Early Learning Action Alliance

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

What’s Happening in Early Learning Policy This Week – WEEK 2

This update contains:

1)Action Items:

  • Keep Pushing to Protect Working Connections Child Care!
  • Testimony on Working Connections Child Care needed for Senate Ways & Means on Wednesday, January 26th

2)Committee schedule for next week, January 24th-28thand this week, January 17th-21st

3)Status of budget and revenue bills/additional bills of interest

4)Announcements/Updates

5)Attachments included in email

  • Budget Analysis for Early Learning (including Governor’s proposal and House proposal)
  • Child Care Resources handouts for providers and parents on Working Connections
  • Representative Kagi’s amendment to HB 1086

Action Items

  • It’s working! Continue sending messages urging legislators to protect Working Connections Child Care in the supplemental budget.Yesterday afternoon Representative Kagi added an amendment (see attached) to HB 1086, the early action budget bill, preventing the Department of Early Learning from adopting or implementing any rules that would restrict eligibility for families under 175% of the Federal Poverty Level as of January 31, 2011. This is fantastic news and one step towards our goal of protecting child care this session. However, our work is not over!

TO DO in the House:

Send thank yous to House Ways & Means members for passing Representative Kagi’s amendment and urging them to continue to protect child care and other early learning programs.

TO DO in the Senate:

Right now, the Senate needs to hear clear messages about the effectiveness of Working Connections in 1) keeping families employed, 2) keeping children safe, and 3) supporting small businesses during a time of economic crisis. Please take a minute to call your own Senator, members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and Majority Leader Brown.

Some legislators have pushed back on our messages by saying that the legislature does not have control over programs funded through the TANF box. However, legislators DO have the ability to include language around the protection of Working Connections in legislation, such as Representative Kagi’s amendment.

As HB 1086 moves through the House our attention will focus on the Senate. On Wednesday, January 26th at 3:30pm, the Senate Ways & Means Committee will hold a work session and public hearing on TANF and child care. We are hoping to pack the hearing room with parents, providers, and advocates to show the breadth of support for early learning. If you are able to attend the hearing on Wednesday and/or you know of parents and providers who might be willing to testify or write a letter telling their stories please contact Casey ().

The House Early Learning & Human Services Committee is also holding a work session on TANF and Working Connections this Friday, January 21st at 2:30pm. SEIU Local 925 is asking that ELAA members connect with parents and providers to ask if/how they have been notified about changes in Working Connections eligibility. Please contact Lani Todd ().

Upcoming hearings:
Legislative Committee Meeting Schedule for the Week of: January 24th-28th

Date / Time / H/S / Committee / Description / Loc / Action Needed
Mon, 1/24 / 1:30pm / S / EL & K-12 Education / Public Hearing:
  1. SB 5093 - Revising education provisions to implement budget reductions.
  2. SB 5227 - Regarding mathematics end-of-course assessments.
  3. SB 5226 - Regarding science end-of-course assessments.
  4. SB 5184 - Regarding compliance reports for second-class school districts.
  5. SB 5189 - Regarding access to K-12 campuses for occupational or educational information.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business. / SHR 1 / Monitor/Check for Updates
Mon, 1/24 / 3:30pm / H / Ways & Means / Work Session:
  1. General budget overview by committee staff.
  2. Pension budget overview by committee staff.
/ HHR A / Monitor
Tues, 1/25 / 8:00am / H / Ed Approps / Work Session: Budget overview on higher education and early learning by committee staff. / HHR A / Monitor
Tues, 1/25 / 1:30pm / S / Human Services & Corrections / Public Hearing:
  1. SB 5113 - Reviewing discharges from state hospitals.
  2. SB 5114 - Streamlining competency evaluation and competency restoration procedures.
  3. SB 5172 - Authorizing the use of short-term, on-site child care for the children of facility employees.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business. / SHR 1 / Monitor/check for updates
Tues, 1/25 / 3:30pm / S / Ways & Means / Public Hearing: To be announced.
Other business. / SHR 4 / Possible ELAA testimony/Check for updates
Wed, 1/26 / 8:00am / S / EL & K-12 Education / Work Session: On-line learning.
Public Hearing:SB 5239 - Allocating federal forest revenue to public schools based on resident students.
Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business. / SHR 1 / Check for updates
Wed, 1/26 / 3:30pm / H / Ways & Means / Work Session:
  1. Early learning budget overview by committee staff.
  2. K-12 budget overview by committee staff.
/ HHRA A / Monitor
Wed, 1/26 / 3:30pm / S / Ways & Means / Work Session/Public Hearing: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Other business. / SHR 4 / ELAA testimony needed
Thurs, 1/27 / 1:30pm / S / EL & K-12 Education / Work Session:
  1. Overview of Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP).
  2. Review of the Early Learning Professional Development System Report & Recommendations.
  3. Update on the SSB 6759 (2010) Early Learning Work Group.

Public Hearing:SB 5142 - Regarding alternative learning programs.
Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business. / SHR 1 / Monitor/Check for updates
Thurs, 1/27 / 1:30pm / H / Ed Approps / Work Session: Budget overview on K-12 public schools by committee staff. / HHR A / Monitor
Thurs, 1/27 / 3:30pm / S / Ways & Means / Public Hearing: To be announced.
Other business. / SHR 4 / Possible ELAA testimony/Check for updates

Hearings that happened this week:

Legislative Committee Meeting Schedule for the Week of: January 17th-21st, 2010

Date / Time / H/S / Committee / Description / Loc / Action Taken/Needed
Mon, 1/17 / 1:30pm / S / EL & K-12 Education / Work Session:
  1. Background information, committee staff.
  2. K-12 State-funded educational agencies/boards/committees:
  3. Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
  4. State Board of Education.
  5. Professional Educator Standards Board.
  6. Office of the Education Ombudsman.
  7. Educational Service Districts.
  8. Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee.
/ SHR 1 / Monitor
Mon, 1/17 / 1:30pm / H / Health Care and Wellness / Work Session: Best practices in reproductive, maternal, and infant health. / HHR B / Monitor
Mon, 1/17 / 3:30 / H / W & Ms / Public Hearing: Bills referred to committee. / HHR A / Monitor
Mon, 1/17 / 3:30 / S / W & Ms / Work Session/Public Hearing: K-12 Education. / SHR 4 / Monitor
Tues, 1/18 / 8:00am / H / Ed Approps / Public Hearing:
1. HB 1131 - Regarding student achievement fund allocations.
2. HB 1132 - Regarding reducing compensation for educational and academic employees.
Bills referred to committee. / HHR A / Monitor
Tues, 1/18 / 8:00am / H / HHS Approps / Work Session: Informal briefing and discussion on child welfare and children’s services. / HHR B / Monitor
Tues, 1/18 / 1:30pm / H / EL & Human Services / Work Session: Children’s Administration overview. / HHR D / Monitor
Tues, 1/18 / 1:30pm / H / Education / Work Session:
  1. Quality Education Council-2011 report to legislature.
  2. Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee.
  3. High school assessments and high school graduation.
/ HHR A / Monitor
Tues, 1/18 / 3:30pm / H / W & Ms / Public Hearing:
  1. HB 1086 - Making 2011 supplemental operating appropriations.
  2. The hearing will be on the proposed substitute bill by Representative Hunter.
  3. HB 1247 - Concerning the staffing levels and staff training requirements for secure community transition facilities. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  4. HB 1248 - Authorizing emergency rule making when necessary to implement fiscal reductions. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  5. HB 1249 - Regarding medicaid nursing facility payments. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  6. HB 1251 - Revising education provisions to implement budget reductions. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  7. HB 1252 - Changing the apportionment schedule to educational service districts for the 2010-11 school year. (If measure is referred to committee.)
/ HHR A / ELAA Testimony: Leslie Dozono-ELAA intro (CA);
Shawna Stanbury-WCCC (Parent, WSA); Cecily Jenkins-WCCC (Parent, WSA);
James McBride-WCCC (Parent, WSA); Erica Hallock-WCCC (United Ways of WA); Agda Burchard-WCCC (WAEYC)
Wed, 1/19 / 8:00am / S / EL & K-12 Education / Public Hearing:
  1. SGA 9008 - Bruce Becker, Member, Professional Educator Standards Board.
  2. SGA 9033 - Colleen Fairchild, Member, Professional Educator Standards Board.
  3. SGA 9039 - Molly E Hamaker-Teals, Member, Professional Educator Standards Board.
Work Session:
  1. Early learning overview.
  2. Thrive by Five Washington overview.
  3. Early Learning Plan overview.
  4. Selected partnership priority strategies:
  5. Home Visiting.
  6. Quality Rating & Improvement System.
  7. WaKIDS & Full-day Kindergarten.
  8. Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) overview.
  9. Example of an early literacy program strategy:
  10. Reach Out & Read.
Possible executive session on bills heard in committee / SHR 1 / Monitor
Wed, 1/19 / 3:30 / H / W & Ms / Executive Session:HB 1086 - Making 2011 supplemental operating appropriations. / HHR A / Monitor
Thurs, 1/20 / 8:00am / H / Education / Work Session: Education Governance:
  1. K-12 Governance.
  2. History of K-12 governance in Washington.
  3. Overview of K-12 governance in other states.
  4. Other education agencies and institutions.
  5. Department of Early Learning.
  6. State Board for Community & Technical Colleges.
  7. Higher Education Coordinating Board.
  8. Council of Presidents.
  9. National perspective on education governance.
/ HHR A / Monitor
Thurs., 1/20 / 1:30pm / S / EL & K-12 education / Work Session:
  1. Standards, assessments, and accountability: The Washington Education Reform Experience:
    Bob Butts, OSPI Government Relations and Policy.
  2. What changes have occurred in teacher education and certification since education reform began in 1993?
    Jennifer Wallace, Executive Director, Professional Educator Standards Board.
Other business. / SHR 1 / Monitor
Thurs, 1/20 / 1:30pm / H / Ed Approps / Work Session: Briefing on the budget process by committee staff. / HHR A / Monitor
Thurs, 1/20 / 3:30 / H / W & Ms / Possible Executive Session:
  1. HB 1247 - Concerning the staffing levels and staff training requirements for secure community transition facilities.
  2. HB 1248 - Authorizing emergency rule making when necessary to implement fiscal reductions.
  3. HB 1249 - Regarding medicaid nursing facility payments.
  4. HB 1251 - Revising education provisions to implement budget reductions.
/ HHR A / Monitor
Fri., 1/21 / 1:30pm / H / EL & Human Services / Work Session:
  1. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) overview and eligibility.
  2. Working Connections.
/ HHR D / Monitor
Fri., 1/21 / 1:30pm / H / Education / Work Session: Government to Government Relations in Education.
  1. Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction overview.
  2. Tribal Leader Congress on Education.
/ HHR A / Monitor

1

Early Learning Action Alliance

Bill Tracking for Week 2: January 17th-January 21st, 2011

Current as of Thursday, January 20th

Status of Bills on ELAA Agenda
Action in the House / Action in the Senate
Bill / Title / Status / Latest Committee Info / Notes/Action Needed / Bill / Title / Status / Latest Committee Info / Notes/Action Needed
Budget/Revenue Bills
HB 1086 / Operating sup budget 2011
Hunter / H Exec Action / Jan 19 Executive action taken in the House Committee on Ways & Means at 3:30pm. / SB 5095 / Operating sup budget 2011
Murray / S Ways & Means
Description:
Makes 2011 supplemental operating appropriations. Includes amendment from Representative Kagi preventing the Department of Early Learning from implementing rules restricting the eligibility of families under 175% of the Federal Poverty Level from WCCC.
Includes the following cuts: $356k administrative cut to Seasonal Child Care; $470k cut to DEL (including $280k cut to ECEAP); $113k cut to CCF; reduction of MSS funding by half; $50k cut to early learning program study; $200k cut to reduce child development services at DSHS.
Programs preserved: Career & Wage Ladder; $300k error in home visiting dollars to CCF fixed; Parent, Family, Caregiver Support; Readiness to Learn. / Description:
Makes 2011 supplemental operating appropriations.
HB 1087 / Operating budget 2011-2013
Hunter / H Ways & Means / SB 5094 / Operating Budget 2011-2013
Murray / S Ways & Means
Description:
Makes 2011-2013 operating appropriations. / Description:
Makes 2011-2013 operating appropriations.
HB 1292 / Public health funding
Moeller / H Ways & Means
Description:
Authorizes a county to impose an additional regular property tax to be used for public health purposes.
HB 1371 / Boards and commissions
Darneille / H SGTribalAff
Description:
Addressing boards and commissions (including elimination of CCF and Achievement Gap Committee, and Community Action Networks).
HJR 4206 / Omnibus appropriations bill
Haler / H Ways & Means
Description:
Prohibiting substantive law in omnibus appropriations bills.
HJR 4207 / Omnibus operating proposals
Haler / H Ways & Means
Description:
Placing restrictions on omnibus operating appropriations proposals.
HJR 4208 / Tax increase legislation
Haler / H Ways & Means
Description:
Requiring a three-fifths majority vote for approval of tax increase legislation.
Additional Bills of Interest
Action in the House / Action in the Senate
Bill / Title / Status / Latest Committee Info / Notes/Action Needed / Bill / Title / Status / Latest Committee Info / Notes/Action Needed
HB 1364 / Child care center subsidies
Pettigrew / H HHS Apps / SB 5269 / Child care center subsidies
Hobbs / S HumServ/Corr
Description:
Increases the child care subsidy rate by five percent beginning in 2014, if economically feasible for the state. Beginning in the 2015-2017 biennium, and every two years thereafter, the rates of subsidies will be adjusted for inflation if economically feasible for the state. The Department of Early Learning is required to review current subsidy rates for child care centers who serve more than 50% subsidized children. DEL must consider potential impacts of variably subsidy rates on quality of child care. / Description:
Increases the child care subsidy rate by five percent beginning in 2014, if economically feasible for the state. Beginning in the 2015-2017 biennium, and every two years thereafter, the rates of subsidies will be adjusted for inflation if economically feasible for the state. The Department of Early Learning is required to review current subsidy rates for child care centers who serve more than 50% subsidized children. DEL must consider potential impacts of variably subsidy rates on quality of child care.
HB 1293 / Child care/info disclosure
Miloscia / H SGTribalAff / SB 5314 / Child care/info disclosure
Nelson / SGovtOp & Elect
Description:
Exempts from public inspection and copying under the public records act, personal information in any files maintained for a child who is receiving child care or early learning services. / Description:
Regarding public disclosure of information relating to provision of child care and early learning services.
HB 1419 / Background check information
Kagi / H Erly Lrn/H Svc
Description:
Allowing the department of early learning and the department of social and health services to share background check information.
SB 5331 / Child care providers/audits
Zarelli / S HumServ/Corr
Description:
Within existing resources, DEL, with the assistance of DSHS, will conduct annual audits of the attendance and financial records of 30% of the licensed and certified child care providers and 50% of the in-home and relative child care providers receiving Working Connections. Providers to be selected randomly. First audit period to conclude no later than December 1, 2011.
SB 5330 / Temp Assist/needy families
Zarelli / S HumServ/Corr / SB 5330 / Temp Assist/needy families
Zarelli
Description:
Requires TANF grants to be dispensed as electronic voucher benefits to ensure that the grant is being spent for the benefit of children. Purchases, transactions, and payments will be limited to items and purposes defined by DSHS as having a clear benefit to children. Cash grants will be limited by the vendor to an amount no greater than fifty dollars per month. The remainder of the grant amount can only be access through the electronic system. Purchases that can't be made using the electronic system may request direct payment on a regular or one-time basis to any landlord, utility company, or other approved entity. To be fully implemented by July 2012.
SB 5328 / Public assistance eligibility
Zarelli / S HumServ/Corr
Description:
Requires applicants for public assistance to provide a social security number verfied by DSHS and written authorization for electronic transmittal of the applican't most recent federal income tax return to the department to verify financial eligibility annually. The applicant will be responsible for the cost of this verification. DSHS willverify a recipients eligibility for public assistance every six months.
HB 1004 / Social emotional learning
Dickerson / H Ed
Description:
Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to promote and encourage incorporation of social emotional learning into basic education instruction in public schools. Creates the social emotional learning public-private partnership account.
HB 1027 / Public assistance forms
Schmick / H EL/HS
Description:
Increases the information required on applications for public assistance.Asks if applicants have been denied, disenrolled, or terminated from any public assistance program within five years prior to date of application and explain why.
HB 1029 / DSHS restructuring
Armstrong / H State Gov & Tribal Affairs / Jan 17 Public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs at 1:30 PM.
Description:
Changes the name of the department of social and health services to the social and health care authority and restructures the authority. Creates the departments of mental health and chemical dependency services; children and family services; and longterm care and rehabilitative services. Requires a realignment team to be formed to direct the details of administering the act.
HB 1120 / Family leave insurance program
Sells / H Labor/Work Dev / Jan 19 Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workforce Development at 1:30pm. / SB 5091 / Family leave insurance program
Keiser / S Lab/Comm/CP / Jan 20 Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce & Consumer Protection at 10:00am.
Description:
Delays implementation of the family leave insurance program. / Description:
Delays implementation of the family leave insurance program.
HB 1164 / Employment leave
Liias / H Labor/Work Dev / Jan 19 Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workforce Development at 1:30pm.
Description:
Authorizes unpaid leave to an employee, who is otherwise entitled to other leave under chapter 49.78 RCW (family leave) or federal law, to attend or participate in a child's educational activities.
HB 1189 / Family leave insurance prog.
Condotta / H Labor/Work Dev / Jan 19 Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workforce Development at 1:30pm. / SB 5276 / Family & med leave insurance
Holmquist Newbry / S Lab/Comm/CP
Description:
Eliminates the family leave insurance program. / Description:
Repealing the family and medical leave insurance act.
HB 1248 / Emergency rule making
Hunter / H Ways & Means / Jan 20 Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Ways & Means at 3:30pm.
Description:
Authorizes agencies to adopt emergency rules when necessary with regard to implementation of fiscal reductions.
HB 1251 / Budget reductions/education
Hunter / H Ways & Means / Jan 20 Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Ways & Means at 3:30pm. / SB 5093 / Budget reductions/education
McAuliffe / S EL/K-12 / Jan 24 Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 1:30pm.
Description:
Implements budget reductions by revising education provisions relating to:
(1) The achievement gap oversight and accountability committee policy and strategy recommendations;
(2) Career and technical student organizations;
(3) The statewide director for math, science, and technology;
(4) Allocation of state matching funds;
(5) Expiration of the special services pilot program on March 1, 2011, instead of June 30, 2011; and
(6) Statewide end-of-course assessments for high school mathematics. / Description:
Implements budget reductions by revising education provisions relating to:
(1) The achievement gap oversight and accountability committee policy and strategy recommendations;
(2) Career and technical student organizations;
(3) The statewide director for math, science, and technology;
(4) Allocation of state matching funds;
(5) Expiration of the special services pilot program on March 1, 2011, instead of June 30, 2011;and
(6) Statewide end-of-course assessments for high school mathematics.
HB 1319 / Children’s Safe Products
Dickerson / H Environment / Jan 27 Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Environment at 8:00am. / SB 5231 / Children’s safe products
Nelson / S Env/Water/Ener / Jan 25 Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment and Water & Energy at 10:00am.
Description:
Modifies provisions relating to the safety of certain children's products. / Description:
Modifies provisions relating to the safety of certain children's products.
SB 5191 / Education system flexibility
Hobbs / S EL/K-12
Description:
Providing flexibility in the education system.
SB 5328 / Public assistance eligibility
Zarelli / S HumServ/Corr
Description:
Requires applicants for public assistance to provide a social security number verfied by DSHS and written authorization for electronic transmittal of the applican't most recent federal income tax return to the department to verify financial eligibility annually. The applicant will be responsible for the cost of this verification. DSHS willverify a recipients eligibility for public assistance every six months.

Announcements/Updates: