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Public Policy

Introduction

County Legislative Agendas and Updates

State Policy

Federal Policy

Other Organizations with Public Policy Agendas

Contact Your Elected Official

Introduction

Research demonstrates that investments in high quality early care and education positively impact children, their families, and their communities. Unfortunately, too many children – particularly those who are likely to benefit the most - lack access to high quality programs that encourage their language, social and emotional, and cognitive development, connect families to health, social and nutrition services, value parents as partners, and offer opportunities for strengthening parenting skills. The Policy Roundtable for Child Care (Roundtable) and the Child Care Planning Committee (Planning Committee), in collaboration with community stakeholders, are committed to pursuing policy recommendations that contribute to improving the availability of and access to affordable high quality early care and education for all children from ages birth through 12 and their families. As such, the Planning Committee and the Roundtable, with the support of the Office of Child Care, keep abreast of research, economic trends, demographic shifts and trends, and Federal and State policies to develop recommended actions for consideration by the Board of Supervisors on early care and education issues.

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County Legislative Agendas and Updates

Each year, the Planning Committee and the Roundtable develop a public policy platform that reflects current and emerging policy issues in early care and education. The public policy platform items are consistent with the County of Los Angeles State and Federal Legislative Agendas.

By late fall, the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors adopts the State Legislative Agenda for the Legislative Session beginning in January and adopts the Federal Agenda for the upcoming session of Congress shortly thereafter. Prior to the adoption of the County agendas, the Roundtable and the Planning Committee submits recommendations on items relating to child care and development for the inclusion the State and Federal Legislative Agendas.

The Intergovernmental and External Affairs of the Chief Executive Office prepares regular updates and pursuits of position for consideration by the Board of Supervisors. The following memorandums contain updates and pursuits of positions relating to child care and development services.

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State Policy

A number of other organizations are closely monitoring and promoting action in response to the Governor’s Budget Plans. See the list of Other Organizations with Public Policy Agendas to learn about their advocacy efforts and link to sample letters that can be adapted by your organization.

Legislation Being Considered by the California State Legislature – 2009 and Federal Legislature – 111th Congress

The Joint Committee on Legislation, on behalf of the Planning Committee and Roundtable, monitors state and federal legislation relating to child care and development.

Ongoing Issues of Interest

FACILITATING THE FULL UTILIZATION OF CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS

There is widespread concern regarding the amount of Child Care and Development contract funds returned to the California Department of Education (CDE) on a regular basis. On March 4, 2008, the Planning Committee submitted a report to the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors noting that child development contractors in Los Angeles County returned $162 million dollars allocated for child care and development services between 2003 and 2006. It is critically important to note that during this same time, thousands of income eligible children were in need of and unable to access subsidized child care services in Los Angeles County. Two items were passed during the last legislative session (2008-09) aimed at reducing or eliminating this problem:

  • Assembly Bill 2759 (Assembly Member Dave Jones): This bill (Chapter 308), which was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger on September 26, 2008, will consolidate five center-based programs serving three and four year old children (State Preschool, Full-Day State Preschool, Pre-kindergarten and Family Literacy Part-Day and Full-Day, and Center Based Program) under the new California State Preschool Program (CSPP). CSPP contractors will be able to provide both full and part-day services to these children. AB 2759 becomes effective July 1, 2009. The Office of Child Care (OCC) recognizes that it will take time to determine if CSPP offers contractors the flexibility needed to fully earn their contracts. It is our intent to monitor the utilization of these dollars, as well as, the supply of and reimbursement rates for infant/toddler care. Services to infants and toddlers, which are not included in the CSPP, have been seriously eroded due to low-reimbursement rates.

  • Trailer Bill Language Related to Mid-Year Child Care Contract Adjustments: The issue of under-earning among child care and development contracts was also addressed in Budget Trailer Bill language in 2008, resulting in the following addition to the California Education Code:

    8275.5. The State Department of Education shall promote full utilization of child care and development funds and match available unused funds with identified services needs. Notwithstanding the requirements of Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, the department shall arrange interagency adjustments between different contractors with the same type of contract when both agencies mutually agree to a temporary transfer of funds for the balance of a fiscal year.

The Child Development Division (CDD) of CDE is working on this item and is currently exploring if local child care planning councils could serve as local “brokers” and facilitate the transfer of funds between under- and over- earning contractors. The Los Angeles County Child Care Planning Committee is involved in this conversation.

  • Centralized Eligibility List: In response to recommendations from the field, CDD is also launching an examination of the Centralized Eligibility List income rankings. Currently, each county is required to maintain a Centralized Eligibility List of income eligible families in need of subsidized child care services. These lists are structured to use the 66 income categories that have been established by CDE, with input from the California Department of Finance. Frequently, less than $45 per month separates one rank from the next. CDE contractors, who are attempting to fill a vacancy, are required to enroll lowest income families first. The narrowly defined income ranks make the process of searching a Centralized Eligibility List extremely time-consuming. Each day that a program operates with a vacancy contributes to a program’s inability to fully earn their contract.

In addition, the Office of Child Care, in conjunction with the Roundtable and the Child Care Planning Committee and community stakeholders, is assessing policies that impede the full utilization of State funding for child care and development services and is exploring other strategies that could facilitate the full utilization of CDE contracts. The results of those efforts will be posted at this Web site as they become available.

EARLY CHILDHOOD QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM ADVISORY COMMITTEE

On September 26, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger approved SB 1629 (Chapter 307) authored by Senator Darrell Steinberg. The bill establishes the 13 member Early Learning Quality Improvement System Advisory Committee to develop the policy and implementation plan for a statewide Early Learning Quality Improvement System. The plan is to address four elements: 1) assessment and analysis of existing early care and education infrastructure, including other state and local quality improvement systems; 2) development of early learning quality rating scale for child care and development programs serving children from birth to five years old; 3) development of a funding model assigned with the quality rating scale; and 4) recommendations on how local, state, federal and private resources can be utilized to complement a statewide funding model as part of a comprehensive effort to improve the child care and development system of the state, including preschool. An interim report on its recommendations is due to the Legislature and the Governor by December 31, 2009, and a final report by December 31, 2010. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is charged with seeking funding to cover the costs from California Children and Families Commission.

For information on efforts underway convene the Advisory Committee, including a list of members, and develop the policy and implementation plan, visit the http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/sb1629advisorycommittee.asp.

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Federal Policy

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The ARRA makes significant investments in job preservation and creation, infrastructure, energy efficiency and science, assistance to unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, The ARRA contains key provisions that will benefit early care and education.

Several national organizations are monitoring the implementation of the ARRA investments in child care and development services and have developed materials on federal policy issues including the ARRA. Among the organizations focusing on ARRA are Child Care and Education at CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy), the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Women’s Law Center, and Zero to Three. See the next section, Links to Other Organizations with Public Policy Agendas, to learn about their advocacy efforts and to access their advocacy tools.

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Links to Organizations with Public Policy Agendas and California Departments

  • Advancement Project: An innovative civil rights and policy "action tank". Believes that sustainable progress toward social justice can be made when multiple tools - including community engagement, strategic communications, research, policy analysis and law - are employed in a coordinated and integrated manner. The Advancement Project is deeply involved in efforts to provide safe, adequate learning environments for young children, aged 0-5. To learn more about the Advancement Project’s work relating to early care and education and obtain updates on the Water Cooler, visit http://www.advancementproject.org/.

  • Alliance for a Better Community (ABC): A nonprofit organization operating within an ever changing dynamic that promotes equity for Latinos in education, health, economic development and civic participation throughout the Los Angeles region. ABC’s Early Education Project is focused on preschool enrollment, K-8 student achievement, English Language Learners, and Parent Engagement. For more information, visit http://afabc.org.

  • California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC): Advocates for advancement in the early care and education profession and improvement of the lives of young children. The Public Policy Committee reviews bills related to the importance of early childhood issues and communicates regularly to legislators regarding these concerns. The Committee develops a policy platform yearly with consultation from the CAEYC Board of Directors. For more information, visit www.caeyc.org.

  • California Head Start Association (CHSA): Visit CHSA’s Web site at www.caheadstart.org to learn the history and facts on Head Start and Early Head Start, access information on conferences and trainings, follow advocacy efforts at the federal level, and subscribe to updates.

  • California Budget Project: Engages in independent fiscal and policy analysis and public education with the goal of improving public policies affecting the economic and social well-being of low- and middle-income Californians. For additional information visit http://www.cbp.org.

  • California Child Care Resource & Referral Network: Provides leadership and vision for the continuous development and improvement of resource and referral services statewide, helping to build, support, and advocate for a quality child care system that supports the diversity of families and children in every community in California. Among its projects is the publication of the Child Care Portfolio, a biennial series of statewide and county-by-county statistical reports about child care costs, supply, and demand. For additional information visit http://www.rrnetwork.org.

  • California Child Development Administrators Association: Provides and develops leadership that supports publicly funded early care and education programs for children from birth to 13 and their families. For more information, visit www.ccdaa.org.

  • California Department of Education (CDE): The core purpose of the CDE to lead and support the continuous improvement of student achievement, with a specific focus on closing achievement gaps. The Child Development Division (CDD) provides resources and information for child development contractors, families, and community members regarding child development programs funded by the state. The Learning Supports Division provides resources and instructional strategies that give students the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual support needed to learn through such programs as the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and the California School Age Families Education (Cal-SAFE) Program. For more information, visit http://www.cde.ca.gov

  • California Department of Finance (DOF): Through a year-long process, the DOF prepares, explains and administers California’s annual financial plan, the California budget. The Governor submits the Governor’s Budget to the Legislature in January, it is revised in May, and the fiscal year begins July 1. To access the Budget and supplementary materials, visit http://www.dof.ca.gov/budget.

  • California Department of Social Services: Mission is to serve, aid, and protect needy and vulnerable children and adults in ways that strengthen and preserve families, encourage personal responsibility, and foster independence through various programs, including the Children and Family Services, Community Care Licensing, and Welfare to Work, among others. For more information, visit www.dss.cahwnet.gov.

  • California Legislative Analyst’s Office: Provides fiscal and policy advice to the Legislature and conducts analyses of the state budget. The LAO is overseen by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), a 16-member bipartisan committee. The office currently has a staff of 43 analysts and approximately 13 support staff. Among the subject areas of its analytical staff are K-12 Education (inclusive of early care and education), Health, and Social Services. For additional information visit http://www.lao.ca.gov.

  • Center for Budget and Policy Priorities: A policy organization working at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals. Conducts research and analysis to inform public debates over proposed budget and tax policies and to help ensure that the needs of low-income families and individuals are considered in these debates. For more information and to download their analyses on the economic recovery packages of the House and Senate, visit http://www.cbpp.org/.

  • Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP): CLASP’s child care and education work is dedicated to promoting policies that support both child development and the needs of low-income working parents by conducting policy analysis, research, and technical assistance to expand access to and resources for high-quality, comprehensive child care and early education; build effective child care and early education systems and other early education initiatives; and ensure these systems can be responsive to the developmental needs of all children, in particular infants and toddlers and children in immigrant families. Visit Child Care and Education at CLASP at http://childcareandearlyed.clasp.org/ for the latest updates on federal policies and the economic recovery plans and subscribe to receive notifications about new materials posted to the Web site.

  • Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles: A partnership of 13 community-based organizations working together to ensure the delivery of seamless, consistent, quality child care throughout Los Angeles County. Member agencies provide child care Alternative Payment and/ or Resource & Referral services in their communities. For more information about their programs and public policy efforts, visit http://ccala.net/.

  • Child Care Law Center: A national nonprofit legal services organization that uses legal tools to make high quality, affordable child care available to every child, every family, and every community. To learn more about the issues they address, access their publications, and sign up for essential updates on the latest developments in child care law, visit www.childcarelaw.org.

  • Child Development Policy Institute (CDPI): A non-partisan, independent organization whose mission is to help establish sound public policy that benefits the children of California. Advocates on behalf of the child care and development field on fiscal and policy matters and for children and families in the California budget process. For additional information visit http://www.cdpi.net.

  • Children Now: A national organization for people who care about children and want to ensure that they are the top public policy priority. Early care and education is among their top priority issues. For additional information visit http://www.childrennow.org.

  • Children’s Defense Fund: The Children’s Defense Fund’s Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start, and a moral start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For additional information visit http://www.childrensdefense.org.

  • Education Coordinating Council (ECC): Created by the Board of Supervisors, the ECC is charged with raising the educational achievement of foster and probation youth throughout Los Angeles County. For additional information visit http://www.educationcoordinatingcouncil.org or call (213) 974-5967.

  • First 5 Association of California: Works to improve the lives of California's youngest children and their families through an effective, coordinated, and inclusive implementation of the California Children and Families Act at the local and state levels. According to the Web site (www.f5ac.org, click on “First 5 and the State Budget), First 5 is helping policy makers and members of the public understand how county First 5 commissions operate and what they are accomplishing. It is also following the debate over the Governor's 2009-10 budget proposal and the discussion of using Prop 10 revenues to plug holes in the state General Fund. For “Talking Points-Valuable Services Provided by First 5”, click here.

  • First 5 LA: A child-advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in Los Angeles County from prenatal through age five. First 5 LA recognizes that policy and advocacy are essential tools in our efforts to champion the well-being of children in the areas of health, safety, and early education. As advocates for young children and families, First 5 LA monitors pending legislation and engages in activities that improve the lives of children in the areas of health, education, and child safety. Their team partners with community coalitions and other child advocacy groups to educate the general public and government officials about how policy and legislation affects the lives of the children and families they serve. For more information and to download First 5 LA’s Proposition 1D Fact Sheet, visit www.first5la.org/Policy-Advocacy.

  • Grants.gov: Managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the source for finding and applying for federal government grants. Information about grants available and awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act posted at this site. To access, visit www.grants.gov.

  • Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP): An independent public benefit corporation created in 2004 and funded by First 5 LA – the commission established by Proposition 10. LAUP’s goal is to make voluntary, high-quality preschool available to every four year old child in Los Angeles County, regardless of their family’s income, by 2014. Additional information is available at http://www.laup.net.

  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): Promotes national, state and local public policies that support a system of well-financed, high quality early childhood education programs in a range of settings, including child care centers, family child care homes, and schools. To learn more about NAEYC’s policy priorities and to join their e-mail list to receive regular updates and action alerts on important child and family issues being considered by Congress and the Administration, visit www.naeyc.org/policy/. NAEYC recently launched a dedicated page on its Web site for information on the ARRA with links to government agencies and organizations for more description and guidance on the funding streams and other provisions relating to helping children from birth through age 8. Visit often www.naeyc.org/policy/arra/ for weekly updates as new federal guidelines, briefs and other resources are published.

  • National Women’s Law Center: Conducts advocacy on the issues that cut to the core of women's and girls' lives in education, employment, family economic security, and health - with special attention given to the needs of low-income women and their families. Issues addressed include child care and early education on which the National Women's Law Center is working to improve the quality, affordability, and accessibility of child care, with a special emphasis on ways to expand public and private financing of the changes needed to achieve these goals. For additional information and to subscribe to their free updates and alerts, visit http://www.nwlc.org. NWLC is carefully tracking and sending updates to its subscribers information on the ARRA.

  • Official California Legislative Information: The official site for California legislative information, including links to bill information, California laws, the legislature, and publications. To access this site, visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.

  • On the Capitol Doorstep: Provides information on California and federal legislation affecting children with a focus on child care and development programs providing early care and education. In addition, follows current legislative efforts related to child protection, child safety, education, health, mental health and disabilities, nutrition, and public assistance. For additional information visit http://www.otcdkids.com.

  • Preschool California: Mission is to increase access to effective pre-k programs so that all children, especially those who need it most, enter kindergarten ready to learn, read and do their best. The Web site provides updates on current policy issues implementation and offers tools for sending messages via the Internet directly to state and federal elected officials on prevailing policy concerns. For additional information visit http://www.preschoolcalifornia.org.

  • RAND Corporation – Child Policy: Conducts research on children's issues from prenatal to age 18, and provides easy access to objective information that will help improve policy and decision-making. Child Policy research and publications are organized by topic area, including child care and preschool, child health, child well-being, education, infants and toddlers, prenatal, and more. To access, visit www.rand.org/research_areas/children.

  • Recovery.gov: A website that allows visitors to learn where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going. There are going to be a few different ways to search for information. The money is being distributed by Federal agencies, and soon visitors to the site will be able to see where it's going -- to which states, to which congressional districts, even to which Federal contractors. To access, visit www.recovery.gov.

  • The Children's Council of Los Angeles County:  Serves as a broker and champion for children, youth and families across the regions varied and diverse neighborhoods.  Positions county, city, school, and community leaders to do what is needed now to improve the quality of life throughout Los Angeles County: design and deliver services and supports that con­sumers want, and partners with communities to enable them to create safe, healthy, nurturing, and—ideally—self-sufficient neighborhoods for their residents.  For additional information, visit http://thechildrenscouncil.net

  • Urban Institute: Gathers data, conducts research, evaluates programs, offers technical assistance overseas, and educates Americans on social and economic issues — to foster sound public policy and effective government. To learn more about the issues they address, visit www.urban.org.

  • Zero to Three: National nonprofit multidisciplinary organization that supports the healthy development and well-being of infants, toddlers and their families by informing, educating, and supporting the work of professionals and parents. For additional information visit their Web site at www.zerotothree.org and click on Public Policy to access updates and tools relating to ARRA. In addition, be sure to click on Webinars from the left column to access upcoming and past Webinars/Web-based conference calls and materials including Infants and Toddlers in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Planning Tools and Resources for States, which provides a menu of planning tools and resources to aid states in their efforts to quickly but wisely address the challenges faced with accepting and administering the new ARRA funds.

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Contact Your Elected Official

To locate your state legislator, visit www.legislature.ca.gov and enter your California zip code under “Find My District”.

To locate your federal official, visit www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ and enter your zip code at “My Elected Official”.

For a complete listing of elected officials, click here for the California Legislative and Congressional Roster – 2009 prepared by On the Capitol Doorstep at www.otcdkids.com.

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Contact Us

If you have questions regarding policy issues being tracked by the Roundtable and Planning Committee or comments regarding this Web site, please contact Michele Sartell by e-mail at msartell@ceo.lacounty.gov or by calling (213) 974-5187.

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