wested.org current events in early care and education erin freschi advanced training 2014
TRANSCRIPT
WestEd.org
Current Events in Early Care and
Education
Erin FreschiAdvanced Training 2014
WestEd.org
WestEd’s Role in Policy & Advocacy
• WestEd is a Non-Partisan Organization.
• WestEd cannot take a stance, position or advocate for any particular issue, legislation, or candidate.
• WestEd can provide research, facts and supporting information to assist with making informed decisions.
• WestEd employees and contractors must keep individual opinions and perspectives separate from WestEd role.
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Current Federal Initiatives
Head Start & Early Head Start
Child Care & Development Block Grants (CCDBG)
Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Grants
Quality Rating and Improvement System( (RTT-ELC QRIS)
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2014 Federal Budget includes:
$1.025 billion increase for Head Start including $500 million to support Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships
$154 million increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to expand access and improve quality
$250 million for a new round of Race to the Top for Preschool Development Grants
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Early Head Start Child Care Partnership Grants
$500 million for new EHS-Child Care Partnerships by March 2015
100,000 children 0-3 to be served New or existing EHS programs to partner
with centers and family child care providers
All staff to meet EHS requirements within 18 months
Strong commitment to Professional Development
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Proposed Federal 2014 Race to the Top
RTT Preschool Development Grants
$250 million to be awarded to states
In addition to current programs
Provide preschool opportunity to all 4 year olds from low and moderate income families
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RTT Preschool Development Grants (continued)
States encouraged to include a consortia of providers and partners
Comprehensive services required
Professional Development & Family Engagement and as integral components of program
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State Preschool QRIS
Head Start
Early Head Start
PITC PQ
CARES Plus
CCTR
CPINCSEFEL
First 5
CSP 1 & 2
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Current Proposed ECE Legislation-California
CAL Safe
Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2014
California Strong Start Program
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AB 2111- CALSafe (Ammiano)
Introduced Feb. 20th
Would reestablish CALSafe program
Currently in Committee on Appropriations
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SB 837- Transitional Kindergarten(Steinberg)
Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2014
Introduced on January 6th
In Senate Appropriations Committee
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Transitional Kindergarten (continued)
Provide TK for all 4 year olds Coordinated by school districts Operated at public school site or at other
public or private licensed child care center
1:10 teacher to child ratio; up to 20 children
By 2019: Lead Teacher= Credential + 24 ECE units Associate Teacher= AA in ECE
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Transitional Kindergarten (continued)
Teacher compensation comparable to K-12 Funded through Average Daily Attendance
(ADA) Part day with ability to supplement funding
to expand to full day Aligns with Preschool Learning Foundations
and Kindergarten Common Core Five-year phase in
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SB 1123- California Strong Start Program(Liu)
Redesigns General Child Care Program for infants and toddlers
Introduced February 19th
In Committee on Human Services
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CA Strong Start Program (continued)
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would establish the California Strong Start program by redesigning the General Child Care Program for infants and toddlers into a comprehensive, evidence-based, locally controlled program, in order to improve the healthy development and school readiness of California’s most vulnerable children.
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Potential Elements of CA Strong Start Program*
Developmentally Appropriate Well-trained Caregivers Family Engagement Create system to incentivize quality Position programs to apply for HS/EHS
grants Simplified eligibility determination ???
*American Institutes for Research, February 2014
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QUESTIONS?
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What are our next steps?
Track legislationConvene groups to determine our roleCommunicate and coordinate with other
statewide initiatives and stakeholdersPartner with grant applicantsInform training and support decision-
makingKeep you posted
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HOW ARE YOU FEELING NOW?
Pick which song best represents how you are feeling about all of the information you’ve just heard.
Get up and stand with others who feel the same way.
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On Chart Paper
What additional questions do you have?
What considerations would you like to share with us?
What do you need to feel most comfortable about proposed legislation?
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For More Information
www.leginfo.legislature.ca.govwww.earlyedgecalifornia.orgwww.acf.hhs.govwww.ed.gov
Erin Freschi