California's budget deficit has put one of our most precious assets in peril -- child development programs that provide a steady footing for our children's education.

In Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's May revision of the state budget, he proposed the total elimination of state-funded child care and child development programs in California with the exception of part-day preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds.

This means that all need-based child care would be gone and that about 2,000 Merced County children will have no organized care next year.

Quality care helps ensure that children will be ready for success in school.

How can we expect positive outcomes from our students if we eliminate the foundation of education?

This week, a group of about 40 early care and education professionals, advocates and parents from Merced County joined a group of 300 early care and education advocates in Sacramento at the Early Learning Advocacy Day 2010.

Merced County had the largest contingent participating.

The event, hosted by the California Association for the Education of Young Children and Preschool California, focused on the importance of early education, the economic impact of child care and the necessity to increase and not reduce child care availability and quality.

Superintendent of Schools Charles Weis of Santa Clara County gave the keynote address and said that preschool is not something extra; it is the foundation for a successful educational experience and future for the youngest members of our state.

He proposed that the term preschool should be changed to "Early Learning" or "Early Education" to signify the impact that it has in the educational process.

Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, lamented that child care stimulates economy and impacts the day-to-day activities within a family unit. Without quality child care and early learning programs, parents could be forced to withdraw from the work force, he said.

If the governor's proposed child care cuts are accepted, Merced County's private childcare and preschool businesses will lose nearly $10 million. Child care is a major economic engine for a community.

Child care is local small business -- it not only assists families to work, but payments to child care providers and centers feed the economy because those workers and employees immediately turn around and use the income to pay mortgages, buy food and support other local services.

Locally, both the educational and economic value of quality childcare is being championed by the Business-Education Alliance of Merced County.

The alliance brings together leaders from business, education, government and the community to focus on the social and economic benefits of high quality early care and education.

This group has met for the past three years and is in the beginning stages of a public awareness campaign to inform the public about the importance of high-quality early care and the need for adequate child care.

California is facing tough budget times, but early care and education is not the place to cut because children are our future.

Join with the alliance to encourage our legislators to become strong champions of high quality early care and education for all children.

UC Merced Chancellor Steve Kang is education co-chair of the Business-Education Alliance of Merced County and Sheilon King-Brock is business co-chair.