Current Issues Facing the ECE Field CAEYC Annual Conference

April 1, 2016. Pasadena, California

Topics for this Presentation

Governor’s January proposals •  Early Education Block Grant •  Voucher system to serve

children from infancy through age 3

Commission on Teacher Credentialing •  Child Development Permit

Advisory Panel

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Context and Prior Year Investments in Early Childhood Care & Education

Show Continued Need •  Progress made over the last several years, still a ways to go

•  Total ECE spending in FY 2015-2016 $2.8 billion •  Still about 21% down from 2007-2008 spending level of $3.4 billion

•  New investments of $673 million in last two years, $714 million if annualized (some increases started mid-year)

•  System has only gained 33% of slots (roughly 35,000) •  LAO estimates 251,000 potentially on local waiting lists

•  New AIR report estimates 170,000 three - and four-year olds from low income families are eligible and lack access to state preschool

•  Sources: Child Care Law Center, Center for Budget & Policy Priorities

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Early Education Block Grant Proposal Surprising structural proposal in Governor’s January Budget •  $1.65 billion •  Combines CSPP, TK and CSPP QRIS Block Grant into one funding stream to

Local Education Agencies (school districts, county offices of education) •  Targeted block grant to serve low-income and at risk 4-and 5-year olds •  Administration goals: want to ensure local flexibility, improved

accountability, targeted resources – details to be informed by stakeholder process and provided in the Governor’s May Revision budget proposal

•  Provides LEAs would receive no less than they received for CSPP, TK , QRIS Block Grant, but funding would not be tied to attendance or per pupil amount, no new funding or provision for serving increased numbers

•  Does not include Community Colleges state preschool programs

Stakeholder Process conducted by Department of Finance (DOF) •  February through mid- March sessions. Comments still accepted.

o  Stakeholder feedback themes: do not do this via budget process; consider impact on private, non-LEA providers; retain TK entitlement; need mixed-delivery system; would like to see streamlining/improvement to CSPP; LEA capacity, including facilities; how will quality be assured.

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Updates and Considerations on the Block Grant

Expect revised proposal from the Administration in May Revision •  Status quo is not acceptable •  Understand that a transition period to a new system will be necessary •  A large systems change to early childhood programs will have significant

fiscal implications

Issues for Consideration •  What are/should be statewide standards on quality, including adult-child

ratios; staff qualifications; accountability, curriculum •  What is impact on QRIS infrastructure •  Is eligibility to be determined locally? School district by district? •  How do we make progress in meeting unmet need and what about services

for 3-year olds •  What is impact on private providers and capacity of LEAs •  No new funding proposed •  What is impact of the increased minimum wage

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Child Care Voucher Proposal

Initial Details •  Trailer bill language to require CDE to develop plan to transition major

programs to voucher system over 5 years, including General Child Care and Migrant Child Care

•  Possibly year long process to develop the plan •  Goal to create a single system for serving children infancy through 3

LAO Analysis •  Would allow families similar levels of choice in selecting care •  Would need corresponding change in standards •  Plan does not address other critical issues in current system

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Legislative Priorities and Context

•  Women’s Legislative Caucus seeks $800 million increase in ECE funding

•  Informational ECE committee hearings in Senate & Assembly in February

•  New Speaker with early childhood experience - March

•  Budget Subcommittee Hearings in Assembly and Senate in mid-April

•  State Revenues & P98 outlook – continue to improve. Budget Year & BY+1,

available one-time and ongoing funding. Governor proposes majority of P98

increase to the Local Control Funding Formula

•  Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) – new language on early childhood

education (Title I, Title II, Title III, new preschool development grant),

including requirement for districts to collaborate with early childhood

programs

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Advisory Panel on Revisions to Child Development Permit Matrix

•  Panel established pursuant to budget trailer bill SB 858 in 2014 to consider revisions and

rationale to changes in the permit matrix. Twenty panelists selected to represent all sectors:

community colleges, public and private four year higher education institutions, local education

agencies, providers, educators. State agency liaisons: CDE, 1st 5 California

•  Panel chaired by Deborah Stipek, Dean, Stanford Graduate School of Education

•  Robust discussions at meetings August through December 2015 on potential revisions to matrix

and ideas for future improvement of the system of support, preparation and quality of early

childhood educators. See notes posted on CTC site for summary of recommendations.

•  http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/early-care.html

•  Meeting in May 2016 to finalize recommendations to the Commission.

•  Great interest in the Institute of Medicine report, Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth

through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation.

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January 10th: Governor’s Budget released

February through mid- March: DOF stakeholder meetings Budget subcommittee hearings begin

April Budget Subcommittee Hearings 1st Policy Committee hrngs on ECE bills State Advisory Council on Early Learning meets (Minimum wage)

Timeline & Key Dates

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May: Governor’s May Revision Advisory Panel on Child Devel Permit

June: Legislature must pass budget

August 31st: Legislature adjourns

September: Governor signs or vetoes by 9/30

November: Candidate elections & ballot measures ESSA State Plan for State Board review

Timeline & Key Dates

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Looking Ahead

•  Questions

•  Discussion

Thank you!

Andrea Ball

aball@earlyedgecalifornia.org

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