Review of Staffing Levels Presentation to the Fiscal Committee November 4, 2013 

Early Education and Care Commissioner’s Office October 2013 .

Early Education and Care General Counsel October 2013 .

Early Education and Care Human Resources and Facilities October 2013 .

Early Education and Care Administration and Finance October 2013

Early Education and Care Policy and Programs Educator Quality October 2013

Early Education and Care Resident and Placement Unit Investigations Unit October 2013

Early Education and Care Western Region Field Operations October 2013

Early Education and Care Central Region Field Operations October 2013 .

Early Education and Care Northeast Region Field Operations October 2013 .

Early Education and Care Southeast, Cape Cod & Islands Region Field Operations October 2013 .

Early Education and Care Metro Boston Field Operations October 2013

INFRASTRUCTURE COST In November, 2010, the Board recommended the staffing pattern presented below.

INFRASTRUCTURE: How Have We Done? Child Care Licensing Specialist (16):   We are in the process of hiring 5 licensing specialists, but this does not bring us to 16. Chief of Staff (1):  Just hired this position in October 2013. Direct of Community Partnership and Outreach (1): Position not filled; need currently being assessed. Director of Policy, Evaluation, and Research (1):  Hired Carol Nolan as Director of Policy in February 2013. Deputy General Counsel (1):  Hired Felicia Sullivan in September 2013. Policy Analyst – QRIS (1): Presently funded through RTTT. The position ends 12/31/15. Policy Analyst – Generalist (1): This position is filled. Family / Community Quality Specialist (2): One filled, the other is still needed. Educator Provider Support Specialist (2): Not clear that we still need these positions. Audit Resolution - Fiscal Monitor (3):  One position funded through RTTT which ends 12/2015.

INFRASTRUCTURE: FTE Update 2014 At the beginning of FY14 we had 153.45 approved FTEs. (We have a discrepancy of .20 with ANF.) Administration and Finance has approved eight (8) additional positions as part of EEC’s FY14 budget: Chief of Staff: Hired Deputy General Counsel: Hired with early permission Licensors (5): Positions posted Caseload Budget Manager: Interviews in process Our revised current FTE total is 161.65 (prior to hiring fingerprinting staff).

INFRASTRUCTURE: Fingerprinting Update Chapter 459 of the Acts of 2012 (as amended by Chapter 77 of the Acts of 2013): Requires and authorizes EEC to conduct fingerprint-based checks of the state and national criminal history databases. Requires EEC to conduct Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) checks. Effective September 1, 2013. In this new process EEC will review: SORI data (for all types of care). FBI (fingerprint) data (for all types of care including employees/volunteers/interns of EEC licensed and/or funded programs and transportation providers but excludes informal relative caregivers). CORI and DCF data (for family child care-related individuals, all Licensees and Reviewers, and in home, non-relative care providers).

INFRASTRUCTURE: Fingerprinting Update Because of the new responsibilities placed on EEC, Administration and Finance has approved eleven (11) additional positions to fulfill EEC’s responsibilities relative to fingerprinting as follows: Program Coordinators (5): These positions will handle the administrative aspect of the BRC process: tracking, updating, mailing, and filing results. They will provide TA to programs and applicants. Reviewers (5): These positions will review discretionary applications and review rationales for decisions. Application Developer: This position will build an enhanced database and maintain the CORI / BRC databases.

INFRASTRUCTURE FY15 Request for New Positions FIELD STAFF Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Field Operations (1): $80,000 The Deputy Director of Field Operations for EEC is responsible for the management of the day to day operations of the licensing, policy implementation, and regional office functions for a geographical area of the Commonwealth. This management responsibility requires setting priorities, deploying resources, directing and guiding agency direct service staff, and assuring  consistency in operations amongst regional offices and licensing units. This management responsibility also includes maintaining the integrity of the policy, licensing, investigations, and regulatory compliance functions through monitoring and maintaining effective internal controls and quality assurance processes. Licensors (5): $57,000 The licensing specialists will provide support to the programs the agency licenses in order to provide quality early learning environments for the 250,000 Massachusetts children the agency is responsible for. The current caseload ratio for family child care licensors is 280 licenses to 1 licensor. In group child care the ratio is 104 licenses to 1 licensor. The addition of 5 licensing staff will reduce the caseload ratios to approximately 250 to 1 for family child care and 85 to 1 for group child care. This would bring Massachusetts closer to the recommended national standards of 75 to 1 for family child care and 50 to 1 for group child care.

INFRASTRUCTURE FY15 Request for New Positions FINANCE UNIT Fiscal and Grant Monitors / Auditors (2): $66,000 Ensure that funding awarded by EEC through grants is spent according to the requirements of the grant, the terms and conditions of the contract, and according to the applicable regulations of the state oversight agency (Office of the State Comptroller, OSC) as well as federal regulations.  Review grantee budgets and expenditures to ensure that the requirements of the grants are met.  Conduct site visits to Contracted Providers and Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to determine compliance with the Commonwealth’s budgeting and pricing regulations and terms of the provider’s/CCRR contract.  Conduct reviews of all contract provider and CCRR attendance and billing policies and providers oversight to any potential double billing occurrences.

INFRASTRUCTURE FY15 Request for New Positions Transportation Monitor (1): $54,000 Ensure that funding awarded by EEC for transportation services is spent according to the requirements of the grant, the terms and conditions of the contract, according to the applicable regulations of the state oversight agency (Office of the State Comptroller, OSC), Registry of Motor Vehicles and other federal regulations.  Monitor transportation subcontract agreement between EEC Contract Providers, Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, and transportation companies to ensure that the requirements of the funding are met.  Conduct site visits and desk review with contracted providers and Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to determine compliance with Transportation polices and oversight plans, passenger logs, billing, and attendance.  Oversight of training requirements, monitoring of drivers in the PQR, and revision of policies as necessary. 

INFRASTRUCTURE FY15 Request for New Positions POLICY UNIT Director of Workforce and Special Projects (1): $73,000 Oversee the Educator and Provider Regional Partnerships, which includes 5 Educator Provider Support (EPS) Regional grantees. Plan monthly EPS grantee meetings and EPS Liaison meetings. Supervise 3 EPS liaisons at Central Office and the Professional Qualifications Unit which includes 3 Teacher Qualifications Specialists. Coordinate and oversee all Professional Development opportunities including the PD Calendar and PQ Registry.

INFRASTRUCTURE FY15 Request for New Positions Director of QRIS (1): $68,000 Support the MA QRIS through analysis, project development, implementation, fiscal oversight, coordination and communication. Ensure that the five key elements of the MA QRIS are embedded in standards, plans, and policies that guide QRIS development across the mixed delivery system. Facilitate monthly program Quality Specialist Unit meetings, including development of agendas and assignments of QRIS related projects and tasks. Coordinate activities to produce RFP and other competitive bidding processes required for the implementation of the MA QRIS. Design public awareness and consumer education program to ensure families are knowledgeable about QRIS. Program Quality Specialists (2): $65,000 Provide technical assistance to educators and providers in an assigned region. Develop an understanding of unique community needs and act as a liaison for programs, providers, schools, EPS grantees, and Readiness Centers. Review QRIS applications by programs and verify self-assessed level of standards and documentation. In coordination with EEC regional Licensors, conducts site visits to programs to provide technical assistance for efforts to improve quality. Plan, prepare, and conduct QRIS training sessions.

Cost of New Positions