California Early Learning Quality Improvement System Steering Committee
Meeting: October 5, 2009 (3:30 -5:30 p.m.)
Location: Sheraton Hotel, Farron Room
Members of CAEL QIS Subcommittees:
- Design Ideas for Licensing, Quality Rating, and Improvement: Dennis Vicars
- Workforce and Professional Development and Incentives: Dave Gordon
- Parent Involvement and Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy: Celia Ayala
- Finance and Incentives, including Funding Model: Cliff Marcussen
- Data Systems for Program Improvement and Research: Glen Thomas
Staff: Roberta Peck, Camille Maben, and Nancy Remley
Meeting Highlights:
- Welcome and agenda review was provided by Camille Maben. All Steering Committee members were present with Dave Gordon participating via conference call.
- Audience/Visitors public discussion was opened with introductions. The audience members were pleased with the meeting location and opportunity to join, but no questions were asked.
- Action items:
The members discussed the roles of the Steering Committee, including:
- share and coordinate information between the Subcommittees;
- coordinate regarding moving alternative options and recommendations to the full CAELS Advisory Committee;
- revise the process as needed;
- share input from meetings and interactions with the public.
The members discussed their plan to have monthly meetings at the California Department of Education with conference call accessibility. Meetings will focus on discussions of Subcommittee work and not updates. In addition, the members want California to be ready to respond to opportunities, such as the Early Learning Challenge Grants, and want to review CAEL QIS progress through the draft interim report which will be discussed at the Advisory Committee’s 10/29/09 meeting.
Public comment included a request to continue to integrate lessons learned from counties and an appreciation for the bigger vision for data uses, including planning for future years.
- Information and reports: Updates on Subcommittees’ progress and updates on workplans were provided through the Subcommittee reports. The Subcommittee model and chart of workplan topics were distributed.
- Celia Ayala provided an update on the Parent Involvement Subcommittee stating that the group is beginning with a communication and input plan for parents, providers, and the public and then working on an outreach and engagement plan when California’s QRS is ready. They are focusing on evidence and research based practice and culturally and geographically diverse communication with parents. Funding is a concern.
- Dennis Vicars provided an update on the Design Subcommittee stating that the group is moving to more group work to provide analysis on the elements of California’s QRS for the CAEL QIS Advisory Committee, including coordinated efforts with the Engagement and Workforce Subcommittees. Currently, the work is focusing on tenets such as positive outcomes for children with effective measurements, positive interactions with teaching staff, professional development for teaching staff, effective curriculum and programs, and parent engagement.
- Dave Gordon provided an update on the Workforce Subcommittee, stating that the group is starting with the status of standards for workforce development including the delivery of pre-service and in-service professional development. They are working to provide improvements beyond the current delivery system for teaching professionals. The Subcommittee will be integrating their work with other reform efforts, such as the Water Cooler.
- Glen Thomas provided an update on the Data Subcommittee, stating that the principles are that the system will be: simple, useable, integrateable, accessible, adaptable, respect current systems and easily merge with other systems, and be transparent and dynamic. Data sets for children, families, teachers, and programs will be included. Staff have developed a matrix on current data which illustrates that there are few common data elements though we collect a lot of data. The discussion on essential data elements is progressing.
- Clliff Marcussen provided an update on the Finance Subcommittee which currently is developing background information on funding mechanisms, including private funding, federal and state subsidies, grants, and tax credits. They will also gather information on the work of other states. Cliff also provided an overview of the Early Learning Challenge grants legislation, proposed requirements, and possible timeline.
- The coordination between Subcommittees and with CAEL QIS expert consultants and other groups will be the substance of future Steering Committee meetings.
- The Steering Committee decided to have topic-specific reports provided first at the Subcommittee level prior to the CAEL QIS Advisory Committee. The reports need to be relevant to the Subcommittee topics and agendas, and pertinent information will be communicated to the Advisory Committee after vetting at the Subcommittee level.
- Information on the NAEYC Cultural Competence rating scale pilot project was distributed to Steering Committee members for review and future discussion.
- The meeting information was summarized, and the meeting was adjourned by Camille Maben at 5:30 p.m.
