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JUNE 2015
A Message from the ED
In May, Governor Brown
released his new budget with
minimal increases in early
childhood education. The
following is a press release
regarding the budget from Early
Child Education Coalition: On
May 14th, Governor Brown
released the May Revision to his proposal for the
California 2015-16 state budget. Despite the $6.7
billion growth in revenue that includes $5.5 billion
in Proposition 98 funds, which supports preK-14
education, the governor’s proposal includes only
minimal increases for young learners from birth to
age 5.
The May Revise proposes a slight increase to the
State Preschool Program, and new mandates for
parent engagement and teacher professional
development to better serve children with special
June
2015
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needs in our preschool classrooms. The proposal
also includes a recognition of expected new
federal dollars for supporting high-quality child
care, and earmarks at least part of those expected
dollars for a new Infant and Toddler Quality
Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) block
grant. This block grant proposal could build on last
year’s budget achievement of an ongoing QRIS
block grant for the State Preschool Program, and
First 5 California’s recent investment of $190
million to support QRIS across the state. However,
the budget also contains decreases to child care
programs and COLA proposals, compared to the
January budget, which moves the conversation in
the wrong direction. The budget proposal also
includes a $30 million Proposition 98 increase for
the Early Education Program for Infants and
Toddlers with Exceptional Needs, which identifies
and provides early interventions for infants from
birth to age 2 with special needs.
(continued on back page)
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Are you ready to make a SPLASH?
Updates
Fiscal Update
F5SB received the monthly revenue from Prop 10
funds in the amount of $$1,540,535 for March
2015. This revenue funds First 5 San Bernardino
programs and services.
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
Prop 10 Funds
December - $1,565,465
January - $1,931,958
February - $1,541,622
March - $1,540,535
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This Friday, June 5 - Summer Swimfest and
Operation Splash Returns to Perris Hill Park!
A joint campaign with First 5
Riverside and First 5 San
Bernardino is coming soon!
Parenthood: The Early Years
provides tips and information to
parents and caregivers on child
development, child care,
electronics and travel.
(909) 386-7706
Join us for TWO FREE Swim Sessions sponsored by
Kaiser Permanente and the City of San Bernardino
Parks and Recreation, games, activities, entertainment
from Q104.7FM and Lazer Radio 105.7 and a
community resource fair from 12:00PM-5:30PM.
Guests will learn the importance of practicing water
safety with their children and about drownings, one
the leading causes of death for children under age 5.
For more information on the event, visit our Facebook
page at http://www.facebook.com/first5sb
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Be Aware, Be Prepared! Remember the ABC’s of Water Safety this Summer
As warmer weather approaches, the
dangers of water-related incidents increase,
especially for children under the age of 5. In
2014, children under the age of 18 in San
Bernardino County accounted for a total
number of 40 out of the 56 submersion
incidents according to Safe Kids Inland
Empire. First 5 San Bernardino’s annual
water safety campaign addresses this
preventable danger to ensure that everyone
is aware of key steps to have a safe summer.
Here are the ABC’s to a safe summer for the
family:
A – Active Adult Supervision: Keeping an
active, watchful eye can save a life. Most
child victims are supervised by one or both
parents when water related accidents occur.
In 2009, 77% of child victims were missing
for five minutes or less when they were found
in the pool drowned or submerged.
B – Barriers: Children can drown without a
sound. Keeping barriers around your pools
and other recreational water sources can
prevent the silent and sudden, moments that
can lead to a drowning. Barriers such as
fencing, gates, latches, alarms, pool safety
nets, and pool safety covers that successfully
prevent a child from getting over, under or
through the barrier to the pool area are
ideal solutions.
C – Classes & Preparation: Teach your
children how to swim as soon as they show
interest. Try taking your kids to classes this
summer and join in! Classes are often hosted
within municipal parks and recreation
departments and community centers. Dial
2-1-1 for resources in your area.
Learn proper rescue techniques and keep
rescue equipment accessible at the poolside
or recreational water area.
Join First 5 San Bernardino’s team as an
AmeriCorps Preschool Coach! AmeriCorps, a
National Service Program dedicated to serving
the needs of local communities, partners with
First 5 San Bernardino to make a commitment
to serve their community’s 0-5 aged
population.
For an AmeriCorps volunteer’s time as a
Preschool Coach with First 5 San Bernardino,
the volunteer will receive an allowance to
offset their living expenses while they are
serving their community.
If you are interested in making a difference in
your community as an AmeriCorps volunteer,
ensuring that children are ready to enter and
succeed in school, visit our website at
www.first5sanbernardino.org for more
information.
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ED Report (continued)
In response, the Early Childhood Education
Coalition said:
“We are disappointed in the May Revision’s
failure to significantly increase investments in
access, affordability and quality for early
childhood education for our children from birth
through age 5.
With state revenues growing each month,
California should be making wise investments in
programs with proven outcomes. The research is
crystal clear—early childhood education is one of
the best investments we can make to not only
provide our youngest and most vulnerable
children with quality early learning experiences
they need to thrive in school and in life, but to
give their working families the opportunity to
participate in our recovering economy.
We call on the Assembly and the Senate to seize
the small recognition contained in this May
Revise proposal and use it as an invitation to
continue their stand for our youngest learners
and send Governor Brown a budget that invests
in quality early childhood education.”
“Significant and stable investments in our early
learning system are the soundest way to bridge
the achievement gap in California's schools and
improve each child's chance for success in life.
We hope this year's budget debate will set up a
long-term plan to rebuild and strengthen a highquality learning and care system for all our
children ages 0 to 5, including the supports their
parents need to help them thrive,” said Camille
Maben, Executive Director of First 5 California.
“We are slightly heartened by the governor’s
recognition that more can and should be done
around preschool access and quality in a robust
Prop 98 year, but his proposal is just a drop in
the bucket for what we need and can do for
children in a budget year like this.”
Assembly Democrats, the California State
Women’s Legislative Caucus, and Senate leaders
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have made this issue a top priority, but the
governor’s proposal holds funding virtually
steady for the early learning system in
California, despite the clear need for quality
early learning opportunities for our state’s
youngest children and working families.
Since 2008, $1 billion has been cut from the
early learning and care system in California. As
a result, far fewer of our vulnerable infants and
toddlers are enrolled in programs that support
their healthy development, and only minimal
reinvestments have been made—only 6% of
income-eligibile children under age 3 are served
by any publicly supported programs.
Additionally, the demand for new preschool
spaces funded in last year’s budget was more
than 8 times the number of spaces available,
and the California Department of Education
acknowledges the need is likely much greater.
California’s steady economic recovery and
growing revenues present an opportunity to
reinvest in these programs in ways that increase
access, affordability, and quality.
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