5 percent cut would drop 600 kids from early childhood services

About 600 fewer children would benefit from early childhood programs if the state proceeds with a 5 percent budget cut next fiscal year, according to the Kansas Department of Education.

Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget director asked state agencies to review the possibility of a 5 percent budget cut last month. Early childhood programs would be cut by more than $830,000 if that happens.

K-12 education was largely exempted from that study, but some of the other programs administered by the Kansas Department of Education – including the early childhood programs – were not.

The state is on pace for a $20 million budget hole at the end of the current fiscal year in June, a shortfall that could grow if the state does not meet its monthly revenue estimates.

A 5 percent budget cut would lead to a reduction of about $809,000 to the state’s Early Childhood Block Grant, which is used to fund programs that benefit low-income children throughout the state, such as Early Head Start. The lost funding would result in 600 fewer children receiving the services under the grant, according to documents obtained from the Department of Education through an open records request.

Another $21,954 would be cut from the state’s Child Care Quality Initiative, a program that provides training for child care providers. The state would also have to cut nearly $2,200 from an autism diagnosis program, which the department estimates would lead to reduced services for 28 children statewide.

The governor’s office has refused to release the preliminary budget documents for the bulk of state agencies, but the Department of Education – which is overseen by an independent education commissioner and elected state board – agreed to disclose the information to The Eagle.

In addition to the cuts to early childhood programs, the Department of Education would experience a cut of more than $793,000 for the next fiscal year. A two-year cut would result in a nearly $1.6 million loss for the agency.

This would lead to a $500,000 reduction for the state’s Reading Success program, which serves children from pre-K through eighth grade, resulting in about 500 fewer students being served statewide.

Another $214,000 would be cut from education programs at the state’s juvenile detention facilities, which would have “a substantial impact on these programs,” according to the documents.

The Governor’s Teaching Excellence Scholarships and Awards Program, which helps pay for Kansas teachers to pursue National Board Certification, would be cut by $78,000 for the next fiscal year.

This story was originally published September 26, 2016 at 6:26 PM with the headline "5 percent cut would drop 600 kids from early childhood services."