the educational outcomes of young children.   


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Photo: NET News
Nebraska Communities Respond to Growing Need for High-Quality Early Education

Many rural Nebraska communities lack sufficient high-quality early care and education opportunities for their youngest children. These opportunities are well known to have long-lasting, positive effects on young children's life trajectories and the economic development of the communities where they live. In recognition of that challenge, groups in Shickley, Red Cloud, Grand Island and Hall County are taking innovative steps to increase quality care and education opportunities for young children. Local residents say they already are seeing progress toward their goal to grow and retain a young, reliable workforce, strengthening their communities overall.
 
In Shickley, school superintendent Bryce Jorgenson responded to a growing need for more early education opportunities by launching a new preschool program. Soon after, the school system extended those efforts to include infant and toddler care. While some communities obtain state grants to start school-based early childhood programs, many others leverage local interest and resources to launch programs on their own. 

In Red Cloud,  town surveys showed wide local support for high-quality child care, prompting a partnership between local residents, philanthropy, community foundations and private business. After several years of fundraising, the community broke ground in March for its new child care center. The facility, scheduled to open next year, will draw children from Red Cloud and its surrounding communities. 


 
Similarly, surveys of local residents prompted Grow Grand Island and Hall County Community Collaborative to join forces with numerous organizations to improve early childhood services in their area. The partnership includes the Early Development Network, public schools, Sixpence, Head Start, the area community college, library and others. Project leaders say wide representation among the collaborators enables the group to look at early childhood development as a system, address gaps and coordinate efforts to best serve families. 




Senators Address Large Budget Shortfall

The Legislature's Appropriations Committee released its proposed budget for the FY 2017-18/FY2018-19 biennium on April 21. Lawmakers began debating the budget on April 25. 

Senators seek to close a budget gap of nearly $1 billion; the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board met this week and increased its projected shortfall by $55 million. 
 
As presented, the Committee's plan proposes $8.9 billion in General Fund spending with an annual growth of one percent, while pulling $173 million from the state's Cash Reserve.  

The Appropriations Committee's proposal likely will undergo additional changes, and discussions on tax reform and education funding (TEEOSA) are scheduled for next week. 

Senators must pass the budget bill no later than May 10, which will be Day 80 of the legislative session. 


Check our website's Nebraska Legislation page for daily updates and a printable report on bills affecting  early childhood.