OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EARLY LEARNING CHALLENGE GRANT

UPDATE FOR THE ECLC

February 14th, 2013

THE EARLY LEARNING CHALLENGE GRANT BASICS

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• Colorado received $29.9M for a four year grant (starting January 2013 from the US Department of Education.

• The Department of Human Services Office of Early Childhood is responsible for administration of the grant.

• We have until March 29th to formally submit final project plans to the US Department of Education

• The grant is designed specifically to achieve the following:o Increase the number and percentage of low-income and disadvantaged

children in each age group of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are enrolled in high-quality early learning programs

o Design and implement an integrated system of high-quality early learning programs and services

o Ensure that any use of assessments conforms with the recommendations of the National Research Council's reports on early childhood.

o Ensure investments in early childhood education equate to better school readiness.

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Revisiting the Grant: Targets and Benefits

Ambitious Targets Real BenefitsDeliver higher quality programs to high need families

• High need families have better access to higher quality programs with a specific focus on high need families.

Strong statewide governance model with a local focus

• Intentional focus on high need kids• Data driven • Consolidated program oversight• Strong accountability with localized domain

All licensed early learning program providers engaged in Tiered Quality Rating System.

• More access to higher quality programs for high needs kids• Improved program quality and better school readiness

Implementation of early child development standards

• Improves program and provider quality• Engages Families in development/school readiness• Establishes a consistent foundation

Provide incentives for local councils and providers to improve program quality.

• Improved quality for high need places• Flexibility to meet local needs• Ability to implement strategic components

Deploy kindergarten readiness assessments statewide

• Assess K-Readiness • Support continuous improvement through deployment

Develop highly qualified early childhood workforce

• More effective, higher quality programs• Credit workforce for prior competencies• Provide career ladders through the registry

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THE GRANT PROJECTS

Overall Grant Management: Coordinated emphasis on Increasing Access to High Quality Programs for Children

with High Needs($6.2M)

QRIS: Improving Program Quality With Focus on Continuous Improvement

($12.5M)

Highly Qualified Workforce ($5.1M)

Results Matter for children 0-4 years

($2.5M)

Early Learning and Development

Guidelines ($500k)

Statewide Kindergarten Readiness

($2.9M)

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01/31/2013 ELCG Planning5

PLANNING STAGE: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ECLC Executive Director (Stedron)

Standards(Stedron)

Grant Coordination (Browning and Callegari)

Office of Early ChildhoodDirector (Snyder)

TQRIS(OEC)

Workforce (Triolo-

Moloney)

Universal App and ECDS(Browning)

Results Matter and K-Readiness

(Triolo- Moloney)

Governance(Tammi

Graham)

CDHS CDHS CDHS CDE CDECDHS

SUMMARY INVESTMENTS

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• State personnel to provide project management and communication.

• Leadership and staffing to deploy Kindergarten Readiness and Result Readiness

• Technical expertise to support large scale technology projects

• $3.1M for local councils

• $2.25M for workforce development and incentives

• $2.5M for workforce coaching and scholarships

• $500k for shared service pilots

• $2.25M financial incentives to improve quality

• $1M for program evaluation

• $4M for next generation TQRIS (includes training and support)

• $2.5M Million for Universal Application

• $750k for Workforce LMS and Registry

• $875k for communication

People Programs Systems

POSSIBLE AREAS FOR ECLC PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT

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• Communication and statewide public awareness campaigns

• Guiding principles for how incentives and other resources are sourced (workforce scholarships, TQRIS incentives, and funding to local councils)

• Input in evaluation, metrics, and communication around the grant.

• Other thoughts?

KEY PLANNING PRODUCTION DEADLINES

Draft SOWs and budgets for projects: February 15nd (Team Leads)

SOW and Budget Review / Consistency Checks February 22nd (William/Jason)

SOW and Budget Reviews (External Stakeholders) March 8th

Draft Program Review (US Ed) March 15th

SubmissionMarch 29th

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