File No. 507

Senate, April 13, 2011

The Committee on Education reported through SEN. STILLMAN of the 20th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 10-16y of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):

[There shall be an Office of Early Childhood Planning, Outreach and Coordination within the Department of Education. The office shall be responsible for:

(1) Planning, developing and coordinating with other agencies the delivery of services to children birth to nine years of age, inclusive;

(2) Coordinating the enhancement and implementation of the Early Childhood Information System, in consultation with the Early Childhood Education Cabinet established pursuant to section 10-16z, with the capability of tracking: (A) The health, safety and school readiness of all children receiving early care and education from any local or regional board of education or any program receiving public funding, in a manner similar to the system described in section 10-10a; (B) the characteristics of the existing and potential workforce serving such children in any local or regional school district or in a program receiving any public funding; and (C) the characteristics of the programs in which such children are served. The Department of Education shall be responsible for assigning unique identifiers to all such children and staff and programs tracked by the Early Childhood Information System. Any local or regional board of education, school readiness program, as defined in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10-16p receiving any public funding, or any child day care center described in subdivision (1) of section 19a-77 and licensed by the Department of Public Health, including any participating in a program administered by the Department of Social Services pursuant to chapter 319rr, shall ensure that all children and all staff in such center or program are entered into the Early Childhood Information System.

(3) Developing and reporting on an early childhood accountability plan, in consultation with the Early Childhood Education Cabinet;

(4) Implementing a communications strategy for outreach to families, service providers and policymakers;

(5) Beginning a state-wide longitudinal evaluation of the school readiness program, not later than January 1, 2010, in consultation with the Department of Social Services, that examines the educational progress of children from prekindergarten programs to grade four, inclusive, including a study of the reliability and validity of the kindergarten assessment tool developed pursuant to subsection (h) of section 10-14n; and

(6) Developing, coordinating and supporting public and private partnerships to aid early childhood initiatives.]

Not later than September 1, 2011, the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Social Services, shall begin, within available appropriations, a state-wide longitudinal evaluation of the school readiness program that examines the educational progress of children from prekindergarten programs to grade four, inclusive, including a study of the reliability and validity of the kindergarten assessment tool developed pursuant to subsection (h) of section 10-14n.

Sec. 2. Section 10-16z of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):

(a) There is established the Early Childhood Education Cabinet. The cabinet shall consist of: (1) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, (2) one representative from the Department of Education who is responsible for programs required under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from time to time, appointed by the Commissioner of Education, (3) the Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee, (4) a representative from an institution of higher education in this state appointed by the Commissioner of Higher Education, (5) the Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee, (6) the Commissioner of Developmental Services, or the commissioner's designee, (7) the Commissioner of [Mental Health and Addiction Services] Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee, (8) the executive director of the Commission on Children, or the executive director's designee, (9) the project director of the Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office, (10) a [representative from a Head Start program] parent or guardian of a child who attends or attended a school readiness program appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, (11) a representative of a local provider of early childhood education appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, (12) two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom is a member of the House of Representatives and one of whom is a parent who has a child attending a school in a priority school district, (13) two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom is a member of the Senate and one of whom is a representative of a public elementary school with a prekindergarten program, (14) two appointed by the Governor, one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Head Start Association and one of whom is a representative of the business or philanthropic community in this state, [appointed by the Governor,] and (15) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee. The chairperson of the council shall be appointed from among its members by the Governor.

(b) Within available appropriations and such private funding as may be available, the Early Childhood Education Cabinet shall (1) coordinate among state agencies, as well as public and private partnerships, the development of services that enhance the health, safety and learning of children from birth to nine years of age, inclusive, (2) not later than December 1, 2009, and annually thereafter, develop an annual plan of action that assigns the appropriate state agency to complete the tasks specified in the federal Head Start Act of 2007, P.L. 110-134, as amended from time to time, (3) develop and implement an early childhood information system with the capability of tracking: (A) The health, safety and school readiness of all children receiving early care and education from any local or regional board of education or any program receiving public funding, in a manner similar to the system described in section 10-10a, and (B) the characteristics of the programs in which such children are served, (4) implement a communications strategy for outreach to families, service providers and policymakers, and [(3)] (5) not later than March 1, 2010, and annually thereafter, submit an annual state-wide strategic report, pursuant to said federal Head Start Act, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, addressing the progress such agencies have made toward the completion of such tasks outlined under said federal Head Start Act and this subsection to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and human services.

(c) The Early Childhood Education Cabinet shall be within the Department of Education for administrative purposes only.

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst's professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

Section 1 of the bill eliminates the State Department of Education's (SDE) Office of Early Childhood Planning, Outreach, and Coordination. This is not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact, as there was no money appropriated for this office in FY 12 and FY 13.

Additionally, Section 1 requires SDE to perform a statewide longitudinal evaluation of early childhood programs, in consultation with the Department of Social Services (DSS). The bill specifies that SDE implement this provision of the bill within available appropriations. However, if the bill were to be implemented the costs to SDE would be up to $300,000 in FY 12. It is estimated that SDE would require additional resources to establish a data system to collect data, to analyze the data, and to report on findings.

Section 2 makes changes to the membership of the Early Childhood Education Cabinet, which is not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact.

Additionally, Section 2 transfers the responsibility for implementing an Early Childhood Education Information System and requirements for developing a communications outreach strategy from the Office of Early Childhood Planning to the Early Childhood Education Cabinet. The bill specifies that SDE implement this provision of the bill within available appropriations. However, if the bill were to be implemented there would be potential costs to SDE in FY 13. It is anticipated that the cabinet would require time to plan and discuss the most effective way to implement the information system. It is anticipated that additional resources would be required in FY 13, but the scope of those resources is indeterminate at this time.

The Out Years

There are no additional costs in the out years.

OLR Bill Analysis

sSB 1103

AN ACT CONCERNING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

SUMMARY:

This bill eliminates the State Department of Education's (SDE) Office of Early Childhood Planning, Outreach, and Coordination and some of its duties. It requires SDE to perform one of the eliminated duties: starting, not later than September 1, 2011, a statewide longitudinal evaluation of early childhood programs, in consultation with the Department of Social Services (DSS) and within available appropriations.

The bill transfers the responsibility for implementing an Early Childhood Education Information System and requirements for developing a communications outreach strategy from the Office of Early Childhood Planning to the Early Childhood Education Cabinet.

It also makes changes to the membership of the cabinet and expands the membership from 17 to 18 members.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2011

OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD PLANNING ELIMINATED AND SOME DUTIES TRANSFERRED

The bill eliminates the Office of Early Childhood Planning and its following duties:

1. planning, developing, and coordinating, with other agencies, the delivery of services to children from birth to nine years old;

2. developing and reporting on an early childhood accountability plan, in consultation with the cabinet; and

3. developing, coordinating, and supporting public and private partnerships to aid early childhood initiatives.

Longitudinal Evaluation of School Readiness Program

The bill requires SDE, in consultation with DSS and within available appropriations, to start a statewide longitudinal evaluation of early childhood programs by September 1, 2011. Under current law the early childhood office was to start the longitudinal evaluation by January 1, 2010. The provision transferring the evaluation takes effect July 1, 2011, but SDE has until September 1 to begin it.

The bill maintains the same definition of the longitudinal evaluation. It must examine the educational progress of children from pre-kindergarten programs to grade four, including a reliability and validity study of the kindergarten assessment tool required by law to measure the preparedness level of kindergarten children.

Early Childhood Information System

Under the bill, the Early Childhood Cabinet, rather than the early childhood office, must develop and implement an Early Childhood Information System capable of tracking (1) the health, safety, and school readiness of all children receiving early care and education from a local or regional board of education or any program receiving public funding and (2) the characteristics of these programs. The tracking is to be done in a manner similar to the existing public school information system.

By law, SDE must develop a public school information system that (1) assigns a unique student identifier to each student, (2) includes student transcript data, (3) includes assessments of student readiness to enter kindergarten, and (4) includes a number of other items (many focused on children older than the early childhood age range). The bill specifies that the information system being transferred to the cabinet be implemented in a manner similar to the public school information system described above. Presumably, this means it would capture the early childhood information described above as part of the public school information system.

The bill eliminates the specific requirement for Early Childhood Planning Office to assign a unique identifier for all children and staff. The bill's requirement that the early childhood information system be similar to the public school information system means it would include a unique identifier for children and teachers. Since existing law requires identifiers for all staff, a group that is larger than just certified teachers, the bill would not mandate capturing paraprofessionals or other educational employees working in early childhood

Under current law, the tracking system includes the characteristics of the existing and potential workforce employed in early childhood programs at school districts or in any publicly funded program. The bill removes this element.

The bill also requires the cabinet to implement an outreach communications strategy to families, service providers, and policymakers, which under current law, is a duty of the early childhood office.

EARLY CHILDHOOD CABINET MEMBERSHIP

The cabinet is made up of various department heads or their representatives, including SDE, DSS, and the Department of Public Health, plus legislators and representatives of prekindergarten programs.

The bill changes cabinet membership as follows, it:

1. replaces the mental health and addiction services commissioner or her designee, with the children and families commissioner,

2. changes the House minority leader's appointment from a Head Start program representative to a parent of a child attending a school readiness program, and

3. increases the gubernatorial appointments from one to two by adding a representative of the CT Head Start Association.

BACKGROUND

School Readiness

School readiness programs provide nonsectarian developmentally appropriate learning for children ages three and four (and five year olds who are not eligible to enroll in school or choose school readiness instead according to statute) at least 450 hours over at least 180 days, with some exceptions. The programs must meet state standards (CGS § 10-16p).

Early Childhood Cabinet's Duties to Satisfy Federal Head Start

The cabinet carries out various coordination and planning duties and submits annual reports to the legislature regarding the health, safety, and learning of children birth to nine years of age (CGS § 10-16z(b)). These duties are required to satisfy the federal Head Start Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-134).

COMMITTEE ACTION

Education Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute