Child Care and Early Education Legislative Network E-Update
December, 2005
In This Update
With the support of the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, NCSL will support state legislatures to ensure children enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed. Forms of assistance include connecting legislators with research, particularly the science of child development and the economic data; distributing information about research and policy approaches to state legislatures; convening legislators; and providing assistance to promote effective state policies. Policy areas include child care, preschool, quality approaches, financing, infant and toddler initiatives and parent support. NCSL's recent work on this initiative includes the launch of a Legislative Working Group and Partnering Science and Policy in New Hampshire.
In November, NCSL, in partnership with the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, convened a joint Legislative Working Group in Arlington, VA. The mission is to increase member’s capacity to communicate scientific findings on early childhood development; to identify effective ways of communicating with state policymakers on early childhood; and to assist states in thinking about next steps that connect early brain development with state policy decisions. States represented on the working group include: Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin. Thank you to all who attended. The next meeting will be after most of the 2006 legislative sessions have ended.
NCSL staff were in New Hampshire on November 21 to help convene a day-long forum called A Legislative Forum: Linking Successful Learners, Strong Families and Economic Prosperity. Convened by the Speaker of the House Douglas Scamman and the Children and Family Law Committee, the day included remarks from the Speaker and Governor John Lynch. The forum provided a look at the science of early childhood development; an overview of state advances in early childhood policies; and an analysis of approaches to work and family issues and economic development. The day concluded with a panel of legislative leaders, the Commissioner of Education and the CEO of Delta Dental.
In mid-October, NCSL convened legislators from eleven states for an institute titled Moving Forward with Prekindergarten: An Institute for Legislative Leaders. The two-day meeting, sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts, presented the latest research on prekindergarten and explored key policy topics such as financing and teacher quality. State leaders heard highlights from other states and had an opportunity to plan next steps for their state. Participating states were: Arkansas, California, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. NCSL is planning another institute for early summer.
In 2005, pre-k funding increased in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Ten states increased funding by over 30%. Highlights include:
Arkansas- The state’s pre-k initiative, Arkansas Better Chance, received a 39%, or $20 million, funding increase.
Illinois- For the third straight year, the Illinois legislature allocated an additional $30 million for the Early Childhood Block Grant. This brings Illinois’ investment in early education to a total of $180 million over the past three years.
Tennessee- With bipartisan support, the Early Childhood Education Pilot Project experienced a 250% increase in funding.
Virginia- The Virginia Preschool Initiative received a 33.5% increase, bringing its total budget to $46.6 million.
*Source: Data in the legislative highlights section was retrieved from “Votes Count: Legislative Action on Pre-K, Fiscal Year 2006” by Pre-K Now.
Our staff is accessible provide a range of technical assistance such as:
- Timely responses to information requests
- Research on early education and child care issues
- Enhanced communication by connecting legislators across states
- Prepare options that are based on other states’ experiences and legislation
- Connect legislators and legislative staff with policy experts, scientists, economists, and stakeholders, who can help identify options for your state
- Facilitate discussions with policy makers and stakeholders
- Short-term or in-depth technical assistance to state legislators interested in child care, early education, and pre-kindergarten issues.
NCSL staff can testify at committee hearings; arrange for experts to address specific topics; offer ideas from other states about program or financing options; or assist with specific legislation.
The Child Care and Early Education Project provides up-to-date early childhood information for state legislators and legislative staff. The project recently published the reports listed below.
Helping Young Children Succeed: Strategies to Promote Early Childhood Social and Emotional Development, Julie Cohen and Ngozi Onunaku, Zero To Three; Steffanie Clothier and Julie Poppe, NCSL, September 2005
"The Preschool Promise," State Legislatures magazine, Julie Poppe and Steffanie Clothier, June 2005
Early Education in the States: A Year in Review-2004, Steffanie Clothier, March 2005.
Governing Early Education Programs, NCSL LegisBrief, Steffanie Clothier and Amber Minogue, February 2005
Measuring Progress Toward School Readiness, Amber Minogue and Steffanie Clothier, January 2005
New Research: Early Education as Economic Investment, Steffanie Clothier and Julie Poppe, December 2004
You are encouraged to view our webpage to read more about the Child Care and Early Education Project.
 Child Care and Early Education Legislative Network E-Update
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