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

Brief History: Passed House: 3/06/07, 96-0.

Committee Activity: Higher Education: 3/15/07, 3/19/07 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Shin, Chair; Kilmer, Vice Chair; Delvin, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey and Schoesler.

Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

Background: Community and technical colleges across Washington State provide parent education programs to support parents as their child grows and develops. 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. In addition, community and technical colleges accommodate an array of child care programs that vary 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.   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 State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) conducts 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. The SBCTC consults with the DEL to establish processes for creating articulation standards for course work and training in early childhood development and provides recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2007, for a system for strengthening community college early learning education opportunities and child care services.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Community colleges play a pivotal role in educating parents. Many community colleges have a difficult time funding these programs and integrating them. The program is properly focused at the community college level because that is where most parent support programs now occur. The demand for classes in this field of study is increasing, so articulation between colleges will be a continuing concern.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Kagi, prime sponsor; Robin Thompson, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children.