HLS 14RS-2271 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 61
BY REPRESENTATIVES LEGER AND PRICE
EDUCATION/FINANCE: Urges and requests BESE to develop a statewide funding model
for early childhood care and educational services
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation2
with stakeholders, to develop and recommend a statewide funding model for the3
funding and equitable distribution of public funds to support early childhood care4
and education no later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2015 Regular5
Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.6
WHEREAS, the legislature passed Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular Session of the7
Legislature, which directed the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to8
create a comprehensive and integrated network through which to manage and oversee all9
programs funded through state or federal resources that provide early childhood care or10
educational services; and11
WHEREAS, through the enactment of Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular Session of the12
Legislature, the legislature found and declared that:13
(1) In order to significantly improve outcomes at all levels of the state's educational14
system, it is imperative that standards for, and expectations of, our early childhood programs15
be raised to levels that will promote kindergarten readiness and sustain lifelong learning and16
achievement.17
(2) Publicly funded early childhood programs should prioritize kindergarten18
readiness and public monies should fund programs that excel at achieving high levels of19
kindergarten readiness, or progression towards kindergarten readiness, as applicable for the20
ages of children served.21 HLS 14RS-2271 ENGROSSED
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(3) Parents who choose to send their children to publicly funded early childhood1
programs should have clear and actionable information on the quality of the programs2
available.3
(4) Providers of publicly funded early childhood programs should be held4
accountable for the public monies they receive, but given the autonomy to implement an5
educational program that promotes and achieves kindergarten readiness without undue6
regulation.7
(5) State entities involved in the oversight or provision of early childhood programs8
should collaborate, set standards of educational achievement for young children that align9
with standards established for children enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve, and10
hold providers of publicly funded early childhood programs accountable without imposing11
undue regulation on said programs.12
(6) There are high-quality early childhood programs in this state that can serve as13
a model for increasing standards of achievement and financial efficiency in publicly funded14
early childhood programs.15
(7) Publicly funded early childhood programs receive a significant amount of public16
monies that can and should be maximized in pursuit of high-quality early childhood17
programs that achieve high levels of kindergarten readiness or progression towards18
kindergarten readiness, as applicable for the ages of children served.19
(8) Tax incentives created for the purpose of promoting high-quality early childhood20
programs should be awarded based on kindergarten readiness, or progression towards21
kindergarten readiness, as applicable for the ages of children served.22
(9) A fragmented system of standards, funding, and oversight of the state's publicly23
funded early childhood programs serves as a barrier to providing every child with the high-24
quality services and programs which he deserves and to providing parents with the25
information needed to make an informed choice when selecting the programs that best fit26
the needs of their children.27
WHEREAS, the legislature expressed its intent that "a comprehensive and integrated28
delivery system for early childhood care and education be created to ensure that every child29
enters kindergarten healthy and ready to learn"; and30 HLS 14RS-2271 ENGROSSED
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WHEREAS, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the1
Department of Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services have worked2
diligently and collaboratively to implement the provisions of Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular3
Session of the Legislature, including the integration of standards and expectations across4
publicly funded early childhood care and education programs and the support of regional5
pilot programs; and6
WHEREAS, the implementation of Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular Session of the7
Legislature has appropriately focused on increasing the quality of care and education,8
preparing children to be kindergarten-ready, and honoring family choices; and9
WHEREAS, it is imperative that all publicly funded early childhood care and10
education programs offer a consistent level of quality care and education to families,11
providing a safe, nurturing environment for children and preparing all students to12
successfully enter kindergarten; and13
WHEREAS, the provision of quality care and education is determined, in large part,14
by the ability of early learning centers to employ capable individuals as caregivers and15
teachers; and16
WHEREAS, publicly funded early childhood care and education programs in17
Louisiana are not currently funded equitably, contributing to the inability of some early18
learning centers and programs to meet the state's quality standards and expectations that lead19
to children being kindergarten-ready; and20
WHEREAS, the families of approximately 65,000 Louisiana children have expressed21
their desire and need for quality early childhood care and education, as evidenced by22
program enrollments and waiting lists; and23
WHEREAS, the state should make every reasonable attempt to equitably fund family24
choices to the fullest extent possible and to offer choices of consistent quality as families25
select publicly funded early childhood care and education.26
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby27
urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop and28
recommend a statewide funding model for the equitable funding and distribution of public29
funds to support quality early childhood care and education for Louisiana families of30 HLS 14RS-2271 ENGROSSED
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children, ages birth to five, requesting such services, no later than sixty days prior to the1
convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing such a model, the board shall3
consult with the state's Early Childhood Advisory Council and the leadership of4
organizations representing child care, Head Start, public and nonpublic schools.5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the6
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state7
superintendent of education.8
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Leger HCR No. 61
Requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation with
stakeholders, to develop and recommend a statewide funding model for the funding and
equitable distribution of public funds to support early childhood care and education no later
than 60 days prior to the convening of the 2015 R.S.