1999 Early Education and Care Assessment

CURRENT EFFORTS

In response to these barriers, our community has developed a wide range of solutions. While resources are not adequate to meet the identified need and demand for early education and care services, current efforts represent significant steps in a positive direction. In addition, many programs are moving towards development of a more comprehensive service delivery system. The table in Appendix A presents a sampling of some positive developments, including public, private, and public/private collaborative efforts that make up the $15.7 million invested in the early education and care system. This includes a diverse variety of programs, ranging from child care, parenting education, and mentor programs.

WHAT IS BEING SPENT?

Although a complete and comprehensive assessment of the community's investment in early development, education and care is not currently available, Table 11 includes a sample of public and private investments. These investments totaled more than $15.6 million during the 1998-99 fiscal year and purchased a range of early childhood services including child care, early education, and parenting skills training.

Table 11
Early Education, and Care Investments By Selected Major Investors, 1998-99

1CAWDB services for all children under the age of 13
2 ACC's child care program is for students, faculty, and the public.
3 Estimate of 1999/2000 allocations for child care, parenting, and early education.

Additional investors include State and Federal agencies, as well as local non-profit, faith- based, and public/private partnerships. Additional investors during 1998 in Austin/Travis County include, but are not limited to:

• Austin ISD: $7,311,378 was spent on Pre-K curriculum and instructional support, including Pre-K teachers. $850,000 was spent on Pre-K Childcare, and $489,697 was spent on Early Childhood Special Needs.
• Lago Vista ISD: Lago Vista ISD spent $41,348 on its pre-K program for the '98 -'99 school year.
• Other School Districts: Manor ISD's budget is separated out by curriculum/ instruction, but not age groups/ grade levels. Del Valle ISD budget information was unavailable at the time this document was prepared. Pflugerville ISD's budget is broken down by curriculum/ instruction, not age groups/grade levels. Neither Lakeway ISD nor Eanes ISD have Pre-K programs.
• Head Start: $6,366,832 was spent on the regular Head Start program and $651,048 on the Early Head Start program, for a total of $7,017,880.

In the City of Austin 1999-2000 budget allocations, funding was provided for a number of the programs and initiatives recommended by the CAN Child Care Task Force, Ambassadors for Children (see Recommendations, Section VIII). The specific allocations are shown in Table 12.

Table 12
Funding Allocations for Child Care Task Force, Ambassadors for Children Recommendations

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