Arizona Education Network

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Arizona voters will face tough decisions in the voting booth for the general election this November 2, 2010.  AEN would like to make sure voters have all the facts on Proposition 302. The bill passed by the legislature in the 2010 seventh special session by a vote of 48 to 41 refers Proposition 302 to the ballot on November 2.  If passed, Proposition 302 will repeal the Arizona Early Childhood and Development Initiative, commonly known as  First Things First.  The First Things First program is financed by a 2006 voter-approved tax on tobacco to provide funding for early childhood health and development and parenting programs for Arizona families.

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Of concern is the ballot language itself.  The language on the ballot for  Prop. 302 is an exercise in double-talk where “yes” means “no”,  and “no” means “yes”.
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A “yes” vote would not only sweep funds set aside for First Things First–thereby terminating the program and it’s services–it would also redirect future tobacco tax revenue to the state’s general fund to be used at the discretion of the legislature.  A “no” vote saves First Things First, preserving the voter-approved program that has been a vital first step in developing a healthy educational foundation for Arizona’s infants and toddlers.

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Below is a “Q & A” on First Things First and Prop. 302 from the Saving First Things First website. We encourage you to read over these facts, as well as visit the website so that you can learn more about this important program that benefits the most invaluable moments in a child’s educational development.
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Q: How was First Things First created?

In November 2006, Arizona’s voters passed Proposition 203, which increased taxes on a pack of cigarettes by 80 cents. That revenue, directed into the Early Childhood Development and Health Fund, was by law designated to be spent to “increase the quality of and access to early childhood development and health services for children up to five years of age and their families.”

The voters mandated that only 10% of this tobacco tax money could be used for administrative costs. All the rest went to programs. Prop 203 also established Regional Partnership Councils all across Arizona. The councils exist to “identify childhood development and health services needs and assets at a local level and spend monies that were budgeted annually by the Board.”

Ever since, First Things First has pumped tens of millions of dollars into core early childhood development services in communities all over the state.

Q: Who supported First Things First in the 2006 election?

In 2006, support for Prop 203 came from all over the state. Political leaders like Gov. Rose Mofford, Rep. Ed Pastor, Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon spoke out in support of creating First Things First.

So did numerous business and community leaders and groups, including Ira Fulton, Bill Post, Greater Phoenix Leadership, the United Phoenix Firefighters Association, the United Way, the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, WESTMARC, Yuma County Interfaith and the Arizona Tax Research Association. They were joined by the tens of thousands of members of the education and child health community represented by the Arizona School Boards Association, the Arizona Education Association and Children’s Action Alliance.

Already, many of these same groups have joined the statewide non-partisan coalition fighting to defeat Prop 302.

Q: Why so much emphasis on the first years of a child’s life?

Brain science has made remarkable advancements in the last generation. Sophisticated PET scans have shown us that at birth the brain is about one-fourth full adult size. By age 2, the brain has grown and complex connections have been made between cells. Those connections between brain cells help young children control their bodies and learn about their worlds.

Science also tells us that that lack of enrichment can be most damaging in the very early years. Connections in the brain become stronger if used often. They simply die away in childhood and early adolescence if they’re not used. It is true for adults and true for babies — “use it or lose it!” Babies and young children need stimulation  to develop socially, emotionally, and intellectually. That’s why First Things First has been geared specifically to help our youngest children. If we get to them young and provide positive experiences, they have the best chance possible to succeed into adulthood.

Q: Where has the money gone?

Already in its short history, First Things First has allocated nearly $300 million that has improved the lives of more than 330,000 children across Arizona. The stories and programs would take hours to list. For example, parents and families have benefited from information like the Arizona Parenting Kit, given to them free of charge when they take their newborn home from the hospital. Kids all over the state have benefited from consistent health care and from more thorough screening for health or developmental issues that impact their ability to thrive and learn. The education community has benefited from scholarships for specialized courses leading to degrees and certification in early childhood development.

The list goes on and on.

Q: What happens if Prop 302 passes?

It won’t be pretty. First Things First will cease to exist on December 1, 2010. Any unspent funds will revert to the state’s General Fund on that same date, to be spent as the Legislature sees fit. And the tobacco tax revenue that funds First Thing First will also go to the General Fund. That money will allegedly be spent on children, but who’s to say, really? We’ve seen the Legislature at work before: Giving money to core services for kids with one, while taking it away with the other.

If Prop 302 is defeated, we know where the money will go: To the early childhood development services the voters designated in 2006. If it’s not broken, why fix it?
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Tags: 2010 General Election, Arizona budget, arizona education, Arizona Families, Arizona Proposition 302, First Things First, Saving First Things First

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 2:49 PM and is filed under Featured Articles, Your Questions Answered. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.