HLS 14RS-2271 REENGROSSED
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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 a statewide model for the funding of and the equitable3
distribution of public funds for early childhood care and education and to submit a4
report with recommendations regarding the model to the legislature no later than5
sixty days prior to the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the Legislature of6
Louisiana.7
WHEREAS, the legislature passed Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular Session of the8
Legislature, which directed the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to9
create a comprehensive and integrated network through which to manage and oversee all10
programs funded through state or federal resources that provide early childhood care or11
educational services; and12
WHEREAS, through the enactment of Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular Session of the13
Legislature, the legislature found and declared that:14
(1) In order to significantly improve outcomes at all levels of the state's educational15
system, it is imperative that standards for, and expectations of, our early childhood programs16
be raised to levels that will promote kindergarten readiness and sustain lifelong learning and17
achievement.18
(2) Publicly funded early childhood programs should prioritize kindergarten19
readiness and public monies should fund programs that excel at achieving high levels of20 HLS 14RS-2271 REENGROSSED
HCR NO. 61
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kindergarten readiness, or progression towards kindergarten readiness, as applicable for the1
ages of children served.2
(3) Parents who choose to send their children to publicly funded early childhood3
programs should have clear and actionable information on the quality of the programs4
available.5
(4) Providers of publicly funded early childhood programs should be held6
accountable for the public monies they receive, but given the autonomy to implement an7
educational program that promotes and achieves kindergarten readiness without undue8
regulation.9
(5) State entities involved in the oversight or provision of early childhood programs10
should collaborate, set standards of educational achievement for young children that align11
with standards established for children enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve, and12
hold providers of publicly funded early childhood programs accountable without imposing13
undue regulation on said programs.14
(6) There are high-quality early childhood programs in this state that can serve as15
a model for increasing standards of achievement and financial efficiency in publicly funded16
early childhood programs.17
(7) Publicly funded early childhood programs receive a significant amount of public18
monies that can and should be maximized in pursuit of high-quality early childhood19
programs that achieve high levels of kindergarten readiness or progression towards20
kindergarten readiness, as applicable for the ages of children served.21
(8) Tax incentives created for the purpose of promoting high-quality early childhood22
programs should be awarded based on kindergarten readiness, or progression towards23
kindergarten readiness, as applicable for the ages of children served.24
(9) A fragmented system of standards, funding, and oversight of the state's publicly25
funded early childhood programs serves as a barrier to providing every child with the high-26
quality services and programs which he deserves and to providing parents with the27
information needed to make an informed choice when selecting the programs that best fit28
the needs of their children; and29 HLS 14RS-2271 REENGROSSED
HCR NO. 61
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WHEREAS, the legislature expressed its intent that "a comprehensive and integrated1
delivery system for early childhood care and education be created to ensure that every child2
enters kindergarten healthy and ready to learn"; and3
WHEREAS, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the4
Department of Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services have worked5
diligently and collaboratively to implement the provisions of Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular6
Session of the Legislature, including the integration of standards and expectations across7
publicly funded early childhood care and education programs and the support of regional8
pilot programs; and9
WHEREAS, the implementation of Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular Session of the10
Legislature has appropriately focused on increasing the quality of care and education,11
preparing children to be kindergarten-ready, and honoring family choices; and12
WHEREAS, it is imperative that all publicly funded early childhood care and13
education programs offer a consistent level of quality care and education to families,14
providing a safe, nurturing environment for children and preparing all students to15
successfully enter kindergarten; and16
WHEREAS, the provision of quality care and education is determined, in large part,17
by the ability of early learning centers to employ capable individuals as caregivers and18
teachers; and19
WHEREAS, publicly funded early childhood care and education programs in20
Louisiana are not currently funded equitably, contributing to the inability of some early21
learning centers and programs to meet the state's quality standards and expectations that lead22
to children being kindergarten-ready; and23
WHEREAS, the families of approximately 65,000 Louisiana children have expressed24
their desire and need for quality early childhood care and education, as evidenced by25
program enrollments and waiting lists; and26
WHEREAS, the state should make every reasonable attempt to equitably fund family27
choices to the fullest extent possible and to offer choices of consistent quality as families28
select publicly funded early childhood care and education.29 HLS 14RS-2271 REENGROSSED
HCR NO. 61
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby1
urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop a2
statewide model for the funding of and the equitable distribution of public funds for quality3
early childhood care and education for Louisiana children, ages birth to five, whose families4
request such services, and to submit a report with recommendations regarding the model to5
the legislature no later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2015 Regular Session6
of the Legislature of Louisiana.7
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing such a model, the board shall8
consult with the state's Early Childhood Advisory Council and the leadership of9
organizations representing child care, Head Start, and public and nonpublic schools.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the11
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state12
superintendent of education.13
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 (BESE), in consultation
with specified entities and organizations, to develop a statewide model for the funding of and
equitable distribution of public funds for quality early childhood care and education for
children ages birth to five, whose families request such services, and to submit a report with
recommendations about the model to the legislature no later than 60 days prior to the
convening of the 2015 R.S.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
House Floor Amendments to the engrossed resolution.
1. Made stylistic changes to request BESE to develop a statewide model for funding
and equitable distribution of public funds for quality early childhood care and
education for children ages birth to five, whose families request such services,
instead of requesting BESE to develop a statewide funding model for equitable
funding and distribution of public funds to support early childhood care and
education for families of children ages birth to five requesting such services.
2. Made stylistic changes to request BESE to submit a report with
recommendations relative to the model instead of requesting BESE to
recommend the model.