Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst

Karen Schulman is a Senior Policy Analyst in NWLC's Family Economic Security division. She researches and writes about child care and early education policies. She received her bachelor's degree from Williams College and her master's degree in Public Policy from Duke University. Prior to joining NWLC, she worked at the Children's Defense Fund. She enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews and is glad they will grow up thinking there is nothing unusual about a woman being Speaker of the House or running for President.

Expert in: Child Care & Early Learning, Child Care, Head Start, Child Care Assistance, Prekindergarten, Child Care Tax Strategies, Family, Friend & Neighbor Care, Military Child Care, Unionization
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My Take

A Big Win for Early Childhood and Young Children

Posted by Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst | Posted on: February 17, 2009 at 03:00 pm

by Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst
National Women’s Law Center

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Tags: Child Care, Child Care & Early Learning, Tax & Budget | Add new comment

Early Education and Economic Recovery: What's the Latest and What's Next

Posted by Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst | Posted on: February 10, 2009 at 10:13 pm

by Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst
National Women’s Law Center

Today, the Senate passed its version of an economic recovery package  by a vote of 61-37. Like the House version, it includes substantial investments in early care and education — investments that are necessary for children trying to get a strong start, for parents trying to work and support their families, for child care providers trying to keep their jobs, for child care programs trying to keep their doors open, and for economic recovery and future growth. The House and Senate now head to conference to negotiate on a compromise bill that both can approve.

It is important that the Senate retain the full $2 billion increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant in the House bill and in the original Senate bill. This decision indicates that members of Congress recognize what is happening in their states and communities — parents straining to afford child care and unable to get help with these costs, child care providers scaling back their hours or losing their jobs, and child care programs struggling to stay in business. A broad coalition is urging Senators and Representatives to maintain this funding level in the final bill in order to provide child care assistance for parents under tremendous financial strains, jobs for teachers and others working or seeking to work in child care programs, and safe, stable, nurturing care for children.

The news for Head Start is less encouraging. The bill passed by the Senate provides $1.05 billion, which is half the amount provided by the House bill.  We would like the final bill to include the full amount included in the House bill ($2.1 billion), because Head Start and Early Head Start are investments that will help our economy in the short and long term. These programs employ teachers, directors, and support staff—many of whom are lower-income women.  They assist parents in finding and keeping a job or getting job training. They help children get a strong start on a path to a productive future. Head Start and Early Head Start, with their focus on low-income children and families, are particularly important as the economic downturn causes more families to slip into poverty. Why would we help only half as many of these teachers, children, and families as we could?

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Tags: Child Care, Child Care & Early Learning, Head Start, Education & Title IX, Poverty & Income Support, Tax & Budget | 2 comments

Making Early Childhood Part of Economic Recovery: The Senate Gets into the Act

Posted by Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst | Posted on: January 28, 2009 at 08:21 pm

by Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst
National Women’s Law Center

Last week, the House made child care and early education part of its economic recovery plan, and this week, the Senate has taken the same positive step. Like the House, the Senate is keenly aware that investing in child care and early education helps parents work, creates jobs for early childhood educators, and gives children early learning opportunities that pay off — for the children themselves and the economy as a whole — in the long term.

Like the House bill, the Senate bill provides $2.1 billion for Head Start, including $1.1 billion for Early Head Start. Also like the House bill, the Senate bill provides $2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (although the Senate sets aside more of these funds for improving the quality of care and bolstering infant and toddler care).

In addition, the Senate bill includes funding for other programs that many states use to help fund child care, such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program ($3.3 billion total in additional funding) and the Social Services Block Grant ($400 million total in additional funding). These provisions are particularly important because child care has faced greater competition for funding as states confront growing budget pressures and an increased need among families for various forms of assistance.

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Tags: Child Care, Child Care & Early Learning, Poverty & Income Support, Tax & Budget | 1 comment

An Economic Recovery for Children and Families

Posted by Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst | Posted on: January 22, 2009 at 08:02 pm

by Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst
National Women’s Law Center

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No Time to Wait for Action on Child Care

Posted by Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst | Posted on: January 15, 2009 at 09:30 pm

by Karen Schulman, Senior Policy Analyst
National Women’s Law Center

The deepening economic recession is affecting all sectors of our economy and all aspects of American’s lives—and child care is no exception. Families are finding it more difficult to afford the high-quality care they want for their children, child care programs are finding it more difficult to maintain enrollment and stay in business, and states are finding it more difficult to fund child care assistance for low-income families.

With growing budget deficits, a number of states are proposing to make cuts to their child care assistance programs. In Oregon, there is discussion about reducing reimbursement rates paid to child care providers who serve children receiving child care assistance from the 75th percentile of market rates (the rate that gives families access to 75 percent of the providers in their communities), which is the federally recommended level, to the 65th percentile of market rates. Florida’s waiting list for child care assistance has grown to 60,000 children, and Pennsylvania’s waiting list for child care assistance is at 15,000 children. Nevada is cutting child care assistance for 450 children.

At time when families are struggling financially, these cuts make it less likely they will receive help paying for child care. And without assistance, many families have no choice but to pull their children out of child care programs they can no longer afford—depriving children of the stability that is so important for their development.

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Tags: Child Care, Child Care & Early Learning, Poverty & Income Support | 1 comment