Statewide Initiative Funded by Child Care and Development Funds to Support Early Childhood Education
Texas Early Childhood Learning Summit (Fiscal Year 2018–2019)
Discussion Paper
Background
The Texas Early Childhood Learning (TECL) Summit is intended to support the increased professional development requirements for child care providers of the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) Texas Rising Star (TRS) program in addition to the requirements specified in House Bill (HB) 4, which was passed by the 84th Texas Legislature, Regular Session (2015).
TRS standards aim for at least 75 percent of teachers in a facility to have high levels of early childhood–related education or training, including having:
· or be working toward a child development associate (CDA) or child care professional credential;
· successfully completed 192 training clock hours within the last five years; or
· a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in early childhood development or a related field.
HB 4 required that each teacher in a prekindergarten program class receiving High-Quality Prekindergarten Grant Program funding be certified and have one of the following additional qualifications:
· A CDA or another childhood education credential approved by TWC
· Certification offered through the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education or a training center accredited by Association Montessori International
· At least eight years of experience teaching in a nationally accredited child care program
· Employment as a prekindergarten teacher using the school district’s prekindergarten-specific instructional training plan that has received approval from TWC’s three-member Commission
· An equivalent qualification
2017 Texas Early Childhood Learning Summit Overview
TWC, in collaboration with the Office of the Governor and the Texas Education Agency, hosted the 2017 TECL Summit August 2–5, 2017, in Houston. The 2017 TECL Summit was the third such event held in the last two years.
Specifically, the 2017 TECL Summit:
· hosted approximately 800 early childhood educators from across the state;
· had a 17 percent increase in summit attendance by independent school district professionals;
· provided 47 different trainings; and
· offered 10 hours of professional development to those who attended.
Summit participants were required to submit a survey to receive their training certificate. Survey results showed that:
· 97 percent of participants rated the summit as satisfactory; and
· 70 percent of participants indicated that the summit was excellent.
Decision Points
Based on the positive feedback received from the 2017 TECL Summit and the continued need for high-quality professional development opportunities, staff seeks direction on the possibility of funding for hosting similar summits in the future.
Specifically, staff seeks direction on budgeting $850,000 of Child Care Development Funds in Fiscal Year 2018 and Fiscal Year 2019 to fund one TECL Summit each year.
Fiscal Year 2018 / Fiscal Year 2019 / Total$850,000 / $850,000 / $1,700,000
Approval of a two-year budget will allow for flexible planning and ample time to:
· secure hotel space;
· select summit presenters;
· procure audiovisual services; and
· develop printed resources and materials.
DP- FY2018-19 Early Childhood Learning Summit (11.14.17) Notebook 2