1. Public Consulting Group: Proposal Review and Planning Blue Ribbon Commission on Financing High-Quality Affordable Childcare, May 19, 2016

2. PCG’s Experience: Highlights

3. Knowledge and understanding of early education and care systems, particularly children’s programming finance  Commonwealth of Massachusetts: supporting and improving its child care block grant management and reporting methodologies  State of Maine: transformational redesign of the TANF and CCDF federally supported child care programs toward one unified child care system  Child Care Market Rate Studies (MA and MI): evaluating adequacy of reimbursement rates to demonstrate equal access to child care for low-income families  State of Missouri- Fiscal Analysis of Early Childhood Resources: identify through stakeholders the strengths and needs of the system; lay out opportunities for increased services, revenue maximization opportunities, improving effectiveness of the early childhood service offerings

4. Extensive analysis experience in eligibility processes for, and access to, early childhood programs  Connecticut Office of Early Childhood: reviewed existing systems and gathered information to help create and coordinate a quality improvement system for early care and education settings  MA Family and Educator Needs Assessment: conducted a needs assessment of children birth to age 8 and the quality and availability of early childhood education programs and services.  MA Waitlist Analysis Study, Program Assessment, and Continuity of Care Study: administered to families currently on the waitlist to provide EEC with a better understanding of child care needs.

5. Project Approach and Timeline

6. Task 1: The Planning Phase 5/1 – 5/31 Kickoff- June 2?  PCG to propose project plan including tasks, key deliverables, timelines and milestones  Establish communication plan, risk management plan, key stakeholder listings and data requests  BRC: Discuss “Key Stakeholders” in regards to information and/or communication/planning  PCG to present finalized plan. Focus discussion on finalizing key research topics for review and examination and the overall goals of the Commission

7. Task 2: Research and Data Gathering 6/1 – 7/31  Reports, Research and Data  Past reports  Vermont data  Child care provider registry information, including business processes for waitlist and child care subsidy payments  BRC: Start compiling reports and data. Data map of working definition of high quality?

8. Task 2: Research and Data Gathering 6/1 – 7/31 Qualitative Research  Standard Interview, Focus Groups  Standard set of questions to ensure coverage and consistency  PCG proposed one-on-one interviews with 5 Commission members and four focus groups:  Child care subsidy administration - leadership  Child care subsidy – Vermont staff  Child care subsidy – recipient sample  Commissioner interviews should be with key stakeholders who do NOT already fall into one of the above buckets  Data Collection Database  Key Findings Summary  Develop overarching themes most relevant to key research topics  Public Hearings  Parents, Child Care Provider and out-of-school time program administrators and educators, Advocates, Early Childhood Education credentialing programs/certificate granting/academic institutions, Child Care Resource and Referral Networks, other general public  BRC: Consider availability over next few months.

9. Tasks 3 -5: The Report; Writing, Submitting, Feedback and Follow-Up 8/1 – 9/30 10/1 – 11/15 11/15 – 1/31  Task 3: Writing the Report  PCG to develop a draft outlining key findings and recommendations  Commission can review findings and confirm expectations  Complete draft to be submitted to Commission for feedback/edits  Task 4: Submitting the Report  PCG will submit final draft for BRC’s edits and changes to final document  Task 5: Feedback and Follow-Up  Collect feedback, conduct additional data requests, make final revisions.

10. Anticipated Difficulties and Remedies  Difficulties  Differing/wide range of goals  Time and availability of stakeholders  Remedy  Buy in and sign off of goals and timeline in Task 1  Review and progress toward meeting goals  Submit data requests early  Support in communications throughout and in final draft review

11. BRC Discussion Areas  Schedule Kick-Off meeting for June 2 or June 8  What data /reports can we start compiling now?  Key Stakeholders:  Data?  assembling focus groups/public hearings?  current financing/subsidies/grants?

12. High Quality Definition Parts 1, 2

13. High Quality Definition Parts 3, 4