Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)Phase-In Planning and FY08 Expansion

EEC Board MeetingTuesday, October 9, 2007

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Key Challenges to High-Quality UPK

Families must have access to programs that meet their needs.

Programs must be adequately funded and supported to provide the highest quality to truly prepare children for school success.

Families must be able to afford to enroll children in high quality programs.

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Current State: Access Challenge

Over 2/3 of pre-k children in Massachusetts regularly receive care outside of their home.

Overall, access to care is not the most significant problem for families of pre-school aged children.

Access to quality and affordability of pre-k are our two greatest challenges.

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Current State: Quality Challenge

Accreditation:

• 41% of licensed programs are accredited by NAEYC.

• About 15% of public school pre-k programs are accredited by NAEYC and 2% by NEASC.

• Approximately 7% of family child care providers are accredited by the NAFCC or have a CDA.

• Other accreditation equivalencies still being researched.

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Current State: Quality Challenge

Staff Qualifications and Compensation:

Based on limited data, ~28% center-based pre-k classrooms have a teacher with a B.A. or higher in field of early education.

Based on limited data, ~13% of family child care providers have a B.A. or higher.

The average salary of a pre-k teacher in Massachusetts is 42% less than that of public school kindergarten teacher.

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Current State: Quality Challenge

Child Assessment Data from 2006 survey: Use of some type of child assessment tool:

Single site child care centers: 63% Multi-site programs: 81% Family child care homes in systems: 64% Independent family child care homes: 13%

Of the programs using an assessment tool, about half use a “homegrown” tool.

About 30% of centers and homes were using one of the four EEC selected tools.

Public school pre-k program use of assessment still being researched.

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Current State: Affordability Challenge

~33% of pre-k children enrolled in publicly subsidized program. ~5,000 pre-k children on EEC’s waiting list (# of eligible families likely much larger).

Pre-k in MA is 4th least affordable in nation: Parents most frequently cite cost as early

education element they would like to change. Parent making $29,000 (50% of SMI) with one

pre-k child must pay more than one-third of income for full-time pre-k. With state financial assistance, this parent pays 50% of cost (16% of income).

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UPK Phase-In Guiding Principles

• Start with priority for low-income/educationally at-risk children and move toward universal;

• Build on existing mixed delivery system and current pre-k funding;

• Create universal quality standard that is identifiable to parents;

• Set high standards and help programs achieve those standards;

• Fund programs adequately to maintain standards;• Ensure access and choice for working families;• Ensure access and choice for families with children

with special needs; and• Build a UPK system, not a program.

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UPK Phase-In Key System Components

Parent Affordability and Access

Provider Quality

Statewide System Approach

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UPK Phase-In Key System Components

Expand Parent Affordability and Access by:

1. Providing voluntary UPK “Scholarships” to all children, starting with low-income and educationally at-risk

2. Launching a Comprehensive Parent Information Campaign to build recognition of quality as critical element in parent choice

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UPK Phase-In Key System Components

Support Provider Quality by:

3. Establishing a Quality Rating System

4. Awarding UPK Quality Grants directly to providers

5. Providing Capacity-Building Resourcesto help providers reach UPK standard

6. Providing Professional Development for teachers, program directors, and other staff to build expertise

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UPK Phase-In Key System Components

Support Statewide System Approach by:

7. Building statewide capacity to support UPK Program Development, Administration, and Oversight

8. Creating Tax Subsidies and Incentives to achieve full funding

9. Ensuring Uniform Access and Continuity of Care for all Families

10. Supporting Regional and Local Infrastructure of Comprehensive Services and Supports

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UPK Phase-In Next Steps

Continue to seek feedback on approach Align work and coordinate with

Readiness Project Refine assumptions/develop cost

estimates for each component Develop phase-in scenarios Continue development of QRS Identify potential existing and new

revenue sources at all levels

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Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)FY08 Expansion

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FY07 UPK Background

FY07 budget provided $4.6 million in funding for pilot implementation grants Classroom Quality Grants

• Grants to 131 programs and 187 preschool classrooms/settings that met all UPK quality criteria

Assessment Planning Grants• Grants to 60 agencies and 150 sites to

implement developmentally appropriate assessment and position them for participation in UPK in future

FY08 renewal applications in process for all eligible FY07 UPK classroom quality grantees Estimated annual awards of $4.3m to ~129

sites

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FY08 UPK “Expansion” Funds FY08 budget provided increase of

$2.5 million for UPK (Total=$7,138,739) EEC will conduct an open RFR process

for all eligible programs Issues for Board Consideration Today

Quality Criteria Selection Process Assessment Support FY2008 UPK Allocation

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FY08 UPK Classroom Quality GrantsRecommended FY08 Program/Classroom Eligibility Criteria

*The four EEC-approved assessment tools include: Work Sampling, High Scope Child Observation Record (COR), Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum, and Ages and Stages. Assessment planning grantees had to meet all quality criteria, except for the use of an EEC approved assessment tool for at least one year. **NEASC to be included in FY08 accreditation options.

Criteria FY07 FY08

EEC Licensed or License-Exempt Use one of four EEC-approved assessment tools for at least one year*

Use Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences and Early Childhood Program Standards For Three and Four Year Olds (center-based programs only)

Have teacher/provider with BA in each UPK classroom/setting

Use as priority criteria

Have National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation or National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) accreditation or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential for family child care

**

Serve or willing to serve EEC subsidized children Provide access to full-day/full-year services (directly or through partnership)

(either/or)

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FY08 UPK Classroom Quality GrantsRecommended Selection Process

To ensure a mixed delivery system and a focus on low-income/educationally at-risk children EEC recommends:

Step 1 Allocate portion of funding for each region based on population of living in families at or below 85% SMI.

Step 2 Allocate a portion of funding within each region for each provider type, based on proportion of that type of provider within the region.

Step 3 If applicant pool still exceeds available funding for any given provider type, prioritize: Programs with classrooms led by BA teachers (in addition to all other eligibility criteria)Schools designated as “Corrective Action”

Step 4 If applicant pool still exceeds available funding for any given provider type, prioritize: Current UPK quality grantees with additional qualifying classroomsEligible programs that applied for FY07 grants and were not chosen

FY07 planning grantees (if eligibility criteria met) Step 5 If applicant pool still exceeds available funding for any given provider

type, conduct a random selection process.

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FY08 Recommended Strategy for Supporting Child Assessment

Provide new Assessment Planning Grants to eligible programs to implement child assessment;

Provide technical assistance on assessment implementation to current grantees; and

Coordinate statewide trainings on assessment for grantees and other interested programs (basic through advanced)

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FY08 UPK Classroom Quality GrantsProposed Timeline For RFR Process

October 9 Board vote on expansion funding

By October 19 Post RFR

November 16 RFR due

Selection and eligibility confirmation process at EEC

Early January 2008 Awards announced

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Proposed FY08 UPK Allocation

Program Component Cost UPK Classroom Quality Grants – FY07 Renewal Grants

$4,245,395*

UPK Classroom Quality Grants** – New Grantees 1,246,672 Assessment Planning Grants 1,000,000 Assessment Capacity Building and TA 146,672 Program Development, Management, and Oversight

200,000

IT System Development and Management 150,000 Program Evaluation 150,000 Total

$7,138,739

*May adjust slightly during renewal award process **6-month grants from J anuary-J une 2008; will annualize in FY09