House File 385 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY HOGG, PETERSEN, and FOEGE
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to improvement of the early care, child care
2 services, education, health, and human services systems under
3 the oversight of the departments of education and human
4 services, the Iowa empowerment board, and the child
5 development coordinating council; creating a children's
6 cabinet in the executive branch; making appropriations for the
7 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004, and providing an effective
8 date.
9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
10 TLSB 2727YH 81
11 kh/gg/14
PAG LIN
1 1 DIVISION I
1 2 EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES
1 3 Section 1. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. There is appropriated
1 4 from the general fund of the state to the department of
1 5 education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004, and
1 6 ending June 30, 2005, the following amounts, or so much
1 7 thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes
1 8 designated:
1 9 1. To develop a voluntary statewide set of early learning
1 10 standards for three=year=olds and four=year=olds enrolled in a
1 11 preschool program funded by state or federal dollars and to
1 12 provide professional development to preschool program staff
1 13 regarding the early learning standards and other related
1 14 issues:
1 15 .................................................. $ 604,500
1 16 2. For deposit in the school ready children grants account
1 17 of the Iowa empowerment fund created in section 28.9:
1 18 .................................................. $ 4,465,156
1 19 3. For at=risk children programs in addition to the
1 20 funding appropriated for this purpose in section 279.51,
1 21 subsection 1:
1 22 .................................................. $ 20,000,000
1 23 The moneys appropriated in this subsection shall be
1 24 allocated for the purposes described in section 279.51,
1 25 subsection 1, paragraph "b", and for administrative costs as
1 26 provided in section 279.51, subsection 1, paragraph "d".
1 27 Sec. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. There is
1 28 appropriated from the general fund of the state to the
1 29 department of human services for the fiscal year beginning
1 30 July 1, 2004, and ending June 30, 2005, the following amount,
1 31 or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the
1 32 purposes designated:
1 33 For the state child care assistance program, including
1 34 implementing expanded income eligibility for the program and a
1 35 revised reimbursement methodology, as authorized in law, and
2 1 for design and implementation of the child care quality rating
2 2 system:
2 3 .................................................. $ 13,531,985
2 4 Sec. 3. DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT. There is appropriated
2 5 from the general fund of the state to the department of
2 6 management for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004, and
2 7 ending June 30, 2005, the following amount, or so much thereof
2 8 as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
2 9 For the community empowerment office to improve
2 10 coordination of early care and health and education systems:
2 11 .................................................. $ 500,000
2 12 Sec. 4. NONREVERSION == IMPLEMENTATION.
2 13 1. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in
2 14 this division of this Act that remain unencumbered or
2 15 unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert
2 16 but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes
2 17 designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
2 18 2. The departments receiving the appropriations made in
2 19 this division of this Act shall expeditiously complete design,
2 20 planning, and phase=in activities as necessary for
2 21 implementation activities and distribution of funding which
2 22 shall commence on or after July 1, 2005.
2 23 DIVISION II
2 24 EARLY CHILDHOOD STATUTORY PROVISIONS
2 25 Sec. 5. Section 28.1, Code 2005, is amended by adding the
2 26 following new subsection:
2 27 NEW SUBSECTION. 0A. "Children's cabinet" means the
2 28 children's cabinet created in section 28.10.
2 29 Sec. 6. Section 28.2, subsection 3, Code 2005, is amended
2 30 to read as follows:
2 31 3. To achieve the initial set of desired results, the
2 32 initiative's primary focus shall first be on the efforts of
2 33 the state and communities to work together to improve the
2 34 efficiency and effectiveness of early care, education, health,
2 35 and human services provided to families with children from
3 1 birth through age five years.
3 2 Sec. 7. Section 28.3, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2005, are
3 3 amended to read as follows:
3 4 1. An Iowa empowerment board is created to facilitate
3 5 state and community efforts involving community empowerment
3 6 areas, including strategic planning, funding identification,
3 7 and guidance, and to promote collaboration among state and
3 8 local early care, education, health, and human services
3 9 programs.
3 10 2. The Iowa board shall consist of eighteen voting members
3 11 with thirteen citizen members and five state agency members.
3 12 The five state agency members shall be the directors of the
3 13 following departments: economic development, education, human
3 14 rights, human services, and public health. The thirteen
3 15 citizen members shall be appointed by the governor, subject to
3 16 confirmation by the senate. The governor's appointments of
3 17 citizen members shall be made in a manner so that each of the
3 18 state's congressional districts is represented by two citizen
3 19 members and so that all the appointments as a whole reflect
3 20 the ethnic, cultural, social, and economic diversity of the
3 21 state. The governor's appointees shall be selected from
3 22 individuals nominated by community empowerment area boards.
3 23 The nominations shall reflect the range of interests
3 24 represented on the community boards so that the The governor
3 25 is able to shall appoint one or more members each for early
3 26 care, education, health, human services, business, faith, and
3 27 public interests. At least one of the citizen members shall
3 28 be a service consumer or the parent of a service consumer.
3 29 Terms of office of all citizen members are three years. A
3 30 vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the
3 31 original appointment for the balance of the unexpired term.
3 32 Sec. 8. Section 28.3, subsection 5, Code 2005, is amended
3 33 to read as follows:
3 34 5. A community empowerment assistance team or teams of
3 35 state agency representatives shall be designated to provide
4 1 technical assistance and other support to community
4 2 empowerment areas and for the board's efforts to address early
4 3 care, education, health, and human services. A technical
4 4 assistance system shall be developed using local
4 5 representatives of the state agencies represented on the Iowa
4 6 board and other state agencies and individuals involved with
4 7 local community empowerment areas early care, education,
4 8 health, and human services. The technical assistance shall be
4 9 available in at least three levels of support as follows:
4 10 a. Support to areas experienced in operating an innovation
4 11 zone or decategorization project with an extensive record of
4 12 success in collaboration between education, health, or human
4 13 services interests.
4 14 b. Support to areas experienced in operating an innovation
4 15 zone or decategorization project.
4 16 c. Support to areas forming an initial community
4 17 empowerment area with no previous experience operating an
4 18 innovation zone or decategorization project.
4 19 Sec. 9. Section 28.3, subsection 6, paragraph b, Code
4 20 2005, is amended to read as follows:
4 21 b. In addition, a community empowerment office is
4 22 established as a division of the department of management to
4 23 provide a center for facilitation, communication, and
4 24 coordination for community empowerment activities and funding
4 25 and for improvement of the early care, education, health, and
4 26 human services systems. Staffing for the community
4 27 empowerment office shall be provided by a facilitator
4 28 appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the
4 29 senate, and who serves at the pleasure of the governor. A
4 30 deputy and support staff may be designated, subject to
4 31 appropriation made for this purpose. The facilitator shall
4 32 submit reports to the governor, the Iowa board, and the
4 33 general assembly. The facilitator shall provide primary
4 34 staffing to the board, coordinate state technical assistance
4 35 activities and implementation of the technical assistance
5 1 system, and other communication and coordination functions to
5 2 move authority and decision=making responsibility from the
5 3 state to communities and individuals.
5 4 Sec. 10. Section 28.4, subsection 4, Code 2005, is amended
5 5 to read as follows:
5 6 4. Identify boards, commissions, committees, and other
5 7 bodies in state government with overlapping and similar
5 8 purposes which contribute to redundancy and fragmentation in
5 9 early care, education, health, and human services programs
5 10 provided to the public. The board shall also make
5 11 recommendations and provide an annually updated strategic plan
5 12 to the governor, children's cabinet, and general assembly as
5 13 appropriate for increasing coordination between these bodies,
5 14 for eliminating bureaucratic duplication, for consolidation
5 15 where appropriate, and for improving the efficiency of working
5 16 with federally mandated bodies, for integration of services
5 17 and service quality functions to achieve improved results, and
5 18 for integration of state=administered funding streams directed
5 19 to community empowerment areas and other community=based
5 20 efforts for providing early care, education, health, and human
5 21 services.
5 22 Sec. 11. Section 28.4, subsection 12, Code 2005, is
5 23 amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu
5 24 thereof the following:
5 25 12. Integrate statewide quality standards adopted by other
5 26 boards and commissions into the Iowa empowerment board's
5 27 funding requirements for investments in early care, education,
5 28 health, and human services.
5 29 Sec. 12. Section 28.5, subsection 1, Code 2005, is amended
5 30 to read as follows:
5 31 1. The purpose of a community empowerment area is to
5 32 enable local citizens to lead collaborative efforts involving
5 33 early care, education, health, and human services programs on
5 34 behalf of the children, families, and other citizens residing
5 35 in the area. Leadership functions may include but are not
6 1 limited to strategic planning for and oversight and managing
6 2 of such programs and the funding made available to the
6 3 community empowerment area for such programs from federal,
6 4 state, local, and private sources. The initial focus of the
6 5 purpose is to improve results for families with young
6 6 children.
6 7 Sec. 13. Section 28.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code
6 8 2005, is amended to read as follows:
6 9 a. Community empowerment area functions shall be performed
6 10 under the authority of a community empowerment area board. A
6 11 majority of the members of a community board shall be elected
6 12 officials and members of the public who are not employed by a
6 13 provider of services to or for the community board. At least
6 14 one member shall be a service consumer or the parent of a
6 15 service consumer. Terms of office of community board members
6 16 shall be not more than three years and the terms shall be
6 17 staggered. The membership of a community empowerment area
6 18 board shall include members with early care, education,
6 19 health, human services, business, faith, and public interests.
6 20 Sec. 14. Section 28.8, subsection 5, paragraph c,
6 21 unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2005, is amended to read as
6 22 follows:
6 23 A community board's readiness shall be ascertained by
6 24 evidence of successful collaboration among public or private
6 25 early care, education, human services, or health, or human
6 26 services interests or a documented program design evincing a
6 27 strong likelihood of leading to a successful collaboration
6 28 between these interests. Other criteria which may be used by
6 29 the Iowa board to ascertain readiness and to determine funding
6 30 amounts include one or more of the following:
6 31 Sec. 15. Section 28.8, subsection 5, Code 2005, is amended
6 32 by adding the following new paragraph:
6 33 NEW PARAGRAPH. e. The Iowa empowerment board shall
6 34 establish and implement limits on the carryforward of school
6 35 ready children grant funding, including provision for
7 1 redistribution or other redirection of the funding.
7 2 Sec. 16. NEW SECTION. 28.10 CHILDREN'S CABINET.
7 3 1. A children's cabinet is created to serve as an advisory
7 4 council to the governor and to improve coordination of early
7 5 care, education, health, and human services systems in the
7 6 state, relative to the services and other support these
7 7 systems provide on behalf of children. The children's cabinet
7 8 shall coordinate its efforts with the Iowa empowerment board.
7 9 The department directors who are members of the children's
7 10 cabinet shall work to implement, within their respective
7 11 department's policymaking areas, the plans, policies, and
7 12 other provisions recommended by the Iowa empowerment board.
7 13 2. The children's cabinet shall consist of the directors
7 14 of all of the following departments:
7 15 a. Department of economic development created in section
7 16 15.105.
7 17 b. Department of education created in section 256.1.
7 18 c. Department of human rights created in section 216A.1.
7 19 d. Department of human services created in section 217.1.
7 20 e. Department of management created in section 8.4.
7 21 f. Iowa department of public health created in chapter
7 22 135.
7 23 g. Any other department designated by the governor.
7 24 3. The children's cabinet is responsible for all of the
7 25 following regarding the state's early care, education, health,
7 26 and human services systems, relative to the services and other
7 27 support these systems provide on behalf of children:
7 28 a. Providing for a uniform, systemwide children's agenda
7 29 within the departments under the direction of the cabinet
7 30 members.
7 31 b. Improving coordination between departments for the
7 32 children's services systems.
7 33 c. Improving the focus on and prioritizing resources to be
7 34 committed to the children's services systems.
7 35 d. Developing and implementing strategies for sustainable
8 1 financing of the children's services systems.
8 2 e. Developing collaborative policy recommendations for the
8 3 governor and lieutenant governor regarding improvements for
8 4 the children's services systems.
8 5 f. Ensuring that policy and performance measures used in
8 6 the children's services systems are culturally sensitive.
8 7 g. Providing regular review of the existing services and
8 8 other support available for children from birth through age
8 9 five.
8 10 4. The children's cabinet shall meet as directed by the
8 11 governor and meet on other occasions as determined to be
8 12 necessary by the cabinet.
8 13 Sec. 17. Section 237A.13, subsection 5, paragraph c, Code
8 14 2005, is amended to read as follows:
8 15 c. Families with an income of more than one hundred
8 16 percent but not more than one hundred forty forty=five percent
8 17 of the federal poverty level whose members are employed at
8 18 least twenty=eight hours per week.
8 19 Sec. 18. Section 237A.30, Code 2005, is amended by
8 20 striking the section and inserting in lieu thereof the
8 21 following:
8 22 237A.30 CHILD CARE QUALITY RATING SYSTEM.
8 23 1. The department shall work with the community
8 24 empowerment office of the department of management established
8 25 in section 28.3 and the state child care advisory council in
8 26 designing and implementing a quality rating system for child
8 27 care facilities.
8 28 2. The quality rating system shall be voluntary and
8 29 composed of multiple ratings based upon the rating criteria
8 30 adopted for the system. The criteria utilized may include but
8 31 are not limited to any of the following: facility type;
8 32 provider staff education, training, and credentials; facility
8 33 director education and training; an environmental rating score
8 34 or other direct assessment environmental methodology; national
8 35 accreditation; facility history of compliance with law and
9 1 rules; child=to=staff ratio; curriculum; business practices;
9 2 staff retention rates; evaluation of staff members and program
9 3 practices; staff compensation and benefit practices; provider
9 4 and staff membership in professional early childhood
9 5 organizations; and parental involvement with the facility.
9 6 3. The department may directly administer or contract for
9 7 the administration of the quality rating system. A facility's
9 8 quality rating may be included on the internet page and in the
9 9 consumer information provided by the department pursuant to
9 10 section 237A.25 and shall be identified in the child care
9 11 provider referrals made by child care resource and referral
9 12 service grantees under section 237A.26.
9 13 4. For reimbursement paid under the state child care
9 14 assistance program established in section 237A.13, the
9 15 department may implement a reimbursement rate methodology
9 16 applicable to child care facilities participating in the
9 17 rating system in which the reimbursement rate varies based
9 18 upon the rating of a facility and may pay an achievement bonus
9 19 under the program to providers that are awarded a quality
9 20 rating.
9 21 Sec. 19. Section 256.9, Code 2005, is amended by adding
9 22 the following new subsections:
9 23 NEW SUBSECTION. 53. Develop a request for proposals
9 24 process that includes criteria that support the shared visions
9 25 model, and invites interested local communities, empowerment
9 26 boards, and school districts to develop and submit an
9 27 implementation plan based on the shared visions model. The
9 28 director shall implement an assessment and approval process
9 29 for assessing the proposals and plans submitted. Any plan for
9 30 a preschool program based on the shared visions model shall
9 31 include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
9 32 a. A plan designed to achieve national association for the
9 33 education of young children accreditation of the preschool
9 34 program within three years of the program's implementation.
9 35 b. A requirement that all lead teachers hold endorsements
10 1 in early childhood education.
10 2 c. A minimum preschool day consisting of four and one=half
10 3 hours of services to children enrolled in the program.
10 4 d. Universal eligibility for all three=year=old and four=
10 5 year=old children in the community.
10 6 e. Demonstration that services provided are culturally
10 7 sensitive and inclusive, regardless of family structure,
10 8 socioeconomic, racial, religious, or cultural backgrounds,
10 9 gender, abilities, or preferred language.
10 10 f. Evidence of collaborations with community organizations
10 11 and programs to ensure the availability of comprehensive
10 12 health, nutrition, and dental and mental health services to
10 13 children and families.
10 14 g. Provision of before and after school care.
10 15 h. Ongoing staff development that addresses early learning
10 16 standards developed pursuant to subsection 54.
10 17 i. A comprehensive assessment system that provides the
10 18 following:
10 19 (1) Ongoing program assessment and reporting based on
10 20 current research=based practices and strategies.
10 21 (2) Ongoing child assessment and reporting based on
10 22 current research=based child assessment practices and
10 23 strategies.
10 24 NEW SUBSECTION. 54. Develop statewide, voluntary early
10 25 learning standards for three=year=old and four=year=old
10 26 children enrolled in a state or federally funded preschool
10 27 program. The director shall also provide for professional
10 28 development on the early learning standards and related best
10 29 practices to the staff members of such programs.
10 30 Sec. 20. Section 256A.2, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code
10 31 2005, is amended to read as follows:
10 32 A child development coordinating council is established to
10 33 promote the provision of child development services to at=risk
10 34 three=year=and three=year=old and four=year=old children. The
10 35 program under which the council promotes child development
11 1 services may be known and cited as the shared visions model.
11 2 The council shall consist of the following members:
11 3 Sec. 21. Section 256A.3, subsection 3, Code 2005, is
11 4 amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu
11 5 thereof the following:
11 6 3. Annually submit a report to the governor and the
11 7 general assembly by January 15 that summarizes progress in
11 8 statewide implementation of the shared visions model.
11 9 Sec. 22. PHASED IMPLEMENTATION.
11 10 1. Effective July 1, 2005, the department of human
11 11 services shall no longer accept applications for the gold seal
11 12 quality designation for child care providers under section
11 13 237A.30, Code 2005. However, if a child care provider has
11 14 been awarded the designation prior to July 1, 2005, the
11 15 designation may continue to be utilized for that provider
11 16 until the designated period of nationally recognized
11 17 accreditation for which the gold seal designation was awarded
11 18 has ended.
11 19 2. The department of human services shall commence
11 20 implementation of the child care quality rating system under
11 21 section 237A.30, as amended by this Act, by awarding ratings
11 22 beginning on or after January 1, 2006.
11 23 DIVISION III
11 24 Sec. 23. EFFECTIVE DATE. Unless specifically provided
11 25 otherwise, division I of this Act, being deemed of immediate
11 26 importance, takes effect upon enactment.
11 27 EXPLANATION
11 28 This bill relates to improvement of the early care, child
11 29 care services, education, health, and human services systems
11 30 under the oversight of the department of education, the
11 31 department of human services, the Iowa empowerment board, and
11 32 the child development coordinating council; provides for the
11 33 establishment of statewide voluntary standards and
11 34 professional development to support universal access to high=
11 35 quality preschool programs; creates a children's cabinet; and
12 1 makes appropriations to the department of education for the
12 2 fiscal year 2004=2005.
12 3 Division I of the bill makes appropriations for the fiscal
12 4 year beginning July 1, 2004, for early childhood initiatives
12 5 to the department of education for design and implementation
12 6 of Iowa early learning standards, additional school ready
12 7 children grant funding, and additional at=risk children
12 8 funding; to the department of human services for child care
12 9 quality and the state child care assistance program
12 10 eligibility expansion and reimbursement methodology; and to
12 11 the department of management for the community empowerment
12 12 office. Moneys appropriated are subject to a nonreversion
12 13 clause so that unexpended amounts may be used in the
12 14 succeeding fiscal year. The departments receiving
12 15 appropriations are directed to expeditiously complete design,
12 16 planning, and phase=in activities as necessary for
12 17 implementation activities and distribution of funding which
12 18 shall commence on or after July 1, 2005. This division of the
12 19 bill takes effect upon enactment.
12 20 Division II of the bill makes several changes to Iowa's
12 21 community empowerment Act in Code chapter 28.
12 22 The community empowerment initiative under current law is
12 23 directed to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of
12 24 education, health, and human services provided to families
12 25 with children from birth through five years. The bill
12 26 includes early care in this list throughout Code chapter 28.
12 27 A requirement for the governor to appoint Iowa empowerment
12 28 board members from individuals nominated by community
12 29 empowerment area boards is deleted.
12 30 The Iowa empowerment board, technical assistance team, and
12 31 community empowerment office duties and focus are expanded
12 32 beyond community empowerment areas to generally encompass
12 33 improvements to the early care, education, health, and human
12 34 services systems. A requirement for technical assistance to
12 35 be provided in at least three levels of support is deleted.
13 1 The board is also directed to develop an annually updated
13 2 strategic plan for addressing boards and other state bodies
13 3 with overlapping and similar purposes, improving the
13 4 efficiency of working with federally mandated bodies,
13 5 integrating service and service quality functions, and
13 6 integrating state=administered funding streams directed to
13 7 community empowerment areas and other community=based efforts
13 8 for providing early care, education, health, and human
13 9 services.
13 10 The bill strikes current Code section 28.4, subsection 12,
13 11 that requires the board to develop and annually update five=
13 12 year and 10=year plans for consolidating, blending, and
13 13 redistributing funding directed to children from birth through
13 14 age five and to specifically address these programs: healthy
13 15 opportunities for parents to experience success (HOPES)=
13 16 healthy families Iowa (HFI), parent education and preschool
13 17 children at=risk programs funded through the child development
13 18 coordinating council, and home visitation and family support
13 19 funded through child abuse prevention grants and the family
13 20 preservation program. Instead, the board is directed to
13 21 integrate statewide quality standards for the four service
13 22 systems into the board's requirements for investments in the
13 23 four systems. Under the requirements for the school ready
13 24 children grant program, the board is required to establish and
13 25 implement limits on the carryforward of grant funding.
13 26 The children's cabinet is established in new Code section
13 27 28.10. The purpose of the children's cabinet is to serve as
13 28 an advisory council to the governor and to improve
13 29 coordination of early care, education, health, and human
13 30 services systems in the state, relative to the services and
13 31 other support these systems provide on behalf of children. In
13 32 addition, the cabinet is responsible for coordinating efforts
13 33 with the Iowa empowerment board.
13 34 The directors of the following departments are designated
13 35 as members of the children's cabinet: economic development,
14 1 education, human rights, human services, management, and
14 2 public health. In addition, the governor may designate as
14 3 members directors of other departments. These department
14 4 directors are directed to work to implement, within their
14 5 respective department's policymaking areas, the bill's
14 6 policies as recommended by the Iowa empowerment board.
14 7 The duties of the children's cabinet are listed.
14 8 The bill amends Code chapter 237A as follows:
14 9 Code section 237A.13 requirements for the state child care
14 10 assistance program are revised. The income eligibility
14 11 standard used for the third of the program's four waiting list
14 12 priorities is increased by 5 percent. This third priority, as
14 13 amended by the bill, is for families with an income of 100
14 14 percent but not more than 145 percent of the federal poverty
14 15 level whose members are employed at last 28 hours per week.
14 16 The waiting list requirements are applied if the funding
14 17 appropriated for the program is insufficient to provide
14 18 assistance to all who would otherwise be eligible.
14 19 Code section 237A.30, providing for recognition of high=
14 20 quality child care providers with a gold seal quality child
14 21 care provider designation, is stricken and replaced with a new
14 22 child care quality rating system for child care facilities.
14 23 Code chapter 237A defines the term "child care facility" to
14 24 mean a child care center, preschool, or registered child
14 25 development home. The new rating system is required to be
14 26 voluntary and to include multiple ratings. The department is
14 27 required to develop the rating system by working with the
14 28 community empowerment office of the department of management
14 29 and the state child care advisory council. The bill lists
14 30 various criteria that the department may use in developing the
14 31 multiple ratings to be used in the quality rating system.
14 32 The bill requires the department to stop accepting
14 33 applications for the gold seal quality child care provider
14 34 designation effective July 1, 2005. However, the designation
14 35 may continue to be used until the designated period of
15 1 nationally recognized accreditation has ended.
15 2 The department is required to commence implementation of
15 3 the quality rating system by awarding ratings beginning on or
15 4 after January 1, 2006.
15 5 The bill amends Code section 256.9 to require the director
15 6 of the department of education to develop a request for
15 7 proposals, and criteria that support the shared vision model,
15 8 that invites local communities, empowerment boards, and school
15 9 districts to develop an implementation plan based on the
15 10 shared visions model. The bill describes the components each
15 11 plan must include.
15 12 The bill further requires that the director develop
15 13 statewide, voluntary early learning standards for three=year=
15 14 old and four=year=old children enrolled in a state or
15 15 federally funded preschool program. The director must also
15 16 provide for professional development on the early learning
15 17 standards and related best practices to the staff members of
15 18 these preschool programs.
15 19 The bill amends Code chapter 256A to direct the child
15 20 development coordinating council to submit an annual progress
15 21 report regarding statewide implementation of the shared
15 22 visions model to the governor and the general assembly.
15 23 Current law requires the council to make recommendations to
15 24 the department of education and the general assembly regarding
15 25 early elementary education. The bill also eliminates a
15 26 provision that requires the council to develop an inventory of
15 27 child development services.
15 28 LSB 2727YH 81
15 29 kh:rj/gg/14