We reported last week on the Early Learning Challenge fund, a historic bill
currently awaiting passage in the House that is intended to increase
funding for pre-k across the country. As proposed, the legislation
gives preference to states that have already begun to develop
infrastructure for high quality pre-k and aims to increase
participation among disadvantaged children. In a conference call hosted
by a whole passel of non-profit organizations including NWLC, CLASP,
NAEYC, AFSCME, First Five Years Fund, Early Care and Education
Consortium, Zero to Three, National Head Start Association, NACCRRA and
NAFCC, Dr. Ruth Friedman,  Senior Education Policy Advisor, House Committee on Education and Labor, highlighted some of the juicy parts of the bill. You can listen to the call here.

The
grant competition will give preference to states that have made
progress on eight focus areas and demonstrate the capacity to continue
making progress in these areas. These include: 

·      Reforming early learning standards

·      Implementing evidence-based program quality standards

·      Enhancing program review and monitoring program quality

·      Providing comprehensive professional development

·      Coordinating systems for facilitating screenings for disability, health, and mental health needs

·      Improving support to parents

·      Creating a process for assessing children’s school readiness

·      Using data to improve child outcomes

Although
the bill doesn't describe how states should ensure high quality pre-k
for all three and four year olds, it does seem to hint that quality
rating systems are a reliable way of showing a states' capacity to
provide high quality services. Currently, 18 states have implemented Quality Rating Systems
including: Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Montana, New Hampshire, New
Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and
Vermont. Many other states are close behind, developing or piloting
Quality Rating Systems this year. 

States
who receive a “challenge grant” will be required to maintain their
financial commitment to early education at the same funding level as
was allocated in 2006. One key aspect of the bill is its focus on
increasing quality across the board when it comes to pre-k programs. As
Dr. Friedman explained, "We strongly feel that all providers of early
learning need to be touched by this bill in one way or the other." The
grant process also requires a collaborative
approach. Pre-K now hosted a national conference in December that
discussed
communities' pre-k collaboration around the country. To learn more
about how stakeholders in your state can collaborate around providing
high quality preschool watch the conference video.

The
Early Learning Challenge Fund is meant to support community
collaboration and inclusive approaches to build programmatic quality.
State quality systems must include family child care, center based
care, Head Start and state pre-k. Friedman stressed the importance of
“everyone being part of the system."

Learn more about the bill at preknow.org and watch the mark-up as it progresses through House on the Education and Labor website.