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Massachusetts State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. Grant Application May 2010. Background.
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Massachusetts State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care Grant Application May 2010
Background • The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 requires the Governor of each “State” to designate or establish a council to serve as the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care for children from birth to school entry. • To be eligible to receive a grant, a State must prepare and submit an application for a three-year period that addresses select criteria • The State Advisory Council is responsible for leading the development or enhancement of a high-quality, comprehensive system of early childhood development and care that ensures statewide coordination and collaboration among the range of programs and services in the State, including: child care, Head Start, IDEA preschool and infants and families programs, pre-kindergarten programs and services.
Required Grant Activities • A statewide strategic report addressing the activities of the Advisory Council • How funds will be used to improve school preparedness by developing or enhancing programs and activities consistent with the statewide strategic plan • A description of the State early learning standards and the State's goals for increasing the number of children entering kindergarten ready to learn • The agency or joint interagency office, and the individual designated by the Governor to coordinate the activities of the State Advisory Council • A description of how the State plans to sustain activities beyond the grant period
Key Sectors of the Service System A sample of programs included within each sector in a birth through age 8 system: • Physical, oral and mental health services: health insurance, prenatal care, developmental screenings, well child visits, nutrition and food programs, dental care • Family supports and services: family literacy, parenting education, fiscal supports, family friendly work policies, parental mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse or incarceration, housing, child welfare • Early education and care: licensed and unlicensed family-based child care, center-based child care, preschool and Head Start, and • Early intervention: Early Head Start, B-3 programs and preschool special education.
State Advisory Council Functions • Needs assessment • Early education and care collaboration • Early education and care enrollment & outreach • Unified data collection • Quality improvement in early education and care (NEW MA Item) • Professional development • Early education-higher education workforce preparation partnerships • Early learning standards
Six Focus Areas for ARRA Grant • Early Childhood Information System development and use (2010-2013) • Needs Assessment (2010-2012) • B-8 Community Planning and PreK-3 Partnerships (2010-2013) • Early Education/Higher Education Data Partnership (2010-2011) • Policy/Best Practices: Children & Families Limited English Proficient and/or developmental delays or multiagency Involvement (2010-2013) • ARRA Council Implementation Support and Accountability (2010-2013)
Fiscal Requirements • States are required to meet a non-Federal share of 70% of the total approved cost of the project • The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions • No waivers allowed • Non-federal share may include: • investments in early childhood education and development programs, • Workforce professional development, • “in-kind” contributions of real property, equipment and supplies • services, fairly valued, provided by State employees, consultants and Advisory Committee members with direct and tangible benefits for the SAC
Public Comments • Expand focus areas to include children with developmental delays • Create a stronger partnership for DPH and EI to address children with developmental delays • Ensure community based planning birth to 8 includes a family focus • Add data and language regarding homelessness as a risk factor; also incorporate into the needs assessment and as a focus for improved collaborations • Needs assessment: shorten, allow for handwritten comments and reduce language barriers • Review other relevant state reports vs. focusing on local data • Include a compensation strategy and a study of rates • Include Commonwealth Corporation, not only Bessie Tartt Wilson Foundation • Professional Registry System should also incorporate a methodology on adult learners
Board Approval • EEC request the board approve the submission of this grant application.