0 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Update October 2010

ARRA Proposal Update 1 Program: PSCCE Board Vote: Expand KEEP Model using PSCEE Allow all preschoolers, not just those entering kindergarten in September, 2011, to participate in this initiative (e.g., add preschoolers age 2.9 to 4 years old to the previously approved age group;) Extend the Preschool Child Care Education Initiative beyond FY2011, i.e. June 30, 2011, through August 31, 2011; Allow funding for preschoolers through contract slots as well as vouchers; and Allow participating preschool programs that demonstrate the following quality components to receive a quality add-on rate at $17.22/child/day: Status: Complete EEC has selected 485 programs (384 FCC and 101 Center-based) to participate in the PSCCE Quality Add-on Initiative. Approximately 4,200 children are represented in 485 programs. Due to the high demand for participation in this initiative, at this time, programs are limited to enrolling only “new” children from EEC’s wait list. Children enrolled into the PSCCE Quality Add-on Initiative must not currently be receiving any EEC child care financial assistance and must meet EEC’s Income Eligibility criteria. EEC will review enrollment on October 22 and, if necessary, expand criteria for participation. As many as 818 children can be enrolled with PSCCE Add-on funds.

ARRA Proposal Update 2 Program: QRIS Board Vote: Up to $1.9 million to increase the grant award for the QRIS Quality Program Improvement grant to provide targeted quality coaching to support FY2011 QRIS Grantees in advancing their program’s quality level according to the QRIS and award an additional $1.5 million to be distributed through program level grants. Status: Complete EEC has selected 485 programs (384 FCC and 101 Center-based) to participate in the PSCCE Quality Add-on Initiative. Approximately 4,200 children are represented in 485 programs. Revised scope of work was issued to and signed with Wheelock College to reflect the total $3.4M award to Wheelock and its partners (United Way, CAYL Institute, and translation service provider). Original scope was to monitor a random sample of at least 15% (100) of FY2010 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grantees to ensure funding was utilized appropriately, train on best practices to advance to next QRIS level, and provide technical assistance. Additional $1.9M supports up to $300,000 for the following services: Up to $35,000 to provide translated materials to QRIS participants (September – June 2010). Up to $269,000 for the development and implementation of a quality coaching model to assist QRIS participants in advancing their program’s quality according to the FY2011 QRIS System Up to $1,600,000 shall be allocated to provide grants to programs to advance their program’s level of quality, according to the QRIS standards and measures (May August 2011).

ARRA Proposal Update 3 Program: Birth to 8 Leadership Institute Board Vote: Up to $125,000, through a competitive process, to hire a vendor to plan, organize and implement in conjunction with EEC and ESE three in-depth meetings in the school year that will support principals of Level 4 Elementary schools and community-based early education and care leaders in learning together about child growth and development, literacy, and dual language learners focusing on children birth to age eight. Status: Complete EEC awarded $125,000 to the CAYL Institute for the Early Educators Fellowship Initiative to work through a state-wide planning committee to create a series of learning experiences for the entire academic year. Through three in-depth meetings in the school-year, CAYL would award Fellowships to equal numbers of principals and community based providers to spend the time learning together in three areas of timely importance to the Commonwealth: child growth and development Literacy dual language learners Fellows would build a learning community and a sense of shared purpose, identity. and responsibility. This work will be a key means through which the recommendations of the proficiency gap report can be addressed.

ARRA Proposal Update 4 Program: Waitlist Solution Board Vote: Up to $500,000, through a competitive bid process, to hire one vendor who will provide and implement a Waitlist solution that will improve data collection and manage subsidized care administration through EEC’s centralized waitlist. Status: Complete EEC has hired Control Tec for $490,096. Control Tec manages child care waiting list in Los Angeles County, CA and other locations. The LA County subsidy caseload is considerably larger than all of MA. Demo on 9/29 showed a dynamic package that will allow us to access waitlist information by provider and in total. Many features presented which left us “gasping for more”! Customization meetings to begin immediately. Budget included the basic package plus customization as required in the RFQ.

ARRA Proposal Update 5 Program: Professional Development Research Project Board Vote: Up to $165,000 to hire a consultant to design and conduct a research study of the new professional development system, including providing research-based recommendations to further the development and effectiveness of the system and to develop a series of on-line courses for use by EEC that focus on the preschool standards and core competencies. Status: Complete Awarded contract to Ann Douglass from UMASS Boston for a total of $176,221 (the balance to come from Quality Support funding). Three separate activities are included in the contract: PreSchool Standards and Guidelines Course/Evaluation - This course will consist of eight case-based learning modules. Each module is based on one of the eight core competencies. In the training sessions, trainers will learn how to guide practitioners through the learning modules and how to support and assess their learning. Professional Development System Research - This study will address an issue of primary current relevance to Massachusetts as it develops and improves the state’s systems to support the child care workforce and ultimately improve child care quality and child outcomes. Core Competencies Course and Evaluation – Develop a course eligible for a one (1) college credit for educators in EEC’s mixed delivery system which includes family child care, center-based, public-school preschool, and Head Start programs, on the science behind defining and measuring competency in early education and care and out of school time.

ARRA Proposal Update 6 Program #1: CCRR Streamlining Program #2: CCRR Business Model Board Vote: Up to $650,000 for (1) Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) to provide and implement specific transition services, implement efficiencies in the voucher management system, and support enrolling preschoolers in the Preschool Child Care Education initiative and (2) to hire a consultant to conduct an analysis of the CCR&R business model and the voucher management system. Status Program #1: Complete EEC signed contracts with each of the nine CCRRs for a total of $561,186 to provide the services outlined above. Status Program #2: Complete EEC signed a contract with the CAYL institute to assess ways to improve information and referral, consumer education, and voucher management services provided by the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies. This scope of work is for a review of the CCR&R network for leadership development of these agencies that leads to better service delivery for children and families.

ARRA Proposal Update 7 Program: Environmental Rating Scales Institute Board Vote: Up to $60,000 to rehire the Environmental Rating Scales Institute, Inc. to train early child care and out-of-school time educators on the Environmental Rating Scales. Status: Complete EEC has contracted with ERSI and four other providers (location, printing, supplies, ECRS books) to provide five full days of training: a one day introductory training followed by four days of training that will assist participants in reaching accuracy on the scales and meet reliability standards. The first day of training will be a classroom lecture for up to 200 participants in which the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scales (ECERS) and Infant Toddler Environmental Scales (ITERS) scales will be introduced, and should include the following topics: What the scales are measuring How the scales measure the three basic components of quality The meaning of the scale scores Understanding reliability and validity of the scales Accurate scoring procedures Introduction to basic interpretations of terms used throughout the scales Observation procedures that are required for reliable use of the scales Days 2 through 5 will consist of mornings spent doing independent observations with up to 30 participants led by a group leader. The afternoons will be spent in debriefing sessions in which participants compare scores, and work to come to a correct consensus score through explanations of interpretation by the group leader, as well as consideration of all evidence observed in the morning’s observation.

ARRA Proposal Update 8 Program #1: Streamline Voucher Management System Program #2: Business Analysis of EEC IT Security Board Vote: Up to $150,000 to hire an IT software development consultant to continue to develop short term and long term enhancements to increase streamlining of the voucher management system and to hire a consultant to conduct a business analysis and audit of EEC’s information systems and security. Status Program #1: Complete EEC will be hiring a consultant through PeoplServ to support the voucher management system. Status Program #2: Complete EEC has signed a contract with Janus for $28,010. Conduct a Security audit in the form of vulnerability testing to determine how secure various Internet connections are in at EEC. The goal is to assure that the environment can withstand cyber attacks, attempts to gain unauthorized access, and/or other forms of malicious activity. Janus will test for : Improper maintenance on server (e.g., patches not applied) Improper hardening of server (e.g., vulnerable/unnecessary services running)

ARRA Proposal Update 9 Program: Out of School Time Learning Initiative Board Vote: Up to $250,000 to extend the Out of School Time Learning Initiative through FY2011 in order to maintain the program structure in EEC’s five regions. Status: Complete EEC extended its contract with United Way through June 30, Total contract is now $499,000. The purpose is to initiate a statewide training and technical assistance grant to support partnerships between public schools and school age child care programs to deliver intentional summer learning promotion opportunities.

ARRA Proposal Update 10 Program: Communications Campaign Board Vote: Up to $200,000 to increase the grant award for the Communications Campaign initiative to purchase collateral materials and products for distribution and for further technical assistance to review and improve EEC’s website content. Status: Complete EEC extended its contract with United Way through June 30, Total contract is now $498,500. The United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Inc. (UWMB, United Way) will engage with EEC to build the capacity of stakeholders in Massachusetts to initiate a statewide communication infrastructure that is able to create and sustain public awareness and understanding regarding the importance of quality early education and care experience during children’s earliest years. Additional funding allows the United Way to develop a web content strategy for EEC, to edit and design EEC’s website, and to produce additional necessary collateral. Will also design and develop additional collateral and for Advertorials and Public Service Announcements (PSAs).

ARRA Proposal Update 11 Program: Infant/Toddler Rate Increase Board Vote: Up to $3 million to reduce the market rate gap by providing a 3% rate increase to all EEC Infant and Toddler educators across the Commonwealth, subject to Board approval of the Infant/Toddler rate increase proposal which will be discussed this Fall. Status: Board vote in November EEC has set aside $3M in its flex pool funding to pay for this initiative should the Board approve it. EEC has the ability to dedicate funds from this initiative to PSCCE should this be required.

ARRA Proposal Update 12 Program: Readiness Centers Support Board Vote: Up to $400,000 for professional development grantees to work in partnership with Readiness Centers to support Early Education and Care initiatives throughout the Commonwealth including the alignment of EEC programs with Race to the Top, the promotion of core competencies, and support of infant and toddler initiatives. Status: Complete EEC awarded funding to the Professional Development grantees to work with the Readiness Centers. The goals include: To provide additional funding for the Readiness Centers to provide more coordinated professional development offerings for early education and out of school time providers and educators throughout the State. To align the professional development activities offered by the EPS Grantee with the broader goals of the Race To The Top (RTTT) activities undertaken by the Readiness Centers. To increase the competency of educators in early education and out of school time field.

ARRA Spending Update 13