BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNORS’ EDUCATION REFORM AGENDAS THROUGH STRONG BIRTH- TO-3 RD GRADE POLICIES National Governor’s Association- Crystal.

BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNORS’ EDUCATION REFORM AGENDAS THROUGH STRONG BIRTH-

TO-3RD GRADE POLICIES

National Governor’s Association- Crystal City, VA

May 9, 2012

COLORADO

Colorado Landscape

Local Control

64 Counties

178 School Districts

Geographic Diversity

Total Population 5,074,528

358,087 Children 0-5

12.9% Poverty Rate

16.6% Child Poverty Rate

Early Childhood Colorado Framework

Colorado’s ECAC: The Early Childhood Leadership Commission

Codified in statute (SB195) in June 2010 Charged to “promote coordination of policies

and procedures that affect the health and well-being of Colorado children”

35 members (Governor-appointed): Business and philanthropic leaders Legislators Parents and service providers Representatives from education, health, and

other state and community stakeholders Areas of focus:

Program Quality Data Finance

Early Childhood B-3rd Grade Strategy

Early Learning and Development Guidelines

TQRIS B-3 Professional

Development Results Matter

Assessment System Aligned Data

Systems/Use Parent Engagement

Hickenlooper- Garcia Administration: The Education Leadership Council

Chaired by Lt. Governor Joe Garcia Charged to make recommendations to the Governor,

General Assembly, and governing boards regarding long-term improvements in the P-20 education system

42 Members (Governor-appointed): Educators & community members Early childhood stakeholders Business leaders Legislators

Areas of focus: Integration of CAP4K & SB10-191 Early Literacy Workforce Development & STEM

Colorado Reads: The Early Literacy Initiative

Community/State Efforts Summer Reading Integrate One

Congregation – One Family into Literacy Efforts

Model Reading Corps One Book 4 Colorado Colorado Literacy

Week Promote greater

awareness and action

Colorado Reads: The Early Literacy Initiative

Administration Policy Priorities Early identification of

heath & development barriers

Educate and empower parents

Maximize access to preschool programs

Improve program quality (B-3rd grade)

Strengthen the early childhood workforce

Hickenlooper-Garcia Administration: Legislative Priorities

Strengthen Early Literacy Policy (HB12-1238)

Fully Fund & Develop Educator Effectiveness System (SB10-191)

Strengthen Impact Through Effective Governance (SB12-130)

Hickenlooper- Garcia Administration: Early Childhood Governance

SB12-130 Governor’s Agenda Item (the 3

Es) Initiated by the ECLC Consolidated early childhood

programs and funding streams in a newly-created “Office of Early Childhood” in the Colorado Department of Human Services

Development of an early childhood State Plan

Formalizes interdepartmental coordination

Questions?

Jennifer Stedron, PhDExecutive Director, Colorado Early Childhood Leadership

Commission

Policy Director, Early Childhood Education, Health & Human Services

[email protected]

303-866-6361