| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Early Learning & Children's Services Committee | |
HB 2319
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Supporting early learning and parenting education opportunities at community colleges.
Sponsors: Representatives Kagi, P. Sullivan, Wallace, Seaquist, Appleton, Morrell, Goodman, Santos, Wood, Ormsby and Kenney.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/23/07
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 of
Washington 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
(STARS) 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 Department of Early Learning 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.