By Senator Katherine Clark
A report out last week showed states are failing to make one of the best investments in our economic health and competitiveness. The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University found that state funding for early education decreased by over half a billion dollars last year, the largest one-year drop ever. In addition, the NIEER reported that after a decade of growth, enrollment in state-funded early education programs has stalled relative to population, marking the first time there was no increase in the percentage of children served. Average state funding per child fell to $3,841, which is more than $1,000 below the national average a decade ago.… [more]
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States Must Invest in Early Ed
Observances and Benefits: Marathon Bombing Victims
Friends,
Below please find a list of observances, funds and benefits in our district that are being held to honor and support the victims of the Marathon Bombings and the violent aftermath. This list will be continually updated. If you know of an event that is not on this list, please email me at katherine.clark@masenate.gov so we can add it.… [more]
Homeless Court: Justice for all, one person at a time
By Senator Katherine Clark
By some estimates, on any given night there are over 16,000 homeless individuals in Massachusetts. Thousands of families struggle with homelessness and inconsistent housing each year; and though the numbers are decreasing with much-needed reform, over 1,200 families are currently receiving emergency housing in motels.
Homeless individuals face a barrage of daily challenges: finding safe, consistent shelter; inadequate access to healthcare and mental health services; substance abuse; limited transportation and job training options; and the threat of violence and sexual assault.… [more]
Time for some common sense budgeting
By Senator Katherine Clark
As Massachusetts begins its annual budget process, automatic, across-the-board federal budget cuts (so-called sequestration) are starting to hit funding for programs our families depend on, including college financial aid, work-study jobs, Head Start, services for the poor, public health efforts, law enforcement, and programs for our seniors.
The gridlock and fiscal uncertainty in Washington puts even more pressure on state and local governments to fund and provide vital services, and to do so efficiently and effectively with limited resources.
To do just that, we are moving forward with a common sense funding plan for the Commonwealth.… [more]
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