Opinion: Support Early Childhood Education

 Cross posted from the Fargo Forum

Letter: Speed early childhood ed bill to passage by the ND House

By: By Kirsten Baesler, Sen. Nicole Poolman and Sen. Phil Murphy, INFORUM

We want to thank the senators of North Dakota for their strong bipartisan support on SB 2229 involving funding for early childhood education for North Dakota’s youngest citizens. The lofty goals of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act require all students nationwide to meet rigorous standards.

North Dakota has always had a good educational system; our test scores are among the highest in the nation. Our goal is to move from good to great by creating the best PK-12 educational system in the nation, and one approach to doing this is by supporting quality early childhood education directly aligned with our K-12 programs. We agree wholeheartedly that strong evidence of effectiveness should drive what the state funds, as well as what practices our schools implement.

We believe there is strong evidence to support early childhood education, but we want to build on this evidence and continue to collect data from the results. The earliest preschool students are now fourth graders. We will continue to collect academic data on these North Dakota students into middle and high school.

North Dakota early childhood programs aligned with public school districts have strong educational components that are developmentally appropriate. They are providing powerful data to demonstrate their effectiveness. The support for these programs should continue to provide further data. We would not embrace and support the issue of early childhood education if we didn’t believe that strong evidence does exist to show effectiveness – and that strong evidence will continue to exist.

To keep moving forward and continue making gains in education, we support the full passage of SB 2229 as it moves to the House and believe it will lead to success for the state of North Dakota. This bill will allow DPI to begin to work with more schools to implement early childhood education so that we can continue to collect data to present to the 64th Legislative Assembly.

The implementation of the early childhood education grants will strengthen our study and will also allow us to include actual North Dakota early childhood education results in our report to the Legislature. We believe that our North Dakota school districts fully understand the needs of their communities. These grants will support districts that have expressed a need for early childhood education and allow them to develop programs to best meet their communities’ needs.

Thanks again for supporting early childhood education; this is bipartisan work at its finest! We believe children are our future and it is critical to educate them now, when they are most ready to learn.

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Baesler is N.D. Superintendent of Public Instruction;

Sen. Poolman, R-Bismarck, represents District 7 in the N.D. Senate;

Sen. Phil Murphy, D-Portland, represents District 20 in the N.D. Senate.

Hunger in North Dakota

There seems to be some surprise that there is a need for food assistance in North Dakota, the state with the best economy in the nation. While it’s true that the oil boom has brought prosperity to many in the state, it has also brought rising costs of living for housing, food, childcare and other necessities.

For example, at the same time the economy was taking off in 2009-2010, the poverty rate also increased, marking the first statistically significant increase since 2004.  In 2011, 1 in 8 North Dakota people lived below the poverty line, meaning earning less than about $23,000 per year for a family of four. Put another way, 12.5 percent or 81,000 residents live at or below poverty level, including 24,116 children.

Did you know that 76 percent of low income families work? And that a fourth of working families have low incomes? In fact, 43 percent of households receiving SNAP (the program formerly known as Food Stamps) benefits have earned income. And here is another fact that some North Dakotans find surprising: 75 percent of North Dakota’s children born in 2011 were served by WIC, the special food and nutrition education program for low income mothers and children up to age 5 with nutrition risks.

When it comes to having enough money for food, 1 in 9 North Dakotans is food insecure, meaning that they do not have enough food every day for a healthy, active life. That includes nearly six percent of our senior citizens and 13 percent of children, or around 17,000 kids.

The efforts of the Great Plains Food Bank and the statewide network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, along with programs like SNAP, WIC and school lunch and breakfast programs, play an important role in helping support parents in caring for our children. Hungry children cannot perform to their fullest ability in school, nor can employees fully concentrate and be their most productive at work without enough healthy food.

Senior meals programs for our older residents help provide quality, safe and adequate food, opportunities for socialization and help people remain living in their own homes and communities. In 2011, more than a million meals were served through home-delivered “meals on wheels” and meals at senior centers across the state.

As Governor Dalrymple noted in his State of the State address, “Taking care of our own is what we do in North Dakota.” And the recent report summary from the North Dakota 2020 and Beyond effort recognizes the need to address these issues by recommending the efforts of the Creating a Hunger Free North Dakota Coalition.

Though not a new sentiment, we believe “It takes a village to raise a child.” And making sure that our children and all our state’s residents can access enough healthy food is one thing we can do to end hunger in our state by 2020. We have the resources; we just need to find the will.

Writing for the North Dakota Economic Security and Prosperity Alliance,

Karen K. Ehrens, R.D., L.R.D.

Bismarck, ND 58501

Medicaid expansion supported in ND

The Governor of North Dakota, Jack Dalrymple, did include Medicaid Expansion in his budget and NDESPA applauds him for it.  We also applaud the ND House of Representatives for passing Medicaid Expansion by a vote of 57-36. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The Advisory Board Company's overview of where each state stands on Medicaid Expansion indicates confidence that ND will participate.

North Dakota*: Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R) in January said the politics associated with the ACA should not prevent North Dakota from participating in the Medicaid expansion. He is supporting a bill that would allow the state health department to access federal funds allocated through the ACA. Dalrymple also said he will include the expansion in his budget proposal and that members of his staff will testify in favor of the expansion before state lawmakers (Jerke, Grand Forks Herald, 1/12).

Representives opposed to Medicaid expansion introduced a separate bill HB 1362 that separates funding for Medicaid expansion to a stand-alone bill.

When HB 1362 had a public hearing, the support far out numbered the opposition. 
 
Testimony by the North Dakota Department of Human Services highlighted the benefits expansion would provide North Dakotans. 

More than 23 groups are on record as in favor of Medicaid Expansion.

Kaiser Family Foundation's Fact Sheet on Medicaid Expansion skillfully explains the ins and outs of the opportunity.   

AARP North Dakota submitted an op ed on Medicaid expansion makes the case for ND to embrace the program.  

The Governor needs citizen support to move the effort through a reluctant legislature. The research is clear, Medicaid expansion is a smart and effective opportunity which North Dakota should not pass up.
  
The Oregon Health Insurance Experiment: Evidence from the First Year

Amy Finkelstein, Sarah Taubman, Bill Wright, Mira Bernstein, Jonathan Gruber, Joseph P. Newhouse, Heidi Allen, Katherine Baicker, and The Oregon Health Study Group NBER Working Paper No. 17190, July 2011, JEL No. H51,H75,I1

NPR coverage on study results and the study results:

ABSTRACT

In 2008, a group of uninsured low-income adults in Oregon was selected by lottery to be given the chance to apply for Medicaid. This lottery provides a unique opportunity to gauge the effects of expanding access to public health insurance on the health care use, financial strain, and health of low-income adults using a randomized controlled design. In the year after random assignment, the treatment group selected by the lottery was about 25 percentage points more likely to have insurance than the control group that was not selected. We find that in this first year, the treatment group had substantively and statistically significantly higher health care utilization (including primary and preventive care as well as hospitalizations), lower out-of-pocket medical expenditures and medical debt (including fewer bills sent to collection), and better self-reported physical and mental health than the control group.

Some key statements from the paper:

“Our estimates of the impact of public health insurance apply to able-bodied uninsured adults below 100 percent of poverty who express interest in insurance coverage.”

“...our results are specific to a population of low-income, uninsured adults in Oregon who expressed interest in obtaining health insurance (by signing up for the lottery). This group is not representative of the low-income uninsured adults in the rest of the United States on a number of observable (and presumably unobservable) dimensions. One striking difference is that our study population has more whites and fewer African-Americans (by about 15 percentage points each) than the general low-income, uninsured adult, US population. It is also somewhat (4 to 5 years) older and on some measures appears to be in somewhat worse self-reported health (Allen et al. 2010).”

“...have substantial and statistically significantly higher health care utilization, lower out-of-pocket medical expenditures and medical debt, and better self-reported health than the control group that was not given the opportunity to apply for Medicaid.”

“...(25 percent) decline in the probability of having an unpaid medical bill sent to a collection agency and a 20 percentage point (35 percent) decline in having any out-of-pocket medical expenditures.”

Child Care Stabilization Needed in ND

Child care centers in North Dakota are in trouble. Unable to keep up with the cost of wages for employee retention, many day cares are struggling to make ends meet.

The story of a child care center closing at the end of this month in Bismarck illuminates the looming crisis. When child care centers close, families are left scrambling:

“I’m hearing from a lot of panicky parents,” said Ellene Lang, the director of the Early Childhood Learning Center on Divide Avenue.

Her facility may have room for a couple of preschool-age kids, but the infant and toddler rooms are full until 2014.

It is a similar situation for LaRae Dockter, the director of Discovery Childcare Center. She said she usually receives five to 10 calls a day from parents looking for child care but her phone has been ringing off the hook so far this week. She has had King’s Kids parents break down in tears in her office.

Day care facilities contacted by the Tribune indicated that child care in Bismarck has become increasingly hard to come by. Most day care and preschool facilities are running at capacity and facing their own staffing issues.

A bill is up for consideration in the House of Representative, HB 1422. HB 1422 is designed to help stabilize child care during the economic boom in ND. The bill would allocate $15 million to child care centers to help meet the income gap.

The Human Services Committee of the ND House of Human Services is deep in discussion on this bill and likely to work on it today. Monday, February 11, 2013. Time is of the essence and the members of the House Human Services Committee need to hear strong support for the bill. The evidence is overwhelming that investment in childcare a worthwhile expenditure.

Contact members of the House Human Services Committee to urge a DO PASS recommendation: 

Chairman 

Representative Robin Weisz (R)

Vice Chairman

Representative Curt Hofstad (R)

Legislative Members 

Representative Dick Anderson (R) 

Representative Chuck Damschen (R) 

Representative Alan Fehr (R) 

Representative Dwight Kiefert (R) 

Representative Vernon R. Laning (R) 

Representative Alex Looysen (R) 

Representative Gail Mooney (D) 

Representative Naomi Muscha (D) 

Representative Kylie Oversen (D) 

Representative Todd Porter (R) 

Representative Peter F. Silbernagel (R)

 

The Ending Fund Balance: A Moving Target

For advocates, understanding the state’s budget is crucial to their work. Therefore, it can be maddening when budget information tends to shift like sand under out feet.

So it is with the ending balance of the general fund. In September of 2012, the Office of Management and Budget forecast the general fund ending balance (surplus) for the 2013 biennium at $1.6 billion. However, less than three months later, the Governor’s proposed budget estimated the ending fund balance of the general fund for the biennium would be $69 million.

That is a whopping difference of over $1.5 billion and a whole lot of money to take off the table before the legislative session even started.

Now that the legislature is underway, some policymakers are using the deflated number as an excuse to turn back legislation that would tap into that surplus in order to address the growing number of low income North Dakotans.

Why does it make a difference and where did the money go?

The short answer for why it makes a difference is that the general fund is where policy makers and advocates direct their attention when making determinations about how the state’s tax dollars should be allocated. When the surplus available to policy makers for the upcoming session is no longer available, or greatly reduced, that changes the debate and the viability of spending bills brought before the Legislature.

Granted, this isn’t the first time the balance of the general fund has been manipulated to control the outcome of spending bills. Last session, legislators manufactured a general fund “deficit” to deter spending, while at the same time enacting over a half billion dollars in tax reductions and exemptions. 

That deficit, in hindsight seems preposterous since at the end of the 2009-2011 biennium, the general fund balance for the biennium was $997 million: the highest end-of-biennium balance in North Dakota history, both in nominal terms and as a percent of the appropriated budget. 

Where did the 2011-13 biennium surplus go?

Again, the short answer is that it hasn’t gone anywhere, yet. What the governor proposed in his budget would use the current surplus to pay for items that would normally be paid for out of general fund revenues in the next biennium.

For example, the Governor proposed increased transfers from the general fund to the highway fund ($620 million) and the housing incentive fund ($30 million) and the 2013-15 transfer to the property tax incentive fund ($372 million) are all being counted against the 2011-13 general fund surplus balance instead of being considered a general fund expenditure for the next biennium.  

No one would argue these expenditures are not legitimate and important investments for our state. They are. However, by pulling this fiscal maneuver, it insinuates that the spending depletes our state’s resources and, therefore, deters any additional investments in our state’s people.

This gambit actually serves two purposes. It reduces the amount of the surplus that many are lining up to spend this session and it shifts necessary and legitimate spending to this biennium rather than the next so budget hawks may claim moderate increases in spending for the coming biennium. The really disturbing part of all the money shuffling is that it may pave the way for more unnecessary tax breaks later this session.

Instead of having open debate about the needs that exist in this state and what our priorities for allocating the abundant resources of our state should be; legislative leaders and the governor are manipulating the outcome by the ridiculous assertion that there is no money for other necessary spending.

And, of course, they can do it.  Veterans to the process know legislators can do anything they want if they have the votes. Is it right and honorable? No. It’s tricky and disingenuous. But, that is the cost of elections.

Legislative veterans also know that following the state’s budget is a challenge because changes can and do happen right up until the closing gavel. That is to be expected. However, as advocates, we need to be aware when information is massaged, (or even manipulated) to tell a story that limits honest dialogue.

And more importantly, we need to stand ready to call their bluff.



Author: April Fairfield, North Dakota Economic Policy Project

Broad Support for Medicaid Expansion in North Dakota

Expansion of Medicaid in North Dakota would bring health insurance coverage to between 20,500 and 32,000 uninsured people.
 

 

HB 1362 is a stand alone bill to provide funding for Medicaid expansion to a stand-alone bill. The following groups provided testimony in favor of Medicaid Expansion at a joint hearing of HB 1362:


North Dakota Department of Human Services
 
American Cancer Society in North Dakota
 
AARP North Dakota
 
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
 
ND Catholic Conference
 
ND Chapter of the American Medical Association
 
ND Hospital Association
 
Mental Health America of North Dakota
 
ND Rural Behavioral Health Network

Family Voices of North Dakota 

North Dakota Economic Security and Prosperity Alliance (NDESPA), which includes support of the groups:

ND  Women’s Network

ND  Council on Abused Women’s Services

ND  Disabilities Advocacy Consortium

ND  Head Start Association

ND  Community Action Partnership

AARP North Dakota

Catholic Charities of North Dakota

American Association of University Women in North  Dakota

ND  Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers

Childcare Resource & Referral

Mental Health America of North Dakota

Children’s Defense Fund in North Dakota

North Dakota Public Employees  Association
Prevent  Child Abuse of North Dakota

Financial Securty for North Dakotans

Today the Center for Enterprise Development released state by state scorecards on financial security of residents. NDESPA is the Lead State Organization for the CFED Assets & Opportunities Scorecard and organized a press conference to make the public aware of the of how prevalent poverty is in North Dakota – in spite of the states prosperity – and to highlight some pieces of legislation that would help low and moderate income, working families, to build assets for the future.

 

28% of North Dakota Residents Have Almost No Savings to Cover Emergencies or Save for the Future

State Ranks 3^rd Overall for the Financial Stability of its Residents

Washington, D.C. — While North Dakota’s booming economy and supportive policies lend to a system of financial security for the majority of residents, more than one in four North Dakota residents are living on the edge of financial disaster with almost no savings to fall back on in the event of a job loss, health crisis or other income-depleting emergency, according to a report released today by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED). 

The 2013 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard defines these residents as “liquid asset poor,” which means they lack adequate savings to cover basic expenses at the federal poverty level for just three months if they suffer a loss of stable income. Included in this group are a majority of North Dakota residents who live below the official income poverty line of $23,050 for a family of four, as well as many who would consider themselves middle class. Although a family of four would need just $5,762 in savings to meet basic needs for three months, growing numbers of middle class households in our state fall short of that amount.

Without savings, these families have limited hope of building a more prosperous future for themselves or their children, including saving for college, buying a home or setting aside money for retirement.  

“In order to cope with the recession’s continued impact, these families have had to prioritize today’s expenses over tomorrow’s goals,” said Andrea Levere, president of CFED. She called the findings “particularly disturbing given the ongoing budget talks in Congress that will likely result in further reductions in the social safety net and other programs that help low- and moderate-income people get on the their feet and start planning and saving for a better future.”

Published annually, the Assets & Opportunity Scorecard offers the most comprehensive look available at Americans’ ability to save and build wealth, fend off poverty and create a more prosperous future. The Scorecard explores how well residents are faring in the 50 states and the District of Columbia and assesses policies that are helping residents build and protect assets across five issue areas: Financial Assets & Income, Businesses & Jobs, Housing & Homeownership, Health Care and Education.

North Dakota ranks 3^rd in the country overall in the ability of residents to achieve financial security. The Scorecard evaluates states across 53 measures within the five different issue areas. North Dakota holds the nation’s top rating in Financial Assets & Income, and has the lowest number of consumers with subprime credit (borrowers who are 90 day or more overdue on debt payments) and average credit card debt. Similarly, North Dakota is 1^st in the nation in several measures in Housing & Homeownership, including the affordability of homes, housing cost burden of homeowners and delinquent mortgages loans. However, an area of concern for North Dakota is disparities in outcomes by race, with people of color falling far behind white North Dakotans. Disparities in unemployment and business ownership by race in North Dakota are the worst in the nation, and disparities in health insurance coverage by race are the second worst. North Dakotans of color are six times more likely to be unemployed and three times more likely to be uninsured than white North Dakotans. With a few key policy adjustments, North Dakota could lead the nation in all categories of financial security for residents.