Title: An act relating to supporting early learning and parenting education opportunities at community colleges.

Brief Description: Supporting early learning and parenting education opportunities at community colleges.

Sponsors: By Representatives Kagi, P. Sullivan, Wallace, Seaquist, Appleton, Morrell, Goodman, Santos, Wood, Ormsby and Kenney.

Brief History:

Early Learning & Children's Services: 2/23/07 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/6/07, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Kagi, Chair; Haler, Ranking Minority Member; Walsh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Hinkle, Pettigrew and Roberts.

Staff: Chris Alejano (786-7115).

Background:

Community and technical colleges across Washington state provide parent education programs to support parents as their child grows and develops. However, the availability of parent education programs, how and where they are delivered, and who works with the parents in those programs varies from campus to campus. Lectures, discussions, observations, and interactive approaches are among the kinds of parent education programs that are currently being offered in a mixture of settings, both on and off-campus, by a range of professionals with expertise in working with families and children.

In addition, community and technical colleges accommodate an array of child care programs from campus to campus. These include state-funded Early Childhood Education and Assistance Programs, federally-funded Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, as well as other private for-profit and non-profit child care programs.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) is a nine-member group comprised of labor, business, women, and racial and ethnic minorities from across the state that provides general supervision and control over the state system of community and technical colleges. Among the SBCTC's responsibilities is to establish the minimum standards for the operation of community and technical colleges with respect to personnel qualifications, budgeting, accounting, auditing, curriculum content, degree requirements, admission policies, and the eligibility of courses for state support.
   
As part of the minimum licensing requirements, the Department of Early Learning (DEL) requires initial, ongoing, and continuing state training for directors, program supervisors, site coordinators, and lead staff in child care facilities. The State Training and Registry System is a career development system designed to improve child care through basic and ongoing training for child care providers that is regulated by the DEL.

Summary of Bill:

The SBCTC will conduct a survey and inventory for the purpose of creating a coordinated system of course offerings and early learning education opportunities including parenting education and on-campus child care. Enrollment numbers and populations, program capacity, number of full-time equivalent employees, funding sources, and other information will be collected from early learning and parent education courses, parent cooperative classes, and other early childhood education programs and child care programs on community college campuses that support parent education and early learning.

The SBCTC will consult with the DEL to establish processes for creating articulation standards for course work and training in early childhood development and provide recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2007, for a system for strengthening community college early learning education opportunities and child care services to parents and providers.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 19, 2007.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) There is not a clear picture of the early learning landscape in community college settings. There is a need for better information about what strategies to pursue to strengthen existing efforts in community colleges. Community colleges take their role in supporting early learning and parent support very seriously. The bill directs the SBCTC to connect with previously and rather autonomously functioning programs often specific to a certain community college or location. The SBCTC looks forward to serving partners and stakeholders in connecting these services more efficiently and effectively through creating a coordinated network.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Kagi, prime sponsor; and Robin Thompson, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.