California

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Californias Early Learning Quality Improvement
System Advisory Committee

• March 23, 2009
• Roberta Peck, CDE/CDD Consultant

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Early Learning Quality Improvement System (EL
QIS) Advisory Committee

• Review Committee
• Membership
• Purpose and Functions
• Survey results
• Note Discussion of Committee and Subcommittee
  work plan and process will occur in the afternoon

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Advisory Committee Members

• Gavin Payne, Deputy Superintendent of Public
  Instruction
• Glen Thomas, Secretary of Education
• Dave Gordon, Superintendent, Sacramento County
  Office
• Joan Buchanan, Assembly Member
• Jeannie Oropeza, Dept. of Finance
• John Wagner, Social Services
• Kris Perry, First 5 California
• Celia Ayala, Los Angeles Universal Preschool
• Dennis Vicars, Human Management Corporation
• Cliff Marcussen, Options
• Consuelo Espinoza, West Ed
• Yolie Flores Aguilar, Los Angeles Unified School
  District

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Purpose

• Improve outcomes for children and reduce
  Californias school readiness gap by improving
  the quality of our early learning and care
  programs.

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CA Early Learning Recommendations

• State Superintendents P-16 Council Report,
  Closing the Achievement Gap (2008)
• Governors Committee on Education Excellence
  Report, Students First Renewing Hope for
  Californias Future (2008)
• California Joint Committees Master Plan for
  Education (2002)

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Authorized through SB 1629 Steinberg 2008

• State Superintendent
• Children Now
• Preschool California
• CA Child Development Administrators Assoc.
• Senators Steinberg and Romero
• Assembly Members Jones, Arambula, Brownley, Coto,
  Huffman, Karnette, Laird, Mullin, Nunez

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Californias Early Learning Quality Improvement
System

• Assessment and analysis of existing ECE
  infrastructure
• Development of early learning quality rating
  scale for birth to 5 programs
• Development of a funding model aligned with the
  quality rating scale
• Make recommendations on local, state, federal,
  and private resources

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so
much. -Helen Keller
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Californias Early Learning Quality Improvement
System

• Intended for all children including English
  learners and children with disabilities and other
  special needs.

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Timeline for the ELQIS Advisory Committee

• Two Years
• Interim report to Legislature and Governor by
  12/09
• Final report to Legislature and Governor by 12/10

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Funding for the ELQIS Advisory Committee

• Provided through the leadership and commitment
  to high quality early learning programs of the
  First 5 California Children and Families
  Commission.

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EL QIS Webpage CDEhttp//www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/r
e/ sb1629advisorycommittee.asp

• Includes
• Co-Chairs Welcome
• Enabling Legislation
• FAQs
• AC Member Listing with Bios and Photos
• Meeting Agendas and Materials
• Press Releases

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Committee Survey Results

• Big Wish
• Integrate with current quality improvement
  efforts
• Robust and fully funded
• Inclusive system for licensed ECE with support
  for all subsidized ECE
• Reward improved quality
• Agree and set measureable milestones with
  timelines
• Pilot and demonstrate impact on child outcomes

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Issues

• Families integrated into early learning system
• Support for children who are English learners,
  have special needs, are in foster care
• Balanced 0-5 support systems
• Costs of quality, such as licensing, viable SRR,
  tiered reimbursement
• Support diversity of professionals and programs
• Professional development, compensation, and
  support for teaching staff
• Review licensed and license-exempt systems

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Opportunities and Resources

• Resources for training tied to financial
  incentives
• Use available info from other states and counties
• High expectations of Committee to produce
  recommendations quickly
• Strong Co-Chair (and Committee) support to
  implement recommendations
• Federal advocacy to support California efforts
• Include adequate staffing and expertise
• Open-minded Committee members

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Priorities

• Move quickly to maximize federal resources and
  other leveraging
• Produce recommendations that garner support
• Systems to track results and focus on continuous
  improvement
• English learners, special needs, foster children
• Parents
• Funding and teacher prep and support
• Expansive curriculum that embraces diversity
• Analyze assets and work together for coordinated
  system

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Scope of Work and Process

• Stay tuned for our work together this afternoon