Date: 06/22/2015
Final
Discussion of changes to existing statutes and public comment
EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOL READINESS
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02:27 PM -- Discussion of changes to existing statutes and public comment
Senator Martinez Humenik opened the floor for public comment.
02:29 PM -- Former state senator Evie Hudak, representing herself, came to the table to talk about previous legislation and provide additional information about the history of ECSRLC and ECLC. She talked about prior bills relating to scholarships for early childhood educators, specifically House Bill 10-1030 and House Bill 15-1001. She stated that the intention of HB 10-1030 was to increase funding for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) scholarship program, which is authorized at the federal level and run through Qualistar, but that the money allocated to the program was through the Early Learning Challenge Grant and the state was not awarded the grant funds. She told the commission that House Bill 15-1001 was supposed to fix the issues with HB 10-1030, but it was postponed indefinitely. She recommended that the commission clean up the issues that arose from these two bills. Senator Hudak answered questions from the commission about funding for early childhood programs. She stated that there are very specific quality requirements for child care centers, including small teacher to student ratios; minimum teacher education standards; and environmental health, safety, and developmental standards. She told the commission members that early childhood councils around the state are charged with the implementation of quality standards and initiatives.