Hundreds of Alaska children expected to lose access to pre-K under governor's budget veto

Across Alaska, providers of the Head Start early childhood education program said they’re preparing to close pre-K classrooms, cut dozens of jobs and turn away some 500 of the state’s neediest children after Gov. Mike Dunleavy erased all of their state funding — about $6.8 million.

Some said they’re also scrambling to determine whether the cut will have further budget impacts. The state money is used as a match to help unlock federal dollars.

“We have no idea what will happen,” said Dirk Shumaker, executive director of Kids’ Corps Inc. in Anchorage. Kids’ Corps is part of a network of 17 local organizations that run Head Start programs in Alaska.

Head Start, a federal program, is Alaska’s largest provider of early childhood services. It provides low-income children up to age 5 with free pre-K, meals, medical care and other services. It also provides resources to children’s families.

Read more: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/education/2019/07/26/hundreds-of-alaska-children-expected-to-lose-access-to-pre-k-under-governors-budget-veto/
(Anchorage Daily News)