Governor: Democrat
Control of Legislature: Republican
(during FY08 budget process)
| Percentage Change |
Change to Budget,
FY07 to FY08 1 |
Policy/Notes |
| + 92% |
Increases Early Childhood Education program funding from $19 million to $31 million in FY08 and by another $5.5 million for FY09, bringing the total budget to $36.5 million. |
The budget bill postpones, from FY08 to FY10, the deadline for teachers in Early Childhood Education programs established before July 2006 to have at least an associate's degree. For programs established after July 2006, all teachers must have an associate's degree by July 2011, and half of them must have a bachelor’s degree by July 2012.
The legislature removed the requirement that parents of children in the TANF-funded Early Learning Initiative be employed or attend job training or education programs. New legislation also ensures that a child who is eligible at the start of the school year remains so for the rest of the year regardless of changes in parents’ income or employment status. Income eligibility for the initiative will be raised to 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold beginning in FY09. |
Action in Neighboring States
| State |
Percentage Change |
| Indiana |
No state-funded pre-k program or state investment in Head Start. |
| Kentucky |
+46% |
| Michigan |
Michigan's FY08 budget has not been passed. The state's fiscal year ends September 30, 2007. |
| Pennsylvania |
+135% |
| West Virginia |
Anticipated increase (pre-k offered through school funding formula; FY08 figures not yet available) |
1 Information on pre-k funding in biennial budgets reflects changes in those budgets over two years. All other changes are from FY07 to FY08.
2 State has a biennial budget. FY08 is the first year of the biennium.
3 State has a biennial budget. FY08 is the second year of the biennium.
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