Building and Supporting the Early Childhood Workforce March 3, 2006 Glen Thomas, Executive Director California County Superintendents Educational Services Association
The Opportunity of a Lifetime! To re-think and redesign a new program
The Opportunities are Great The consequences of inaction or poor design are significant Equity & diversity Must avoid exacerbating the current teacher shortage Quality is paramount Why now?
County Offices of Education 88% operate Early Childhood Education Programs – extensive involvement with private providers 80% Administer Local Child Care and Development Planning Councils 57% Operate State Preschool programs 55% Operate Child Development programs 38% Operate Resource and Referral programs 28% Operate Alternative Payment programs 26% Operate Federal Head Start programs 47% of County Superintendents (or staff) are commissioners on their Local First 5 Commission
3 Points I. Aligned Core Curriculum II. Community Focused Delivery III. New Approach to Pipeline Creation/Workforce Development
I. Aligned Core Curriculum A. Early Learning Standards Uniformity Statewide Both: Developmentally Appropriate and Focus on School Readiness
I. Aligned Core Curriculum Sec Within six months…the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) shall adopt initial regulations to provide statewide preschool learning standards, guidelines and instructional practices that are age and developmentally appropriate Why SPI?
I. Aligned Core Curriculum B. Credential Aligned to New Early Learning Standards Developed by the SPI – Sec for submittal to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing Standards will address all domains plus current research
I. Aligned Core Curriculum C. Higher Education Implements the Training and Credential Programs Course of study based on teacher skills and knowledge needs to engage students in the standards One clear, articulated course of study – based on teacher competencies and accepted by all IHEs
II. Community Focused Delivery A. The challenge of a BA for the current workforce One county 16% alternative payments teachers have BA 9% Family day care home providers B. The challenge of 2014
II. Community Focused Delivery C. Use every avenue and every creative approach! Take to the community (preschools, community, parents, schools) Utilize online delivery and support Be cognizant of rural/urban areas with extended commute times Provide academic support Evenings and weekends Advisement, financial support, coaching
II. Community Focused Delivery D. Partner with Local Education Agencies and Community-Based Organizations E. Role of County Plan
County Plan By July 1, 2007 each county superintendent of schools shall prepare a 5-year community assessment and plan (to submit to the SPI) Sec (13) Meet the need for qualified preschool teachers and instructional aides
III. New Approach to Pipeline Creation/Workforce Development A. Existing: Massive ramp up to train existing corps
III. New Approach to Pipeline Creation/Workforce Development B. Create new pipeline 2 years high school 2 years community college 2 years CSU or UC and new credential
III. New Approach to Pipeline Creation/Workforce Development C. Be open to alternative credentialing approaches Partner with county offices of education? D. Ensure reciprocity (easy in and out) across IHEs
Good Base to Build On! 97 Community Colleges have ECE courses/programs 18 CSUs have ECE course/programs 2 UCs (plus UC Merced?) County Offices of Education ready to partner