Urban Institute Assessment Update Fiscal Committee May 5, 2014

1. Urban Institute Assessment UpdateFiscal CommitteeMay 5, 2014

2. Assessment Mandate –FY14 Line Item 1599-0500 • Chapter 38 of the Acts of 2013 (the FY14 budget) included $500K and a mandate for a 2-year assessment of the provision of childcare supports funded in items 3000-3050, 3000-4050, 3000-4060, and 3000-4070. • The goals of the assessment, as detailed in budget language, are to: • Identify ways to improve the regional and statewide efficiency of the distribution of state-supported childcare; • Analyze the childcare needs of eligible families with regard to the availability of childcare vouchers or contracted childcare slots in different geographic regions of the commonwealth; and • Evaluate the balance of providing quality early childhood education with providing workforce support for guardians.

3. Assessment Components • Assessment of Subsidy Eligibility Policies and Practices • Will identify the key policies and practices that shape the child care eligibility process. • Will be completed through the course of four reviews with EEC staff, CCRRs, and contracted providers. • Will also provide context for the Assessment of Current Business Practices below. • Assessment of Budgetary Policies and Practices • Will look at the budgetary policies and practices for the caseload accounts, specifically around forecasting and managing surpluses and deficiencies. • Assessment of Current Business Practices and Service Delivery • Will use a business process improvement methodology to document current business practices and identify improvements to eliminate waste and free up resources. • In April, EEC Senior Leadership decided that the assessment will focus on Eligibility Determination, Transportation, and Technical Assistance/Training. • Review of the Child Care Needs of Families • This review will use a combination of survey and administrative data to quantify the number of children needing care and assess how well the current system is meeting those needs. • Analysis Relative to the Balance of Providing Quality Early Childhood Education with Providing Workforce Support

4. Assessment Timeline • December 12, 2014: Urban Institute, the selected vendor, held kickoff Meeting with EEC Staff, including staff interviews • December 2013 - January 2014: Conducted stakeholder interviews • January 30, 2014: Submitted Research Design to EEC • February 20, 2014: Research Design Finalized • March 3, 2014: Submitted first mandated report to the Legislature • April 15, 2014: Half day meeting with Senior Leadership • June 1, 2014: Submit report to EEC on the Policy and Budget Assessments (First and Second Components) • September 1, 2014: Submit report to EEC on Business Practices and Service Delivery (Third Component) • December 1, 2014: Submit report to EEC on the Review of Family Needs (Fourth Component) • January 15, 2015: Submit draft final report to EEC, including the report on Workforce Supports (Fifth Component) • March 1, 2015: Submit final report to the Legislature

5. Upcoming Steps • May 7, 2014: Scoping meeting for the Assessment of Business Practices focused on Eligibility Determination • June 24-26, 2014: Business Practices Workshops focused on Eligibility Determination • July 2014: Business Practices Workshops focused on Transportation. • August 2014: Business Practices Workshops focused on Technical Assistance and Training.