Assembly on State Issues
Children, Families and Health Committee
July 2000 Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois
Early Learning and Literacy: Collaborating for Success
A joint session with the AFI Human Services Committee, the AFI Education, Labor and Job Training Committee, and the ASI Education Committee, hosted by the Danforth Policymakers Program.
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Presiding: |
Representative: Ken Svedjan, North Dakota
Chair, AFI Human Services Committee |
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Speakers: |
Helen Blank, Children's Defense Fund, Washington, D.C.
Tom Schultz, U.S. Head Start Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Representative Evelyn Lynn, Florida |
Background
Quality early childhood education programs pay off for children in many ways, according to a wide range of research findings. Positive outcomes include better success in school, lower likelihood of criminal activity and better relations with adults and peers. State partnering with the federal Head Start program has helped expand services to children from low-income families while promoting quality programs. This session highlighted recent state preschool and early literacy initiatives, especially in the context of promoting literacy and education success.
State Trends
Forty-two states and the District of Columbia have established prekindergarten programs. Helen Blank, Children's Defense Fund, discussed key issues related to these programs, including funding levels, policy goals, eligibility and full-day services. Ms. Blank drew on her recent publication, Seeds of Success: State Prekindergarten Initiatives 1998-1999 as she discussed examples of state funding and structural policies and focused on legislatively established policies and programs. She also talked about states that complement their programs with comprehensive services to help support parents as required by Head Start, the federal preschool program for low-income families, and states that fund Head Start with state dollars.
Federal Collaboration
States are coordinating their preschool and other early childhood programs with Head Start even if they do not supplement Head Start with state money. U.S. Head Start State Collaboration director Tom Schultz discussed state Head Start-related actions, particularly how states collaborate with state prekindergarten programs and child care subsidies and described Head Start's importance. He highlighted state examples of effective funding initiatives, innovative organizational structures and processes, and their impacts on quality services. Schultz also talked about Head Start's impact on infants and toddlers through the Early Head Start program. Many states are using federal welfare dollars for Head Start, according to Schultz, and some of these funds help states blend Head Start with child care and preschool programs for language development, early literacy and teacher training. Schultz said that the bureau will be working more with states to develop outcome accountability measurements.
A State Approach
Florida's recent wide-ranging school readiness law included innovative approaches in this area, as discussed by Representative Evelyn Lynn. These approaches include expanding preschool income eligibility so it matches with child care eligibility, helping with the coordination of these two programs. The Florida policy also establishes quality standards and involves child care resource and referral services with preschool programs. It draws on multiple funding sources including state funds, federal child care and welfare funds, Head Start, the lottery, education dollars, Title I, and Even Start, which focuses on family literacy. The program also includes a parent copayment. Representative Lynn said that both the executive and legislative branches worked on developing the policy and the state's partnerships with businesses enhanced the process.
Handouts from the session are available upon request.
Seeds of Success: State Prekindergarten Initiatives 1998-1999, Children's Defense Fund, 1999
Making Child Care Better: State Initiatives, NCSL (Groginsky, Robison, Smith), October 1999
Analysis of Florida's 1999 school readiness bill
New Information on Head Start Results for Children and Families, Family and Child Experiences Survey
Child Care, Early Education and School Age Care: Investing in our Future, Children's Defense Fund
NCSL contacts: Scott Groginsky or Julie Poppe
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