On February 14, President Obama released his budget for fiscal year 2012 (which begins on October 1, 2011). Children’s programs would receive a $16.8 billion increase from fiscal year 2010 budget levels, an increase of 6.2%.
The President’s proposed budget prioritizes children through investments in early childhood education and childcare, both of which, the budget states, are “critical to boosting the long-run prospects of children” (Department of Health and Human Services excerpt). The White House’s proposal includes $8.1 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start . The funding would allow programs to serve approximately 968,000 children and families nationwide, maintaining Head Start & Early Head Start expansion made through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The budget includes an additional $1.3 billion to support 1.7 million children with childcare subsidies.
Head over to the First Focus website to learn more about how children fared in the President’s 2012 budget. There you’ll find analysis, helpful fact sheets, and more.
