Governance Options Part I Early Childhood Education Temporary Task Force Governance Working Group Meeting September 8, 2005 Teresa Vast Early Childhood Policy Consultant

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 Overview What do we mean by governance? What do we mean by governance? Why create a new governance structure? Why create a new governance structure? What are the roles of governance in the system? What are the roles of governance in the system? What are key characteristics of an effective governance structure? What are key characteristics of an effective governance structure? What are current state-level governance structures for early care and education in the nation? What are current state-level governance structures for early care and education in the nation? What are some pros and cons of each model for Hawaii? What are some pros and cons of each model for Hawaii?

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 Definition Governance of ECE is…. Governance of ECE is…. …that combination of formal and informal decision- making practices that establish the legal, fiscal, operational, political, and economic basis of an early care and education system… (adapted from Reveal, 1991)

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 Why Create a New Governance Structure? To achieve child and family results, e.g. school readiness To achieve child and family results, e.g. school readiness To coordinate all sub-systems into an effective system for children and families To coordinate all sub-systems into an effective system for children and families To establish decision-making authority that extends across existing programs and services and that is not controlled or unduly influenced by one government agency To establish decision-making authority that extends across existing programs and services and that is not controlled or unduly influenced by one government agency (Bruner, p. 17)

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 What are key characteristics needed in a governance structure? Representative – involving those whose perspectives and expertise are needed to make effective decisions Representative – involving those whose perspectives and expertise are needed to make effective decisions Legitimate – regarded as a fair and appropriate locus for decision-making by those affected by the decisions made Legitimate – regarded as a fair and appropriate locus for decision-making by those affected by the decisions made Enduring – sustainable across changes in leadership Enduring – sustainable across changes in leadership Effective and flexible – organized/structured for continuous improvement Effective and flexible – organized/structured for continuous improvement Authoritative – capable of holding all elements of the system accountable to achieving their objectives Authoritative – capable of holding all elements of the system accountable to achieving their objectives (Bruner, p )

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 Current ECE Governance at the State Level Voluntary Coordination/Collaboration Voluntary Coordination/Collaboration Mandatory Coordination/Collaboration Mandatory Coordination/Collaboration Joint management by two or more departments Joint management by two or more departments Two or more major programs consolidated in an existing department Two or more major programs consolidated in an existing department New entity dedicated to early care and education New entity dedicated to early care and education

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 Voluntary Coordination/Collaboration Separate departments responsible for different aspects of early care and education Separate departments responsible for different aspects of early care and education Variants Variants no coordination no coordination voluntary coordination voluntary coordination may include advisory bodies, e.g. commission, coordinating committee may include advisory bodies, e.g. commission, coordinating committee may include private sector representation may include private sector representation

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 Mandatory Coordination/Collaboration Separate departments responsible for different aspects of early care and education Separate departments responsible for different aspects of early care and education Mechanism for cross-department coordination/collaboration, e.g. Children’s Cabinet Mechanism for cross-department coordination/collaboration, e.g. Children’s Cabinet State examples: Delaware; Louisiana; Maryland; West Virginia

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 Mandatory Coordination/Collaboration Variants … Variants … Authority to set standards Authority to set standards Produce a cross-dept children’s budget with prioritized funding recommendations Produce a cross-dept children’s budget with prioritized funding recommendations Pool funds Pool funds May disburse funds to support initiatives May disburse funds to support initiatives Advisory board Advisory board Private sector representatives, parents may be included Private sector representatives, parents may be included May link to local governance entities or communities May link to local governance entities or communities

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 Joint management by two departments Two agencies jointly fund and manage early care and education programs, e.g. Human Services and Education Two agencies jointly fund and manage early care and education programs, e.g. Human Services and Education Variants Variants One agency may have a greater role One agency may have a greater role Coordination with other agencies Coordination with other agencies Coordination with private sector Coordination with private sector May have linkages to local governance entities May have linkages to local governance entities State examples: Arkansas; Connecticut

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 Two or more major programs consolidated in an existing department Effort to improve collaboration across programs Effort to improve collaboration across programs Variants Variants May create an Office of Early Childhood within an existing department May create an Office of Early Childhood within an existing department Coordination with other agencies Coordination with other agencies Coordination with private sector Coordination with private sector May have linkages to local governance entities May have linkages to local governance entities State examples: Florida; Maryland; Tennessee

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 New entity dedicated to ECE 1. Establish independent office under Governor ….OR… 2. Consolidate early care and education programs in a new, independent department Establish a governance board for oversight Establish a governance board for oversight

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 New entity dedicated to ECE Variants Variants Advisory board to include additional expertise Advisory board to include additional expertise Coordination with other agencies to link with comprehensive services Coordination with other agencies to link with comprehensive services Coordination with private sector Coordination with private sector May have linkages to local governance entities May have linkages to local governance entities State examples: Georgia; Massachusetts; North Carolina

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 Key ingredients for success Vision and leadership of individuals in the governance structure Vision and leadership of individuals in the governance structure Create structures to meet objectives Create structures to meet objectives Connect different structures and activities so they are aligned toward overall system goals Connect different structures and activities so they are aligned toward overall system goals Legal authority Legal authority Power to control allocation of at least some portion of resources Power to control allocation of at least some portion of resources New stream of funding New stream of funding Adapt and change Adapt and change Understand that political climate and culture are important Understand that political climate and culture are important Caution: No single model will guarantee success!

Draft 9/8/05 Rev. 10/17/5 References Reveal, Elizabeth C. (1991). Governance Options for The Children’s Initiative: Making Systems Work. Havertown, PA: Center for Assessment and Policy Development Reveal, Elizabeth C. (1991). Governance Options for The Children’s Initiative: Making Systems Work. Havertown, PA: Center for Assessment and Policy Development Bruner, Charles, with Michelle Stover Wright, Barbara Gebhard, and Susan Hibbard. (2004). Building an Early Learning System: The ABCs of Planning and Governance Structures. Des Moines, IA: Child & Family Policy Center, State Early Childhood Policy Technical Assistance Network (SECPTAN) Bruner, Charles, with Michelle Stover Wright, Barbara Gebhard, and Susan Hibbard. (2004). Building an Early Learning System: The ABCs of Planning and Governance Structures. Des Moines, IA: Child & Family Policy Center, State Early Childhood Policy Technical Assistance Network (SECPTAN)