Turnaround Ohio Early Care & Education

1. Turnaround OhioEarly Care & Education "Just For You: Supporting Inclusion in Preschool Classrooms September 6, 2007Columbus, Ohio

2. Overview • Historical Perspective • Turnaround Ohio/Budget • Early Childhood Cabinet • What May the Future Hold?

3. Ohio’s Children • 884,593 children under the age of 6 • 62% of these children live in families with all parents working • 22% of children under 5 live in poverty • 1 in 6 children is hungry or at risk of hunger

4. Ohio’s Children • Nearly 1/3 of the 130,000 children entering kindergarten are NOT prepared • 36% of fourth graders read below grade level • 34% of fourth graders perform below grade level in math

5. Ohio’s ECE System • Infant care in 7 urban counties= $170.00 per week • Average current wage for ODJFS licensed center is $9.81 compared to $18.90 per hour in ODE programs • 44% of teachers in ODJFS licensed programs have an AA or higher • No licensing regulations for family child care home businesses • 376 NAEYC accredited programs; 292 rated programs under SUTQ

6. Governor Ted Strickland • Identified ECE as a priority • Economic development strategy • Supports all developmental domains

7. A Fair Start for Every Ohio Child • Work to make high quality early care and learning for all children a reality in Ohio • Recognize the critical importance of a child’s social, emotional and physical development to school readiness and lifelong learning • Realign state government to promote healthy early childhood development

8. After the Election… • Development of a Resource Group on ECE • Release of the State of the State • Executive Order-March 19, 2007

9. Turnaround Budget Priorities • All children • All settings • All developmental domains • Elimination of barriers for families • Streamline policies for providers • Maximize federal and other resources

10. Turnaround Budget Priorities • Increased statewide investments in HMG, Public School Preschool/ECE, SUTQ, Child Care, system supports, mental health treatment • Harmonizing eligibility • ELI Policy Changes • Work requirement • 12-month determination • Payment structure • 6-6 rule for families • Teacher qualifications

11. Turnaround Budget Priorities • Public School Preschool/ECE • Accessible to new districts • December 1 start date • System Supports • Training System • Additional Infant and Toddler Specialists • T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Ohio scholarships • Increased CCR&R Core Services

12. Early Childhood Cabinet • Six state agencies • Convened in May • Vision and Mission • Stakeholder Input

13. Early Childhood Cabinet System Elements • Quality Early Care & Education Settings • Professional & Workforce Development • Governance & Accountability • Financing • Involved Families, Informed Public

14. What the Future Holds… • Firming Up Our Foundation • Financing Strategies • Consistency with professional development, technical assistance and program standards • Accountability of state agencies

15. What the Future Holds… • Common data sets • Higher minimum qualifications for programs and professionals • Revised teacher prep programs

16. Challenges/Opportunities • Vision matched with implementation • Universal vs. targeted • Sustainability • Resiliency

17. Thank you • leatha@odjfs.state.oh.us614-752-2196 • Questions