Move To Restore Preschool Subsidy for Alameda County Parents
OAKLAND (KCBS) - A plan is in the works to keep hundreds of low-income Alameda County children in preschool.
About 1,700 children suddenly risked losing their slots in preschool after the governor used his line item veto power to cut CalWORKS Stage 3 from the budget signed at the beginning of October.
CalWORKS Stage 3 provides preschool child care subsidy to parents who work. Without it some centers would have to close.
KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:
The $256 million subsidy provides money advocates say is critical for many working parents struggling to balance their work schedules with affordable child care.
The head of the First 5 California Commission, which is funded through a cigarette tax, said the agency hoped to provide $1.8 million as a stopgap until a permanent solution could be negotiated with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's successor.
The CalWORKS Stage 3 fund dries up on November 1.
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