SLS 13RS-1658 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 76
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
EARLY CHILDHOOD ED. Directs the Department of Education and the Department of
Children and Family Services to develop an operational plan for the transfer of the Child
Care Development Fund to the Department of Education.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To direct the Department of Education and the Department of Children and Family Services2
to develop an operational plan for the transfer of the Child Care Development Fund3
to the Department of Education.4
WHEREAS, it is imperative that early childhood programs promote kindergarten5
readiness and sustain lifelong learning and achievement to significantly improve Louisiana6
child outcomes; and7
WHEREAS, publicly-funded early childhood programs should prioritize8
kindergarten readiness and public monies should fund programs that excel at achieving high9
levels of kindergarten readiness, or progression towards kindergarten readiness; and10
WHEREAS, parents who choose to send their children to publicly-funded early11
childhood programs should have clear, actionable information on the quality of the program12
available; and13
WHEREAS, providers of publicly-funded early childhood programs should be held14
accountable for the public monies they receive, but given the autonomy to implement an15
educational program that promotes and achieves kindergarten readiness without undue16
regulation; and 17
WHEREAS, state entities involved in the oversight or provision of early childhood18 SCR NO. 76
SLS 13RS-1658 ORIGINAL
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programs should collaborate and integrate processes to the fullest extent possible, set1
standards for child development and educational achievement for young children that align2
with standards established for children enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve, and3
administer early childhood programs in such a way that ensures the safety, welfare and4
healthy development of children; and5
WHEREAS, Act 3, known as the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Act, of the6
2012 Regular Legislative Session directed the State Board of Elementary and Secondary7
Education to create a comprehensive and integrated network through which to manage and8
oversee all programs funded through state or federal resources that provide early childhood9
care or educational services; and10
WHEREAS, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved a11
framework to implement the Early Childhood Care and Education Network which was12
developed in collaboration with the Department of Children and Family Services,13
Department of Health and Hospitals, the Louisiana Early Childhood Advisory Council,14
Nonpublic Schools Council and the Child Care Association of Louisiana; and15
WHEREAS, the framework to implement the Early Childhood Care and Education16
Network included the following:17
(a) fair and transparent outcome-based rating system, including letter grades, that18
rewards high performing programs and intervenes in persistently under-performing19
programs;20
(b) funding based on performance and demand that ensures all parents, regardless21
of income, have access to higher quality programs that prepare their child for success in22
school;23
(c) clear and easy-to-understand information that allows families to make informed24
decisions about what program is best for their young children; and25
(d) resources and support to improve the quality of care and instruction to ensure all26
students have access to effective early childhood professionals; and27
WHEREAS, the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of28
Children and Family Services, will launch pilot programs during the 2013-2014 fiscal year29
to test various strategies in practice and use results to fine-tune the use of child and program30 SCR NO. 76
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assessments, coordinate funding at the local level, evaluate the use of new licensing1
standards and the new Birth–Five Standards, as well as collect consolidated data from the2
Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Health and Hospitals, and the3
Department of Education; and4
WHEREAS, this work will inform continued integration efforts among state agencies5
needed to ensure maximum effectiveness of the Early Childhood Care and Education6
Network, support to child care providers, and appropriate oversight.7
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby8
direct the Department of Education and the Department of Children and Family Services to9
develop an operational plan for the transfer of the Child Care Development Fund lead10
agency authority and associated functions to the Department of Education no later than July11
1, 2015, and submit such plan to the House and Senate Committees on Education and Health12
and Welfare no later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2014 Regular Session.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
Walsworth SCR No. 76
Directs the Department of Education and the Department of Children and Family Services
to develop an operational plan for the transfer of the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF)
lead agency authority and associated functions to the Department of Education no later than
July 1, 2015, and submit such plan to the House and Senate Committees on Education and
Health and Welfare no later than 60 days prior to the convening of the 2014 Regular Session.