1. EEC Annual Legislative Report January 2012

2. Context Legislative language requires EEC to submit an annual report on Universal Pre- Kindergarten (UPK) and Mental Health initiatives and a Workforce Development System annual update Report seeks to provide an update on EEC’s five-year Strategic Plan Report will frame this year’s accomplishments and future planned activities by the Board’s Strategic Directions and Indicators of Success.

3. 3 What EEC Must Report (at a Minimum)  Progress in achieving goals and implementing programs authorized under M.G.L. c. 15D;  Progress made towards universal early education and care for pre-school aged children;  Progress made toward reducing expulsion rates through developmentally appropriate prevention and intervention services;  Behavioral health indicators;  Rules and regulations promulgated by the Board related to civil fines and sanctions, including the types of sanctions and the amount of the fines; and  Findings and recommendations related to the study on the programmatic financing and phase-in options for the development and implementation of the Massachusetts universal pre- kindergarten program.

4. 4 EEC System Components Standards, Assessment and Accountability Informed Families and Public Early Ed & Care and K- 12 Linkages Workforce & Professional Development RegulationsGovernanceFinance EEC Strategic Directions Quality Family Support, Access, and Affordability Workforce Communications Infrastructure EEC System Components and Strategic Directions: Legislative Report

5. Outline of Report IntroductionFY12 Context Indicators of Success Strategic Directions Accomplished this year Plan to do next year Strategic Direction: Quality Accomplished this year Plan to do next year Strategic Direction: Workforce Accomplished this year Plan to do next year Strategic Direction: Family Accomplished this year Plan to do next year Strategic Direction: Communications Accomplished this year Plan to do next year Strategic Direction: Infrastructure Appendices 5

6. FY2012 Context will include: The Conclusion of ARRA funding EEC Board Members and Changes Appointment of Cheryl A. Stanley, Ed.D New Committee Structure Board/EEC Actions, Policy Decisions and Accomplishments Budget EEC Board Retreat and Refinement of Strategic Directions and Indicators of Success Governor’s Education Summit 6

7. New Initiatives Resources for Military Families Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Help Me Grow Reach Out and Read Conferences Early Literacy Support Grant (license plate funds) 7

8. Example: Strategic Direction: Quality Indicator of Success: MA Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) has been developed, validated, funded and implemented with full involvement of EEC’s community partners and EEC staff. Accomplished This Year FY2011 Launch of On-line System for Programs to Manage QRIS Participation (as of 2/2011, over 2,173 programs have started QRIS applications and 1,523 QRIS applications have been completed). Implementation of FY2011 QRIS Program Improvement Grant to monitor 100 FY2010 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grantees, train over 1,100 early education and care providers focused on advancing on the QRIS; and 445 program level grants to early education and care and after school programs. QRIS interviews to inform improving QRIS supports to programs As part of EEC’s language access plan to ensure meaningful access to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals, the Massachusetts QRIS Standards for Family Child Care were translated into Chinese, English, Haitian, Khmer, Portuguese, and Spanish. Indicator of Success: MA Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) has been developed, validated, funded and implemented with full involvement of EEC’s community partners and EEC staff. Accomplished This Year FY2011 Launch of On-line System for Programs to Manage QRIS Participation (as of 2/2011, over 2,173 programs have started QRIS applications and 1,523 QRIS applications have been completed). Implementation of FY2011 QRIS Program Improvement Grant to monitor 100 FY2010 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grantees, train over 1,100 early education and care providers focused on advancing on the QRIS; and 445 program level grants to early education and care and after school programs. QRIS interviews to inform improving QRIS supports to programs As part of EEC’s language access plan to ensure meaningful access to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals, the Massachusetts QRIS Standards for Family Child Care were translated into Chinese, English, Haitian, Khmer, Portuguese, and Spanish. 8

9. Example: Strategic Direction: Quality Indicator of Success: MA Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) has been developed, validated, funded and implemented with full involvement of EEC’s community partners and EEC staff. Planned for Next Year Evaluation of the QRIS Standards Move Toward Universal Participation in the QRIS and Quality Improvement Verification of Programs at self-assessed Level 3 or 4, using an independent reliable rater FY2012 QRIS Quality Improvement Grant to provide program level grants and related training Indicator of Success: MA Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) has been developed, validated, funded and implemented with full involvement of EEC’s community partners and EEC staff. Planned for Next Year Evaluation of the QRIS Standards Move Toward Universal Participation in the QRIS and Quality Improvement Verification of Programs at self-assessed Level 3 or 4, using an independent reliable rater FY2012 QRIS Quality Improvement Grant to provide program level grants and related training 9

10. Example: Strategic Direction: Quality Indicator of Success: Programs seeking to improve their quality have access to a range of resources and supports. Accomplished This Year Professional Development Programs FY2011 Educator and Provider Support RFP Institutions of Higher Education Mapping Project Targeted Professional Development Resources for the Field Early Educator Scholarship Program Professional Qualifications Registry Assessment Supports (courses, support groups and grants) Joint ESE and EEC Early Literacy Support Conference Resources for Military Families (curriculum offered to early childhood educators statewide) FY12 Head Start State Supplemental Renewal Grant Rural Community Support Grant Indicator of Success: Programs seeking to improve their quality have access to a range of resources and supports. Accomplished This Year Professional Development Programs FY2011 Educator and Provider Support RFP Institutions of Higher Education Mapping Project Targeted Professional Development Resources for the Field Early Educator Scholarship Program Professional Qualifications Registry Assessment Supports (courses, support groups and grants) Joint ESE and EEC Early Literacy Support Conference Resources for Military Families (curriculum offered to early childhood educators statewide) FY12 Head Start State Supplemental Renewal Grant Rural Community Support Grant 10

11. Example: Strategic Direction: Quality Indicator of Success: Programs seeking to improve their quality have access to a range of resources and supports. Planned for Next Year Educator and Provider Support: using data gathered during the first two years of the 3 year grant, EEC continues to refine the requirements for continuation grants. Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) Mapping Project: EEC is funding a part time position at DHE beginning focus on implementation of the Early Education Compact and supporting educators in completing their degrees. Targeted Professional Development Resources for the Field: EEC will work with EPS grantees and their Readiness Center partners to make resources available through the Readiness Center Network. FY12 Assessment Grant: it is anticipated that a total of 800 educators will benefit from training and 225 programs will receive assessment and/or screening tools. Indicator of Success: Programs seeking to improve their quality have access to a range of resources and supports. Planned for Next Year Educator and Provider Support: using data gathered during the first two years of the 3 year grant, EEC continues to refine the requirements for continuation grants. Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) Mapping Project: EEC is funding a part time position at DHE beginning focus on implementation of the Early Education Compact and supporting educators in completing their degrees. Targeted Professional Development Resources for the Field: EEC will work with EPS grantees and their Readiness Center partners to make resources available through the Readiness Center Network. FY12 Assessment Grant: it is anticipated that a total of 800 educators will benefit from training and 225 programs will receive assessment and/or screening tools. 11

12. 12 Timeline: 2012 January 10, 2012EEC Board Meeting Discussion January 19, 2012Board Planning and Evaluation Committee Meeting – Discussion February 7, 2012Send draft of the near final report to the Governor’s Office for review February 14, 2012EEC Board Meeting – Vote February 15, 2012Report Due