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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 61
BY REPRESENTATIVES LEGER AND PRICE
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation
with stakeholders, to develop a statewide model for the funding of and the equitable
distribution of public funds for early childhood care and education and to submit a
report with recommendations regarding the model to the legislature no later than
sixty days prior to the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the Legislature of
Louisiana.
WHEREAS, the legislature passed Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular Session of the
Legislature, which directed the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to
create a comprehensive and integrated network through which to manage and oversee all
programs funded through state or federal resources that provide early childhood care or
educational services; and
WHEREAS, through the enactment of Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular Session of the
Legislature, the legislature found and declared that:
(1) In order to significantly improve outcomes at all levels of the state's educational
system, it is imperative that standards for, and expectations of, our early childhood programs
be raised to levels that will promote kindergarten readiness and sustain lifelong learning and
achievement.
(2) Publicly funded early childhood programs should prioritize kindergarten
readiness and public monies should fund programs that excel at achieving high levels of
kindergarten readiness, or progression towards kindergarten readiness, as applicable for the
ages of children served.
(3) Parents who choose to send their children to publicly funded early childhood
programs should have clear and actionable information on the quality of the programs
available. ENROLLEDHCR NO. 61
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(4) Providers of publicly funded early childhood programs should be held
accountable for the public monies they receive, but given the autonomy to implement an
educational program that promotes and achieves kindergarten readiness without undue
regulation.
(5) State entities involved in the oversight or provision of early childhood programs
should collaborate, set standards of educational achievement for young children that align
with standards established for children enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve, and
hold providers of publicly funded early childhood programs accountable without imposing
undue regulation on said programs.
(6) There are high-quality early childhood programs in this state that can serve as
a model for increasing standards of achievement and financial efficiency in publicly funded
early childhood programs.
(7) Publicly funded early childhood programs receive a significant amount of public
monies that can and should be maximized in pursuit of high-quality early childhood
programs that achieve high levels of kindergarten readiness or progression towards
kindergarten readiness, as applicable for the ages of children served.
(8) Tax incentives created for the purpose of promoting high-quality early childhood
programs should be awarded based on kindergarten readiness, or progression towards
kindergarten readiness, as applicable for the ages of children served.
(9) A fragmented system of standards, funding, and oversight of the state's publicly
funded early childhood programs serves as a barrier to providing every child with the high-
quality services and programs which he deserves and to providing parents with the
information needed to make an informed choice when selecting the programs that best fit
the needs of their children; and
WHEREAS, the legislature expressed its intent that "a comprehensive and integrated
delivery system for early childhood care and education be created to ensure that every child
enters kindergarten healthy and ready to learn"; and
WHEREAS, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the
Department of Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services have worked
diligently and collaboratively to implement the provisions of Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular
Session of the Legislature, including the integration of standards and expectations across ENROLLEDHCR NO. 61
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publicly funded early childhood care and education programs and the support of regional
pilot programs; and
WHEREAS, the implementation of Act No. 3 of the 2012 Regular Session of the
Legislature has appropriately focused on increasing the quality of care and education,
preparing children to be kindergarten-ready, and honoring family choices; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that all publicly funded early childhood care and
education programs offer a consistent level of quality care and education to families,
providing a safe, nurturing environment for children and preparing all students to
successfully enter kindergarten; and
WHEREAS, the provision of quality care and education is determined, in large part,
by the ability of early learning centers to employ capable individuals as caregivers and
teachers; and
WHEREAS, publicly funded early childhood care and education programs in
Louisiana are not currently funded equitably, contributing to the inability of some early
learning centers and programs to meet the state's quality standards and expectations that lead
to children being kindergarten-ready; and
WHEREAS, the families of approximately 65,000 Louisiana children have expressed
their desire and need for quality early childhood care and education, as evidenced by
program enrollments and waiting lists; and
WHEREAS, the state should make every reasonable attempt to equitably fund family
choices to the fullest extent possible and to offer choices of consistent quality as families
select publicly funded early childhood care and education.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop a
statewide model for the funding of and the equitable distribution of public funds for quality
early childhood care and education for Louisiana children, ages birth to five, whose families
request such services, and to submit a report with recommendations regarding the model to
the legislature no later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2015 Regular Session
of the Legislature of Louisiana. ENROLLEDHCR NO. 61
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing such a model, the board shall
consult with the state's Early Childhood Advisory Council and the leadership of
organizations representing child care, Head Start, and public and nonpublic schools.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state
superintendent of education.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE