EEC Board Committee on Policy and Programs

Monday, April 6, 2009 2:00-5:00pm

Department of Early Education and Care 51 Sleeper Street, 4th Floor Boston, MA 02210

MINUTES

Members of the Committee Present: Elizabeth Childs, M.D, Chair Mary Pat Messmer Carol Craig O’Brien Sharon Scott-Chandler Sherri Killins, Ed.D, EEC Commissioner (ex officio)

EEC Staff Present: Amy Kershaw, EEC Deputy Commissioner for Programs Phil Baimas, Associate Commissioner for Quality / Workforce Development Amy Checkoway, UPK Project Manager Janet McKeon, Associate Commissioner for Family Access and Affordability Anita Moeller, Associate Commissioner for Child/Family Support Services Dena Papanikolaou, General Counsel Kelly Schaffer, UPK Program Associate Nicole Yacovone, EEC Policy Analyst

The meeting was called to order at: 2:15 p.m.

Welcome and Introductions

I. Child Care Regulations Reform

Discussion: Three issues that were identified at the last Board Policy and Program Committee were discussed; they included: oral health, use (fall) zones, and professional development regarding diverse learners.

Committee Recommendations: Several options were presented to the Committee and after a discussion; it was decided to recommend the following to the full Board:

(1) All child care programs that children attend for more than four hours per day or that offer a meal to children would be required to promote effective dental hygiene by assisting children in brushing their teeth. School age programs where children attend for more than four hours per day only during school vacation weeks will be exempt from this requirement but still offered technical assistance;

(2) Family child care programs that install playground equipment after the effective date of the new regulations shall be required to have impact absorbing material in fall zones, and all other family child care programs will be required to have impact absorbing material installed in fall zones by 2012 in accordance with Department policy; and

(3) Increase percentage of professional development that must address diverse learners from 25% to 33%. Professional development workgroup should draft a statement that all professional development must include content related to working with children who are diverse learners. Workgroup also to research the availability of training that meets this requirement.

51 Sleeper Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02210 • Tel: 617-988-6600 • Fax: 617-988-2451 • [email protected] www.eec.state.ma.us II. FY2010 EEC Grant Awards

Disclosures: Carol Craig O’Brien, Mary Pat Messmer and Sharon Scott-Chandler disclosed that their organizations are recipients of EEC grant funding and may be interested in applying for future funding.

Discussion and Committee Recommendations:

Integrated Local Family Access and Community Engagement Infrastructure Discussion: The Committee reviewed the next version of the Integrated Local Family Access and Community Engagement concept paper and reviewed the EEC Advisory Team’s feedback.

Mary Pat Messmer asked if a sliding fee could be considered for use in MFN programs. She felt many families would be willing to pay and would allow for a shift in state resources toward at-risk.

Recommendation to Board: In FY2010 offer a voluntary consolidated application that includes a set of outcomes for communities for Community Partnerships for Children Local Planning and Coordination, Mass Family Networks, Parent-Child Home Program and Joint Family Support and Planning funds; plan for a potential competitive bid in FY2011.

Universal Pre-K (UPK) Classroom Quality Grant Criteria Discussion: The Committee discussed several refinements for the FY2010 Universal Pre-K (UPK) Classroom Quality Grant renewal application. Staff recommendations were based on feedback from the Advisory Team and the UPK working group, evaluation findings, and grant reviews. The changes included: establish detailed grant outcomes, add new reporting requirements, narrow the way funds may be used, and simplify program administration. The Committee discussed the importance of continuing discussions about the longer term vision for UPK. The Committee also considered if current grantees should receive reduced funding in future years so funds may be shifted to new programs.

Recommendation to Board: The Board should be presented with the staff suggestions for FY2010 renewal application change and continue broader discussions on overall system planning.

Professional Development/Accreditation Grants Discussion: The Committee discussed the potential combination of Professional Development and Accreditation Grants to Community Partnerships for Children (CPC) programs. This would: increase the viability of the funding and provide a greater opportunity to define the essential local functions for professional development. The new grant would also include clearly defined and required outcomes.

Recommendation to the Board: Present combined grant recommendation as discussed for Board input.

III. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funding Discussion: The Committee reviewed the ideas for ARRA funded initiatives generated from the field and discussed the EEC Advisory Team feedback/prioritization. The AT recommended prioritizing ARRA Quality funds to help programs meet existing quality standards and requirements including accreditation, the revised regulations and implementing a child assessment system. The Committee added the need to provide some incentive grants to local communities in various stages of local planning for a coordinated infrastructure of family access and community engagement. The Advisory Team recommended prioritizing ARRA Access funds for summer-only vouchers, extending child care benefits for the purposes of job search up to 26 weeks, developing a two-year self sufficiency voucher for working families.

The Committee discussed the importance of ensuring that summer-only vouchers be focused on children in Commissioner’s district and that programs who participate should have some focus on summer learning retention and promotion. The Committee further discussed prioritizing ARRA Access funds to families who might otherwise lose care as a result of the Income Eligible Child Care re-procurement (i.e., families enrolled in programs who no longer receive contracts or receive fewer contract slots). Commissioner Killins requested that the Committee consider making a recommendation on the summer-only aspect of the discussion for the Board’s consideration and vote at the next meeting. Given the timing of summer programming, there is an urgency to notify families. The Committee concurred and decided to recommend limiting the funding for this purpose to up to $2.5 million.

IV. Other Pressing Policy and Program Agenda Items N/A The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

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