GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. TODAY IS OUR
ANNUAL STATEWIDE REVIEW OF
SYSTEM FUNDING. NOW, IN THE
CONTEXT OF HISTORIC RECENT
INVESTMENTS IN UNIVERSAL
PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE
EXPANSIONS, BUT ALSO IN THE
CONTEXT OF CONTINUING NEEDS FOR
MORE HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR
CALIFORNIA'S FAMILIES. I AM
PLEASED TO HAVE THE FIRST HALF
OF THE AGENDA AS AN
INFORMATIONAL HEARING TO INCLUDE
OUR LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S CAUCUS,
LEADERSHIP, IT IS SO IMPORTANT
TO RECOGNIZE HOW ESSENTIAL, OUR
S SYSTEM IS. HOW ESSENTIAL
CHILDCARE IS, TO THE VERY
FUNCTIONING OF OUR SOCIETY.
SIMPLY PUT, WITHOUT A ROBUST
CHILD CARE SYSTEM, CALIFORNIA
CANNOT OPERATE. WE MUST UNLEASH
THE FULL TALENT, OF OUR WORKING
PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. WHILE
ENSURING THE SAFETY AND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE,
WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS RIGHT. WE
LEARNED IT THE HARD WAY DURING
THE PANDEMIC. AND THE WORST
THING WE CAN DO IS, IS NOW THAT
THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, PRETEND
LIKE THE ISSUE DOESN'T STILL
EXIST. IT STILL EXISTS, AND WE
MUST FIX IT. BECAUSE THERE'S NO
DOUBT THAT ONE DAY WE MIGHT HAVE
TO SHUT DOWN AGAIN. AND IT'S
MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THAT IT
WILL HAPPEN AT SOME POINT. AND
SHAME ON US IF IT HAPPENS ON OUR
WATCH AND WE'RE NOT READY. AND
EACH OF THESE PANELS, I ASK OUR
PRESENTERS TO KEEP A CORE VALUE
IN MIND. HOW CAN THE STATE
CONTINUE TO BE BETTER AT
STABILIZING THE LIVES OF
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THROUGH
OUR CHILD CARE, SAFETY NET? HOW
CAN WE GET SMARTER ABOUT
BREAKING SYSTEM BARRIERS DOWN,
SO THAT OUR HISTORIC INVESTMENT
CGRTS CAN SUCCEED? AS YOU ALL
KNOW, THIS IS A JOINT, BUDGET
INFORMATIONAL HEARING, WITH SUB
ONE, I MEAN, SUB TWO AND SUB
THREE, IT IS MY HONOR TO BE ABLE
TO SERVE SIDE BY SIDE FOR MY
DEAR COLLEAGUE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ALVAREZ, FOR HIS OPEN REMARKS.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER.
DOCTOR JACKSON, CHAIR OF OUR SUB
NUMBER TWO. AND THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING,
EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUES OF EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION HAVE NOW, AS
THOSE OF YOU WHO FOLLOWED IT,
VERY CLOSELY OVER THE YEARS,
BEEN SPLIT INTO SUBS, WE THOUGHT
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THIS
CONVERSATION TO OCCUR AMONG THE
TWO COMMITTEES, BECAUSE REALLY,
OUR GOALS OF PROMOTING CHILD
DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORTING
WORKING FAMILIES WHEN IT COMES
TO CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF
OUR CHILDREN, NEEDS TO BE
WORKING TOGETHER. THROUGH OUR
CHILD CARE SYSTEM, OUR EARLY
CHILD CARE SYSTEM, PRESCHOOL,
OBVIOUSLY. AND THEN AS WE'LL
DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT LATER,
UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN. SO THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN IS
REALLY CRITICAL. WE ARE GETTING
CLOSE TO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE HAD
SET AS THE DEADLINE TO IMPLEMENT
THIS. AND AS WE WILL DISCUSS A
LITTLE BIT LATER. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION FITS IN WITH THAT
VISION THAT LONG TERME VISION,
AND HOW IT FITS AS THE FIRST
GRADE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN
CALIFORNIA, IN OUR IN EVERY ONE
OF OUR CAMPUSES. SO I'M
CERTAINLY CURIOUS ON HOW WE CAN
INTEGRATE OUR SCHOOL BASED EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SYSTEMS INTO
THE LARGER CHILD CARE ECOSYSTEM
THAT, DOCTOR JACKSON'S COMMITTEE
HAS BEEN DISCUSSING. AND WE'LL
GET INTO THE DETAILS. THIS
MORNING IN THE FIRST SET OF
PANELS, SO WITH THAT, I JUST
WANT TO REMIND FOLKS, WE WILL
TAKE COMMENT ON THE
INFORMATIONAL HEARING ISSUES. SO
THESE NEXT COUPLE OF PANELS AT
THE END OF THE PORTION OF THIS
HEARING, AND THEN ON THE OTHER
ISSUES AT THE END OF THAT
PORTION OF THE HEARING THAT YOU
HAVE IN YOUR AGENDA. THANK YOU.
DOCTOR JACKSON. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. ANY OTHER
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE ANY COMMENTS? SURE YES,
SIR. THANK YOU. FOR CONVENING
THIS HEARING, AS CHAIR OF THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE, I'M A BIG
BELIEVER IN EARLY EDUCATION, AS,
YOU KNOW, THE BEST STRATEGY TO,
PROMOTE EQUITY AND CLOSE THE
ACHIEVEMENT GAP. HOWEVER I FULLY
RECOGNIZE THAT, THE IMPACTS OF
UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN IS HAVING A,
CAUSING A TREMENDOUS UPHEAVAL
WITH THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY.
AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY
APPROPRIATE THAT THE TWO
COMMITTEES ARE COMING TOGETHER
TODAY TO ADDRESS THESE TWO
CRITICAL ISSUES OF HOW DO WE
PROMOTE, CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE
EARLY EDUCATION WHILE AT THE
SAME TIME SUPPORTING AND
PROMOTING ACCESS FOR QUALITY
CHILD CARE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER. AND
JUST, NOTE THAT MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S CAUCUS WILL
BE COMING IN AND OUT THROUGHOUT,
THIS PORTION. OF COURSE, THERE'S
NO DOUBT, THAT THERE'S BEEN NO
GREATER CHAMPIONS ON EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THAN THE
WOMEN'S CAUCUS. AND YOU BETTER
BELIEVE THEY HOLD US MEN
ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKING SURE WE
IMPLEMENT THEIR ORDERS. OKAY, SO
WE LOOK FORWARD TO, THE CAUCUS
MEMBERS JOINING US THROUGHOUT
THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO BRING
UP OUR FIRST, PANEL ON ISSUE
NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS, AN
OPPORTUNITY TO START A NEW
TRADITION HERE, WHICH IS AN
ANNUAL PRIORITY SETTING
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S
MASTER PLAN FOR EARLY LEARNING
AND CARE AND PRIORITIES FOR THE
NEWSOM ADMINISTRATION, NO ONE IS
INTERESTED IN HAVING ANOTHER
DOCUMENT JUST TO HAVE ANOTHER
DOCUMENT AND COLLECT DUST. WE
MUST OPERATIONALIZE, THIS MASTER
PLAN, AND WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT
WE CONTINUE TO FIND A WAY TO
HAVE BENCHMARKS ON PROGRESS. HOW
DO WE KNOW WE'RE BEING
SUCCESSFUL, WHAT ARE THE NEXT
THINGS? ARE WE GOING TO BE
TACKLING, AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO
HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION HERE TO
TALK ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN. AND
YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING.
CHAIRS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
KIM JOHNSON, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
AND APPRECIATE THE OPENING
REMARKS RELATED TO THE DUAL
GOALS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
SUPPORT ACROSS FOR CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA. AND
ALSO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THE
APPRECIATION THAT WE HAD THIS
MASTER PLAN PRIOR TO COVID,
ALLOWING US, AS THOSE NEW
BILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS CAME
INTO CALIFORNIA, ALLOWING US TO
BE AT A DIFFERENT READINESS
LEVEL IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION
AND OPERATIONALIZE THIS PLAN IN
2019. ACTUALLY, CALIFORNIA
LAUNCHED THE MASTER PLAN FOR
EARLY LEARNING AND CARE TO
PROVIDE A ROADMAP TO GIVE ALL
CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF
BACKGROUND RACE, ZIP CODE,
IMMIGRATION STATUS, OR INCOME
LEVEL, A GREAT START IN LIFE BY
MAKING COMPREHENSIVE
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STATE'S
EARLY LEARNING AND CARE SYSTEM.
THE MASTER PLAN PROVIDES
DIRECTION FOR BUILDING A BETTER
SYSTEM OVER TIME, ONE THAT
PARTNERS WITH FAMILIES TAKES A
WHOLE CHILD APPROACH TO ENSURE
THE BEST CHILD OUTCOMES, AND
SUPPORTS THE ADVANCEMENT OF
EARLY LEARNING AND CARE
PROFESSIONALS TO ENSURE EVERY
FAMILY HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY
CARE AND EARLY LEARNING.
SUPPORTS THE MASTER PLAN WAS
PUBLISHED IN DECEMBER OF 2020,
PROVIDING A TEN YEAR ROADMAP AND
FOUR OVERARCHING GOALS BASED ON
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE
ASSEMBLY'S BLUE RIBBON
COMMISSION ON EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION, THE LIFTING CHILDREN
OUT OF OUT OF POVERTY TASK FORCE
CHILDREN'S TRANSFORMING THE
WORKFORCE RATE REFORM WORK
GROUPS, AND MANY OTHER VOICES
AND RESEARCH. THE GOALS ARE
LISTED ON PAGES TWO AND THREE OF
YOUR AGENDA AND INCLUDE
IMPROVING ACCESS TO SERVICES,
ENHANCING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,
AND CREATING EQUITABLE CAREER
PATHWAYS FOR EDUCATORS AND
PROVIDERS. UNIFYING FUNDING
INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF A NEW
REIMBURSEMENT RATE STRUCTURE,
WHICH WE'RE GLAD TO TALK MORE
ABOUT THIS MORNING. STREAMLINING
GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION,
INCLUDING STRENGTHENING DATA
SYSTEMS. THE ESTIMATES FOR
IMPLEMENTING THIS TEN YEAR
ROADMAP RANGED FROM $2 BILLION
TO $12 BILLION. AND DUE TO
HISTORIC AGAIN AND UNPRECEDENT
INVESTMENTS IN EARLY CARE AND
EDUCATION AT THE STATE AND
FEDERAL LEVELS AND UPDATED
POLICY IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS WITH A PHENOMENAL
COMMITMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR AND
LEGISLATURE. CALIFORNIA HAS
ALREADY MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN
IMPLEMENTING THE MASTER PLAN.
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INCLUDES
$6.7 BILLION IN TOTAL FUNDING
FOR CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS IN BUDGET YEAR. THIS IS
ENORMOUS GROWTH FROM THE $1.7
BILLION APPROXIMATELY TEN YEARS
AGO. THE COMMITTEE ASKED ABOUT
PRIORITIES AND WHAT IS NEXT. SO
I WILL ADDRESS BOTH AS I GO
THROUGH THE GOAL AREAS AND GOAL
AREA ONE ACCESS THE ENROLLMENT
IN THE ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT
PROGRAMS, WHICH PROVIDES CHILD
CARE SUBSIDIES TO LOW INCOME
FAMILIES, HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED
FROM 56,300 CHILDREN IN 2021 TO
130,500 CHILDREN IN OCTOBER OF
2023. BETWEEN FISCAL YEARS 2122
AND 2223, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER
200 AWARDS GRANTED FOR GENERAL
CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT
CONTRACTORS, SUPPORTING OVER
21,000 NEW SUBSIDIES IN THAT
SPACE. WE ALSO HAVE, OF COURSE,
EXPANDED UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL AND
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
PROGRAMS THAT I KNOW THAT MY
COLLEAGUE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION WILL SPEAK MORE ABOUT.
IN SHORT, LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN
CALIFORNIA TO HAVE ELIGIBILITY
THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CHILD CARE
SUBSIDIES HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO
SERVICES THAN THEY EVER HAVE
BEFORE. AND THE SECOND GOAL AREA
RELATED TO THE WORKFORCE, WE
KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING
IN THE WORKFORCE TO SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND
DEVELOPMENT OR ENHANCING
EDUCATION. EARLY EDUCATORS
COMPETENCIES INCENTIVIZING AND
FUNDING CAREER PATHWAYS, AND
IMPLEMENTING SUPPORTIVE PROGRAM
STANDARDS. THE LANDSCAPE HAS
ALSO CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER
THE LAST FEW YEARS, WITH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS UNITED OR CCPU,
REPRESENTING IN-HOME FAMILY
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, AND
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
WHO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE
SUBSIDIES TO LOW INCOME
FAMILIES. TWO HISTORIC
AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AND CCPA HAVE BEEN
REACHED, WHICH ALSO INCLUDE
THINGS LIKE NEWLY ESTABLISHED
JOINT TRAINING PARTNERSHIP
FUNDS. AGAIN, HAVING THAT
OPPORTUNITY IN ACCESS
INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH CARE AND
RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR THE
WORKFORCE, SUPPORTS FOR NEW
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO AGAIN
STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF CARE DELIVERED. WE'VE
ALSO MADE FOCUSED INVESTMENTS IN
INCLUSIVE EARLY EDUCATION,
SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES, SUPPORTING AND
STRENGTHENING MULTILINGUAL
LEARNING, HAVING LIMITED HAVING
LIMITED THE ABILITY TO SUSPEND
AND EXPEL YOUTH FROM EARLY
LEARNING PROGRAMS, MENTAL HEALTH
CONSULTATION AND PROVIDING
TRAINING GRANTS AND INCENTIVES.
IN SHORT, THE WORKFORCE HAS
GREATER ACCESS TO EDUCATION,
TRAINING AND SUPPORT THAN THEY
EVER HAVE BEFORE IN GOAL AREA
THREE RELATED TO FUNDING. I
ALSO, IN TERMS OF THAT
AFFORDABILITY AND Kò ACCESS TO
SUBSIDY, WE HAVE ALSO REFORMED
THE FAMILY FEE SCHEDULE ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, BEGINNING LAST YEAR.
FAMILY FEES CANNOT EXCEED 1% OF
A FAMILY'S MONTHLY INCOME. AGAIN
ENSURING THAT LOW INCOME
FAMILIES HAVE THE ECONOMIC
SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED. AND OF
COURSE, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
COMPLETELY REFORMING THE RATE
STRUCTURE FOR SUBSIDIES AGAIN,
WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER ON
THIS MORNING. BUT REALLY MOVING
FROM A TWO RATE STRUCTURE TO A
SINGLE REIMBURSEMENT RATE
STRUCTURE IN ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY THAT LOOKS AT THE
COST OF PROVIDING SERVICES. AND
FINALLY, UNDER GOAL AREA FOUR
STREAMLINING, WE'VE BEGUN WORK
ON THE EARLY CHILDHOOD
INTEGRATED DATA SYSTEMS,
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK TO
COORDINATE SILOED DATA SYSTEMS,
FACILITATE DATA SHARING ACROSS
PROGRAMS, AND ANSWER KEY POLICY
QUESTIONS ABOUT CHILDREN'S
DEVELOPMENT. THE SUPPLY OF CARE
AND WORKFORCE NEEDS. WE'VE ALSO
STREAMLINED ELIGIBILITY FOR
FAMILIES IN A NUMBER OF
PROGRAMS, REDUCING CHURN OFF OF
THE PROGRAMS AT BOTH THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
SOCIAL SERVICES. WE'VE ALSO DONE
ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCIES LIKE
OFFERING CONTRACTORS THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECT DEPOSIT
AND PAYMENT AND REALLY
ACCELERATING THE DOLLARS,
GETTING TO THOSE CONTRACTORS AND
OF COURSE, WE'VE TRANSITIONED
THE PROGRAMS ACROSS. WE
CERTAINLY HAVE MORE TO DO. BUT I
WILL AGAIN, JUST UNDERSCORE THE
MASTER PLAN AND ITS ABILITY TO
HELP US IMPLEMENT, OVER THE LAST
FEW YEARS AT CREATING THAT
UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS THAT WE
HAVE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I
JUST REFERENCED, WE ARE STILL IN
THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING,
LIKE RATE REFORM THAT WE'LL TALK
ABOUT MORE. BUT AGAIN,
OVERARCHINGLY, THE SUCCESS THAT
WE'VE HAD OVER THE OVER THE LAST
FEW YEARS HAS BEEN LIKE ANY
OTHER IN THE IN PRIOR HISTORY,
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE, SARAH NEVILLE
MORGAN FROM THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HERE ON
BEHALF OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT
OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TONY
THURMOND. AND I WOULD LIKE TO
DEDICATE TODAY'S TESTIMONY FROM
CDE TO DYLAN EASTON, OUR FIRST
AND ONLY TO DATE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT, WHO WAS A WOMAN
AND WHO PASSED AWAY THIS
MORNING. SO DYLAN, A CHAMPION OF
EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AND OF
UNIVERSAL PRE-K, THIS IS FOR YOU
. I'LL START BY GIVING A BRIEF
UPDATE BASED ON WHAT DIRECTOR
JOHNSON WAS ABLE TO DO, TO ADD
ON SOME SPECIFICS AROUND WHERE
CDE HAS IMPLEMENTED
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MASTER
PLAN, AND THEN BRIEFLY TOUCH ON
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A
RECENT WORKGROUP THAT WE'VE HELD
ON UNIVERSAL PRE-K, MIXED
DELIVERY QUALITY AND ACCESS THAT
FURTHER ADVANCES THE MASTER PLAN
RECOMMENDATIONS. FIRST,
CALIFORNIA LAUNCHED UNIVERSAL
PRE-K IN 20 2223, IMPLEMENTING A
KEY RECOMMENDATION IN THE MASTER
PLAN TO EXPAND ACCESS TO ONE
YEAR OF FREE, UNIVERSALLY
AVAILABLE AND INCLUSIVE PRE-K
FOR ALL FOUR YEAR OLDS AND
EXPANDING TARGETED ACCESS TO AN
ADDITIONAL YEAR OF PUBLICLY
FUNDED PRE-K FOR ALL THREE YEAR
OLDS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES,
AS WELL AS CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES. TK IS IN THE
SECOND YEAR OR TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN IN THE SECOND YEAR
OF EXPANSION, AND WILL BE
UNIVERSALLY AVAILABLE TO ALL
FOUR YEAR OLDS, ALONGSIDE AN
ARRAY OF OTHER PRESCHOOL
OPTIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE
ELIGIBILITY DEPENDENT BY 20
2526. AS ADDITIONALLY, OUR
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAMS HAVE BEGUN TO SERVE
MORE THREE YEAR OLDS AND
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
THANKS TO KEY LEGISLATIVE
CHANGES, OUR PROGRAMS ARE NOW
REACHING 11.5. I KNOW IT'S STILL
LOW OF THE ELIGIBLE THREE YEAR
OLD POPULATION, THIS IS UP FROM
THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WHERE IT WAS
ONLY 8.5% OF ELIGIBLE THREE YEAR
OLDS, SO STILL MUCH ROOM FOR
GROWTH IN CALIFORNIA IN SERVING
ELIGIBLE THREE YEAR OLDS WITH
TWO YEARS OF HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC
PRE-K. TO ADDRESS THE MASTER
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS TO UPDATE
OUR STATE'S EARLY LEARNING
GUIDELINES AND INTEGRATE
SUPPORTS FOR MULTILINGUAL
LEARNERS AND CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES, CDE HAS REVISED
THE STATE'S PRESCHOOL EARLY
LEARNING STANDARDS. THE
PRESCHOOL LEARNING FOUNDATIONS
WAS RECENTLY RENAMED THE
PRESCHOOL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN LEARNING
FOUNDATIONS TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE
OF TK, ADDRESS RACIAL BIAS, BE
MORE INCLUSIVE OF MULTILINGUAL
LEARNERS AND CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES, AND INCORPORATE
THE LATEST SCIENCE OF LEARNING
AND DEVELOPMENT. THIRD, TO
ADDRESS THE RECOMMENDATION TO
ENSURE EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF
CHILDREN AND ELIMINATE BIAS
THROUGH PRACTICES AND TRAINING
IN OUR STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM,
CALIFORNIA PASSED LEGISLATION
THAT HAS CREATED A PROCESS FOR
IDENTIFYING DUAL LANGUAGE
LEARNERS AND TEACHER PARENT
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LANGUAGE
DEVELOPMENT AND ENABLING OUR
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS TO
BETTER SUPPORT THOSE LEARNERS
HOME LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, AS
WELL AS INCREASE THEIR ACCESS TO
ENGLISH. WE INTRODUCED
CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY FOR
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, AS
WELL AS A REQUIREMENT FOR STATE
PRESCHOOL TO SET ASIDE 10% OF
THEIR SPACES FOR CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES, SIMILAR TO HEAD
START, ENSURING GREATER
INCLUSION FOR OUR CHILDREN. WE
ALSO LIMITED SUSPENSIONS AND
EXPULSIONS EXCEPT IN EXTREME
CIRCUMSTANCES, TO REDUCE THE
EXCLUSIONARY DISCIPLINE
PRACTICES, WHICH RESEARCH SHOWS
DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETS
CHILDREN OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY
BLACK BOYS AND AMERICAN INDIAN
BOYS AND OUR CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES. TO SUPPORT OUR
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IN
MEETING NEEDS, THE CDE HAS
ISSUED GUIDANCE, PROVIDED
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CREATED A
DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNER WEBINAR
SERIES, AND A RESOURCE PAGE. AND
WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED RECENTLY THE
CLASS TOOL TO SUPPORT RESPONSIVE
INTERACTIONS. AS A QUICK NOTE ON
THAT, IN SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH
DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICT, WHO HAS BEEN
IMPLEMENTING CLASS FOR THE PAST
SEVERAL YEARS, THEY RECENTLY
WERE ABLE TO ELIMINATE OUT ALL
OF THEIR OUT OF SCHOOL
SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS, AND
GRADES K TO THREE, AND HAD KIDS
ON GRADE LEVEL FOR THIRD GRADE
READING AND ARE REALLY
ATTRIBUTING THAT TO THEIR
COACHING AROUND THE CLASS
IMPLEMENTATION. TO ADDRESS THE
MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS TO
ENHANCE EDUCATOR COMPETENCIES.
INCENTIVIZING AND FUNDING CAREER
PATHWAYS, AND IMPLEMENTING
SUPPORTIVE PROGRAM STANDARDS.
CALIFORNIA HAS MADE SOME
SIGNIFICANT, MAINLY ONE TIME
INVESTMENTS IN PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FOR EXISTING
TEACHERS FOR TEACHER PREP
PROGRAMS, FINANCIAL AID, AND
OTHER SUPPORTS TO SUPPORT
ASPIRING TEACHERS BOTH INTO THE
PRESCHOOL STATE PRESCHOOL AREA
AS WELL AS INTO TK AND BEYOND
AND THE COMMISSION ON TEACHER
CREDENTIALING RECENTLY
ESTABLISHED A NEW PK TO THIRD
GRADE S SPECIALIST CREDENTIAL,
ALLOWING MORE PEOPLE TO MOVE
INTO THOSE EARLY GRADES WITH A
STRONGER BACKGROUND IN CHILD
DEVELOPMENT. FIFTH, THERE HAVE
BEEN CHANGES ADDRESSING THE
MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS TO
STREAMLINE EARLY EDUCATION
GOVERNANCE AND ELIGIBILITY. I'M
JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN A
FEW RELATED TO OUR CALIFORNIA
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. WE NOW
HAVE 24 MONTH ELIGIBILITY FOR
STATE PRESCHOOL, CREATING
CONTINUITY OF CARE AND MUCH
NEEDED STABILITY FOR
CALIFORNIA'S WORKING FAMILIES,
AND ALSO THE CATEGORICAL
ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILDREN, WHERE
ONE MEMBER OF A FAMILY RECEIVES
BENEFITS FROM MEANS TESTED
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS
MEDI-CAL AND HEAD START, LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET ALSO STREAMLINED
PRIORITIZATION AROUND THREE AND
FOUR YEAR OLDS, ENABLING US TO
SERVE MORE OF THE THREE YEAR
OLDS IN OUR STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM. AS TK CONTINUES TO
EXPAND AND MORE FAMILIES MIGHT
BE CHOOSING THAT AS THEIR
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. FINALLY,
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE
THAT WE JUST SUBMITTED TO ALL OF
YOU. I THINK LAST WEEK THE UPK
MIXED DELIVERY QUALITY AND
ACCESS WORKGROUPS REPORT, WHICH
WE CONVENED IN CONSULTATION WITH
CDSS WITH THE STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION AND ALSO PARTNERED
WITH THE COMMISSION ON TEACHER
CREDENTIALING ON. THIS ADDRESSED
WAYS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH
QUALITY UPK PROGRAMS FOR THREE
AND FOUR YEAR OLDS AND ACCORDING
TO THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY
AROUND IT, DID NOT INCLUDE NEW
COSTS AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE
WAS A LOT OF DANCING AROUND WHEN
THERE ARE NO NEW COSTS INCLUDED.
SO WE DO HAVE A SECTION THAT IS
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS AS WELL.
THERE WERE A TOTAL OF OVER 100
RECOMMENDATIONS. IT IS QUITE A
DENSE REPORT AND ALSO HAS
NUMEROUS OTHER RESOURCES THAT
WERE INCLUDED. AS WE LOOKED AT
IT, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS TO
BRING UP ARE TO LOOK AT OUR
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS AND
MOVE FORWARD IN ADOPTING AN
EVIDENCE BASED CURRICULUM THAT
IS ALIGNED WITH THE PRESCHOOL,
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN,
LEARNING FOUNDATIONS AND OUR
DESIRED RESULTS, DEVELOPMENTAL
PROFILE AND BEST SUPPORTS
CHILDREN AS THEY MOVE THROUGH
ANY COHERENT ALIGNED P3 APPROACH
AND ALSO SOME, CHANGES OR
RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND
COMPETENCIES AND CAREER PATHWAYS
THAT WOULD ALLOW MORE PROGRAMS
TO HOLD ESSENTIAL PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT DAYS FOR THEIR STAFF
THAT ARE ACTUALLY FUNDED. SO
MAKING SURE THAT PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE TO OUR
PROGRAMS AS WE LOOK THROUGH THE
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IS A KEY
ONE IS HOW WE SUPPORT MORE
PATHWAYS FOR MORE PROGRAMS TO
COME IN AND BE PART OF UPK AND
ENSURE THROUGH THAT THAT THEY
CAN MEET THE UPK PROGRAM
STANDARDS AND ARE SUPPORTED IN
THAT. I HAVE WITH ME SOME OF MY
TEAM, STEPHEN PROFETA AND
VIRGINIA EARLY. IF ANY QUESTIONS
COME UP THAT WE NEED TO DIVE
INTO WITH THEM. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, CAN YOU LET US
KNOW? WHAT IS THE WHAT ARE, FROM
EACH OF YOUR PURVIEWS? WHAT IS
THE ADMINISTRATION? TRY HOPE TO
HAVE ACHIEVED BY THE END OF
THEIR ADMINISTER? NEWSOM
ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION, CHAIR, ONE OF THE
PIECES AROUND IMPROVED AND
INCREASED ACCESS TO SUBSIDIES. I
REFERENCED SOME OF THE NUMBERS
TO DATE, BUT WE DO HAVE A
PROMISE OF 200,000 NEW SUBSIDIES
THAT WE PLAN TO ACHIEVE BY 25,
26. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
SINGLE RATE STRUCTURE THAT IS
INFORMED BY THE COST OF CARE
THAT IS ANOTHER SPECIFIC
MILESTONE, AND THEN ALSO, AS IT
RELATES TO TRAINING AND THE RATE
STRUCTURE IS A ENHANCED RATE
STRUCTURE THAT LOOKS AT THE
COMPETENCIES OF THE WORKFORCE AS
WELL. SO THOSE ARE A FEW
SPECIFICS. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION, BUT I CAN SPEAK
FOR THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
AND ONE OF OUR KEY QUESTIONS AS
WE LOOK AT ALL OF THIS IS HOW DO
WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN ARE BETTER
OFF? AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THE
INVESTMENTS, ALWAYS ASKING
OURSELVES, WHAT ARE THE PROGRAM
GOALS? I THINK THAT YOU JUST
SUGGESTED AND FOLLOWING SOME OF
THE DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT AS
CHILDREN GO THROUGH OUR
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, THEY
ACTUALLY HAVE MORE ACCESS TO
BETTER OPPORTUNITIES. AND AS
THEY GO INTO LIFE THAT THEY HAVE
MORE ACCESS TO COLLEGE, CAREER
AND PATHWAYS THAT ALLOW THEM THE
FULL SPECTRUM OF HOME OWNERSHIP,
OF GREATER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND
ALL THE COMPONENTS WE KNOW ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH QUALITY
PRE-K, A HIGH PRIORITY IN THAT
THAT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT
ALWAYS RAISES UP IS MAKING SURE
THAT WE HAVE THE COMPENSATION
AND THE RATES FOR OUR PROGRAMS
THAT CAN ADDRESS THEM IN MEETING
THOSE STANDARDS. THANK YOU. I'LL
ASK, ONE OTHER QUESTION ON, HOW
THE ENGAGEMENT FROM THE PUBLIC
AS IT RELATES TO THE MASTER PLAN
, GIVEN THAT WE ARE IN
IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, HOW IS
THAT BEING TRACKED OR MONITORED,
IN A WAY THAT I'LL JUST SAY IS
UNDERSTANDABLE. LIKE HOW FAR
WE'VE GONE AND HOW MUCH WE'VE
GOT TO GO, ONE OF THE THINGS WE
HEAR A LOT WITH IMPLEMENTATION
OF PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY ANYTHING
THAT OVERLAPS IN ANY WAY WITH
THE PANDEMIC YEARS, IS DELAYS
AND WE HEAR THAT QUITE A BIT, SO
I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THERE ARE
ANY VERY SPECIFIC DELAYS THAT
YOU THINK THE MASTER PLAN THAT
WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF, AND THEN
THE OTHER QUESTION IS WHAT I,
WHAT I MENTIONED WHEN I STARTED
MY COMMENTS, WHICH IS HOW ARE
WE, HOW IS THE PUBLIC ABLE TO
TRACK PROGRESS? THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION, CHAIR ALVAREZ, THE
EARLY CHILDHOOD POLICY COUNCIL
ACTUALLY HAS A STATUTORY
REQUIREMENT, RELATED TO
PROVIDING SPECIFIC
RECOMMENDATIONS DIRECTLY TO THE
GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURE AND
SUPERINTENDENT ON A NUMBER OF
ASPECTS, INCLUSIVE OF THE MASTER
PLAN. SO THAT IS THE PUBLIC
FORUM, THE COUNCIL MEETS ABOUT
FOUR TIMES PER YEAR, ALSO HAS
PARENT AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE
MEETINGS, IN ADDITION TO THOSE
GENERAL MEETINGS, BOTH, MISS
NEVILLE MORGAN AND I ARE BOTH
MEMBERS OF THAT COUNCIL. SO IT
DOES HAVE THE CROSS DEPARTMENTAL
REPRESENTATION AS WELL. SO THAT
IS THE PRIMARY FORUM BY WHICH
WE'RE PROVIDING UPDATES ON, ON
THE MASTER PLAN AND ALSO GETTING
INPUT AND ADVISEMENT BACK FROM
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL AS
THE PUBLIC INTO, PROGRESS AND
DIRECTION GOING FORWARD. SO
THESE ARE PUBLICLY NOTICED
MEETINGS ON THE WEBSITE. PEOPLE
CAN ATTEND. ABSOLUTELY AND WE'VE
HAD, I WOULD SAY ON AVERAGE,
MORE THAN 400 PUBLIC MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC ATTENDING. WE'RE
DOING HYBRID, MEETINGS AND
ALLOWING FOR PUBLIC TO
PARTICIPATE REMOTELY. SO YES,
AND DO MINUTES AND COMMENTS FROM
PUBLIC AT PUBLISHED. YES. THEY
ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CALIFORNIA
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
WEBSITE. SECOND QUESTION, WHICH
WAS ARE THERE ANY THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED NOW, HALFWAY THROUGH
ESSENTIALLY THAT WE ANTICIPATE,
YOU KNOW, OF THE SPECIFIC,
STRATEGIES OR GOALS THAT WILL WE
KNOW WE'RE FALLING BEHIND ON NOW
OR ANTICIPATE WE WILL BE I WOULD
AGAIN SAY WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT
PROGRESS. THE MASTER PLAN DIDN'T
NECESSARILY GIVE SPECIFIC MONTH
YEAR TO THE TEN YEAR ROADMAP,
BUT IT YOU KNOW, FOUR YEARS IN,
AGAIN, WE OUR THREE AND A HALF
YEARS IN, WE'VE MADE VERY, VERY
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS. SO IN
TERMS OF PRIORITY SETTING AND
HAVING THAT DIALOG WITH THE
PUBLIC AROUND ANY OF THE
ADDITIONAL GOALS THAT WE HAVE TO
ACHIEVE. AGAIN, WE WOULD DO THAT
THROUGH THE COUNCIL. SO NOTHING
TO FLAG AT THIS POINT IN TERMS
OF AREAS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
WELL, I THINK THAT THE CHAIR,
YOU KNOW, STATED STATED THAT
THIS IS A HOPEFULLY PART OF A
NEW TRADITION OF ANNUAL REVIEW
WHERE WE WILL ALSO HAVE A
LEGISLATIVE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR
ON PROGRESS. AND I WOULD
ANTICIPATE, ON A GOING FORWARD
BASIS, THAT YOU HELP US IDENTIFY
COMPONENTS THAT PERHAPS,
ESPECIALLY AS WE GET TO REALLY
MID-YEAR NEXT YEAR OR MID TERMS
OF THE TEN YEAR NEXT YEAR, JUST
SO THAT WE ARE ALL AWARE OF WHAT
THE EXPECTATIONS SHOULD BE BY
2030. THANK YOU BOTH. APPRECIATE
IT, WE ARE MOVING ON TO ISSUE
NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS, AS PART OF
THE 20 2122 BUDGET ACT,
CALIFORNIA LAUNCHED, AS WE HEARD
EARLIER, THE UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL
COMMITMENT, PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND
PRESCHOOL OPTIONS FOR ALL FOUR
YEAR OLDS IN THE YEAR BEFORE
KINDERGARTEN. THE COMMITMENT AND
ITS TIMELINE OF FULL
IMPLEMENTATION IN 2526, THAT IS
NEXT YEAR. EVERYBODY IS
AMBITIOUS AND CERTAINLY
HISTORIC. THE PANEL NOW, WILL
DISCUSS UNIVERSAL TRANSITION,
KINDERGARTEN IMPLEMENTATION AND
HOW WE ARE DOING TOWARDS THIS
GOAL, AND, AND I CERTAINLY HAVE
A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE
ARISEN AS A RESULT OF ALL OF OUR
BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ON TK AND
LOOK FORWARD TO ASKING MY
QUESTIONS. BUT FIRST, LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE LÀ
OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT, AND WASHINGTON
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO
PLEASE PROCEED. GOOD MORNING,
SARA CORTEZ, WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE. I
WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW
OF RECENT ACTIONS RELATED TO
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN.
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN IS THE
FIRST YEAR OF A TWO YEAR
KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM OFFERED BY
PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. PRIOR
TO 22, 23 STUDENTS WERE ELIGIBLE
FOR TK IF THEY HAD THEIR FIFTH
BIRTHDAY. BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2ND
AND DECEMBER 2ND. AS PART OF THE
2122 BUDGET AGREEMENT, THE STATE
ESTABLISHED A PLAN TO GRADUALLY
EXPAND TK TO ALL FOUR YEAR OLDS
IN FROM 2223 THROUGH 2526. THE
EXPANSION SCHEDULE IS SHOWN ON
PAGE SIX OF YOUR AGENDA. TK
STUDENTS GENERATE ADA BASED
FUNDING THROUGH THE LOCAL
CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA. IN
ADDITION TO EXPANSION, THE STATE
ALSO MADE PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES.
THESE ARE LISTED IN DETAIL IN
YOUR AGENDA ON PAGE SIX AND PAGE
SEVEN. SO I'LL HIGHLIGHT JUST A
FEW OF THE CHANGES, SUCH AS TK
CLASSROOMS MUST ON AVERAGE HAVE
ONE ADULT FOR EVERY 12 STUDENTS,
AND THIS IS PLANNED TO MOVE TO
ONE ADULT FOR EVERY TEN STUDENTS
IN 2526 AND THE CREATION OF ADD
ON FUNDING. TO COVER THESE
COSTS, THE STATE PROVIDED FUNDS
TO SUPPORT EXPANSION, SUCH AS
$590 MILLION IN FACILITY SUPPORT
ACROSS 21, 22 AND 2223, 500
MILLION IN PLANNING SUPPORT
ACROSS 2122 AND TWO 2223. IN
ADDITION TO ALL OF THESE, TK
CHANGES, THERE WERE ALSO CHANGES
INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT THE IMPACT TK EXPANSION
WOULD HAVE ON STATE PRESCHOOL.
THE OTHER STATE'S SUBSIDIZED
PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2223,
THE STATE INCREASED THE INCOME
ELIGIBILITY ELIGIBILITY
THRESHOLD FROM 75% OF STATE
MEDIAN INCOME TO 100% OF STATE
MEDIAN INCOME, INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR THE STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM. AND THE STATE ALSO
INCREASED THE RATE FOR THREE
YEAR OLDS IN THE STATE.
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM BY 80% IN
2223, SO I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
THAT'LL CONCLUDE MY REMARKS, BUT
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. PROCEED. GOOD
MORNING, MR. CHAIR, AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE, STEPHEN
PROPHETER, DIRECTOR OF THE EARLY
EDUCATION DIVISION, PRESENTING
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION, TONY THURMOND, WE
GREATLY APPRECIATE THE
ADMINISTRATION'S CONTINUING
COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION OVERALL.
AND TO UNIVERSAL PRE-K IN
PARTICULAR, WITH NEARLY 900,003
AND FOUR YEAR OLD CHILDREN IN
THE STATE, UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR
ALL FOUR YEAR OLDS, AND AN
INCREASING NUMBER OF THREE YEAR
OLDS WILL BE AND ALREADY IS
TRANSFERRED, FORMATIVE FOR
CALIFORNIA'S FAMILIES AND YOUNG
CHILDREN AS UPCA PROGRAMS
PROVIDE A STRONG AND EARLY START
TO EDUCATION AND SUPPORT
EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
SCHOOL READINESS THROUGH HIGH
QUALITY, JOYFUL, DEVELOPMENTALLY
INFORMED, INCLUSIVE AND RIGOROUS
PRE-K PROGRAMS. CALIFORNIA'S
IMPLEMENTATION OF UPK INCLUDES
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN, WHICH
IS THE ONLY UNIVERSAL AND FREE
OPTION WHICH IN 2526 WILL BE
AVAILABLE TO ALL FOUR YEAR OLD
CHILDREN ALONGSIDE AN ARRAY OF
OTHER PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS, SOME
OF WHICH ARE ELIGIBILITY
DEPENDENT TO BRING SOME PARENTS
VOICES INTO THE ROOM. ON UPK,
SOME PARENTS HAVE SHARED, AND I
QUOTE IN THIS SCHOOL, SHE'S
LEARNING TWO LANGUAGES SPANISH
AND ENGLISH. HER LANGUAGE SKILLS
ARE IMPROVING AND HER
DEVELOPMENT IS ADVANCING. SHE IS
LEARNING AND ADVANCING, WHICH
HELPS MY FAMILY. HER LANGUAGE
DEVELOPMENT HAS GROWN
SIGNIFICANTLY, WHICH WAS NOT
HAPPENING IN OUR HOME, AND IT
WAS FROM A PARENT FROM OAKLAND
UNIFIED, SECOND QUOTE I'M GLAD
MY SON GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
INTRODUCED TO SCHOOL WITH KIDS
CLOSE IN AGE AND DEVELOPMENT, HE
IS SLOWLY BUT SURELY BECOMING
MORE VOCAL AND UNAFRAID TO SPEAK
UP IN CLASS. I WAS A PARENT OF A
TECH STUDENT IN SAN DIEGO
UNIFIED THIS YEAR, TRANSITION
KINDERGARTEN IS AVAILABLE FOR
ALL CHILDREN BORN BETWEEN OR
HAVE THEIR FIFTH BIRTHDAY
BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2ND AND APRIL
2ND. THE AVERAGE DAILY
ATTENDANCE FOR TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN IN FALL 2023 WAS
124,909. IN THE BUDGET YEAR, TK
WILL INCREASE TO SERVE CHILDREN
WHOSE BIRTHDAYS ARE THROUGH JUNE
2ND, PROVIDING ACCESS TO ANOTHER
ESTIMATED 71,004 YEAR OLD
CHILDREN. AND LOOKING AT SOME OF
THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
DATA WHICH WE COLLECTED THROUGH
THE UP THROUGH THE APPROPRIATION
OF THE UPK PLANNING AND
IMPLEMENTATION FUNDS, 81% OF
LEAS WHO OFFERED TK REPORTED
THAT THEY OFFER TK AT ALL OF
THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 82% OF
LEAS WHO OFFERED TK REPORTED
THAT THEY ARE OFFERING FULL DAY
TK PROGRAMS, EITHER ALONE OR
ALONGSIDE, PART DAY TK PROGRAMS,
AS PART OF THE THAT
APPROPRIATION, CDE IS SUPPORTING
THE CURRENT WORKFORCE AND
DEVELOPING, RECRUITING,
DEVELOPING AND RECRUITING NEW
EDUCATORS THROUGH NUMEROUS
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND GRANTS,
INCLUDING THE EARLY EDUCATION
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT GRANT, WHICH
HAS PROVIDED CREDIT BEARING
COURSEWORK TO 831 TK AND CSAP
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM TEACHER CANDIDATES,
ALONG WITH TRAINING TO MORE THAN
5000 TEACHERS AND 1000
ADMINISTRATORS. AS WE LOOK AT
THE SYSTEM, THE INVESTMENTS THE
LEGISLATURE HAS MADE IN THE UPK
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION, AND
THE UPK LOCAL MIXED DELIVERY
PLANNING GRANTS HAVE BEEN
HELPFUL TO SUPPORT
IMPLEMENTATION AT THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND REGIONAL LEVEL.
MANY COUNTY OFFICES OF EDUCATION
HAVE HIRED UPK COORDINATORS WHO
HAVE BEEN A CRITICAL RESOURCE
FOR SUPPORTING UPK
IMPLEMENTATION AND ALIGNMENT
ACROSS COUNTIES, AND WE
REGULARLY HEAR ABOUT HOW
INSTRUMENTAL THESE COORDINATORS
ARE AND HAVE BEEN, AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR FUNDING TO
CONTINUE AFTER THE CURRENT GRANT
FUNDS HAVE RUN OUT ON OUR
PREVIOUS PANEL, DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT NEVILLE MORGAN
SHARED SOME OF OUR WORK IN THE
UPK MIXED DELIVERY QUALITY AND
ACCESS WORKGROUP. THE WORKGROUP,
WHICH CONCLUDED RECENTLY HEARD
FROM MORE THAN 30 RESEARCHERS,
HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND
PRESCHOOL EDUCATORS AND
ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS THE UPK
SYSTEM TO INFORM THE REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS. ÓRDENES. WE ARE
PARTICULARLY PROUD OF OUR FOCUS
ON ELEVATING FAMILY AND
PRACTITIONER VOICES THROUGHOUT
THE PROCESS. WE CONNECTED WITH
FAMILIES ENROLLED IN FAMILY
CHILD CARE HOMES, CENTER BASED
DUAL IMMERSION PROGRAMS, AND
TRIBAL PROGRAMS FROM VARIOUS
AREAS OF THE STATE AND FROM
BACKGROUNDS THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY HAD LIMITED ACCESS
OR BEEN EXCLUDED TO SYSTEM LEVEL
DECISION MAKING PROCESSES, AND
ELEVATED THEIR VOICES TO
UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPERIENCES IN
THE PRESCHOOL SYSTEM AND TO
UPLIFT WHAT THEY WANT MOST FOR
THEIR CHILDREN. NOW THAT THE
WORKGROUP WORK IS COMPLETE, CDE
WILL BE UPDATING REGULATIONS FOR
STATE PRESCHOOL TO INCORPORATE
RECOMMENDATIONS. WE'VE ALREADY
HIGHLIGHTED A FEW ON THE LAST
PANEL, THE WORK WORKGROUP
WORKGROUP REPORT COVERED
RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO
REGULATIONS AS WELL AS CDE
ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES THAT
CDE CAN IMPLEMENT WITHOUT ANY
COST OR ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE
ACTION. I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT A
COUPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, CHANGING
REGULATIONS TO REQUIRE PROGRAMS
TO IMPLEMENT ALL STANDARDS WITH
A FOCUS ON INCREASING DIVERSITY,
EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND
BELONGING, INCLUDING A SPECIFIC
ATTENTION TO CULTURALLY,
LINGUISTICALLY AND RACIALLY
AFFIRMING PRACTICES AND
EQUITABLE CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND
SCHOOL READINESS OUTCOMES, AS AS
OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
MENTIONED, THE WORKGROUP ALSO
INCLUDED OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER
TO THE EXTENT THAT FUNDS BECOME
AVAILABLE, INCLUDING
REEVALUATING EXISTING
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS AND
INCENTIVES TO ADDRESS EQUITY AND
RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION, AND
SUPPORT CONTINUOUS QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT FOR ALL PROSPECTIVE
UPK PROGRAMS, INCLUDING JOB
EMBEDDED COACHING AND QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT SUPPORT FOR PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATORS AND EDUCATORS,
AND FINALLY EXPANDING THE SEE
THE STATE PRESCHOOL QUALITY
RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM
BLOCK GRANT TO SUPPORT ALL STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. IT CURRENTLY
DOESN'T REACH ALL STATE
PRESCHOOLS, REFLECTING BOTH
STATE PRESCHOOL EXPANSION SINCE
2012, AS WELL AS ANNUAL COST OF
LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, AND I AM
JOINED BY SARAH NEVILLE MORGAN
AND VIRGINIA EARLEY TO ASSIST IN
ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR ALVAREZ, CHAIR JACKSON AND
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS DOCTOR DEAN
TAGAWA, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION DIVISION WITHIN LA
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. LOS
ANGELES UNIFIED HAS BEEN A
LEADER IN EXPANDING ACCESS TO
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN, NOT
COUNTING THE ENROLLMENT DIP WE
SAW DURING COVID. WE'VE SEEN A
STEADY INCREASE IN OUR TK
NUMBERS AS THE PROGRAM HAS
EXPANDED SINCE 2000. 12. IN
2019, WE SERVED APPROXIMATELY
12,000 CHILDREN IN TK, AND THIS
YEAR WE HAVE ENROLLED OVER
16,000 STUDENTS. OF THOSE 16,000
KIDS, 5000 ARE PAID WITH LOCAL
DISTRICT FUNDS. LA UNIFIED HAS
ALWAYS PRIORITIZED ACCESS IN TK,
MAKING THE PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO
CHILDREN AHEAD OF THE STATE
MANDATE. SINCE 2019, LA UNIFIED
HAS DEDICATED AN ESTIMATED 295
MILLION IN LCFF DOLLARS TO
SERVING CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT YET
ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FUNDED TK.
OUR TK PROGRAMS ARE MODELED
AFTER OUR HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS AT OUR
STATE FUNDED EARLY EDUCATION
CENTERS AND OUR STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAMS ON ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES.
JUST LIKE OUR STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAMS, YOU WILL SEE LOTS OF
ACTIVITY AREAS FOR THE KIDS TO
PLAY, LEARN, AND EXPLORE IN. I
OFTEN THINK IF YOU COULD HEAR
SMILES, YOU SHOULD VISIT ONE OF
OUR CENTERS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO
BE A PRINCIPAL WHEN TK FIRST
BEGAN. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, WE
KNEW AND HAD TO BE BASED ON
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR
A LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT WITH
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE
STRATEGIES THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN
FOUNDATIONS FOR LATER LEARNING.
WE WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR PARENTS WERE BEING GIVEN A
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE
PROGRESS REPORT THREE TIMES A
YEAR TO ENSURE THEY UNDERSTOOD
HOW THEIR CHILD IS GETTING READY
TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN KINDER. AS
THE PROGRAM EXPANDED, WE
INCLUDED INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS
FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
WHERE A GENERAL EDUCATION
TEACHER, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD
CREDENTIALED SPECIAL EDUCATION
TEACHER WORK COLLABORATIVELY.
ALL DAY TO SUPPORT BOTH GENERAL
ED STUDENTS AND THOSE WITH
EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS. IF YOU WERE
TO VISIT ONE OF THOSE
CLASSROOMS, YOU PROBABLY
COULDN'T TELL WHICH CHILD WAS
GENERAL ED AND WHICH ONE HAD
SPECIAL NEEDS. IN ADDITION,
THESE ROOMS HAVE A FULL TIME
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE AND A SPECIAL
EDUCATION AIDE. WE ALSO HAVE
DUAL LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS IN
SPANISH, ARMENIAN, CHINESE, AND
KOREAN TO HONOR THEIR CULTURAL
AND LINGUISTIC HERITAGES. WE
HAVE PROVIDED ADMINISTRATORS,
CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF, AND
TEACHER LEADERS WITH TRAINING ON
THE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE
FOUNDATIONS, THE PRESCHOOL
LEARNING FOUNDATIONS AND THE
KINDERGARTEN COMMON CORE STATE
STANDARDS AND HOW THEY WERE
SUPPORTED BY OUR CURRICULUM. AND
TO SUPPORT THE NEW LEARNING WE
HELD TRAINING DURING SUMMER
INSTITUTES SATURDAYS, WEEKDAYS,
AT PRINCIPAL MEETINGS AND IN
SOMETHING WE CALL BITE SIZE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS. THESE
BITE SIZED PDS ARE GIVEN ON
TUESDAYS AND 45 MINUTE BLOCKS
AND FOCUS ON KEY STRATEGIES THAT
CAN BE USED THE VERY NEXT DAY
WITH TEACHERS IN THEIR
CLASSROOMS. WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE
TO HAVE A DEEP POOL OF TK
TEACHERS AND BEEN VERY
AGGRESSIVE ABOUT RECRUITING AT
COLLEGE CAMPUSES. MANY OF THE
TEACHERS THAT TEACH TK WERE ALSO
TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOL READINESS
AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM. THAT WAS CLOSED IN 2015
AND CONVERTED INTO FULL DAY TK
PROGRAMS. THESE TEACHERS WERE
CHILD DEVELOPMENT MAJORS, HAD
PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE, OR WERE
TEACHING IN THIS PROGRAM FOR
MANY YEARS, SO THEY HAD THE
REQUISITE PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE TO MEET TK TEACHER
QUALIFICATIONS BEFORE THE 2015
SCHOOL YEAR, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER
A GROUP OF THESE TEACHERS AND
ASKED THEM TO DEVELOP A TK
RESOURCE GUIDE FOR ANYONE
TEACHING IN AN EXPANDED TK
CLASSROOM THAT GUIDE, ALTHOUGH
REVISED, IS STILL IN USE TODAY.
WE CREATED AN INTERNAL WORK
GROUP OF OVER 600 TEACHERS WHERE
TRAININGS ARE POSTED AND
RESOURCE MATERIALS CAN BE
ACCESSED, AND TEACHERS CAN
SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER THROUGH
DISCUSSION BOARDS. WE ALSO SPEAK
WITH OUR PRINCIPALS AT MONTHLY
MEETINGS. THIS INVESTMENT INTO
COMMUNICATION AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT HAS HELPED US
DEVELOP AN INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM
THAT ENSURES ALL FOLKS ARE
EQUALLY EQUIPPED AND
KNOWLEDGEABLE. THIS YEAR ALONE,
WE HAVE BROUGHT TRAINING TO OVER
3000 PARTICIPANTS,
ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND
AIDES. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
THAT LA UNIFIED IS FACING
REGARDING ITS UK EXPANSION IS
THE ONEROUS AND RIGID PENALTIES
THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY
THE LEGISLATOR FOR CLASS SIZES
AND RATIOS. I CAN'T THINK OF
ANOTHER AREA OF EDUCATION,
INCLUDING OUR STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAMS, WHICH ALSO SERVE FOUR
YEAR OLDS, WHERE DISTRICTS FACE
MULTIPLE OVERLAPPING PENALTIES
FOR EVEN VERY SLIGHT
SHORTCOMINGS IN STAFF STAFFING
RATIOS AND CLASS SIZE
REQUIREMENTS. WHEN TK WAS FIRST
EXPANDED, SCHOOLS RECEIVED
FUNDING TO HIRE A
PARAPROFESSIONAL IN EACH CLASS
TO CREATE A CLASS RATIO OF 12 TO
1 AND A MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE OF
24. EVEN THOUGH TK EXPANSION
WOULD NOT BE FULLY COMPLETED
UNTIL 2025, THE PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATING THESE RATIOS WERE
IMPLEMENTED IN 2022. THESE
PENALTIES HAVE CONTINUED EVEN AS
THE LEGISLATURE HAS REPEATEDLY
DELAYED FUNDING IN PRESCHOOL. TK
AND FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN
FACILITY BLOCK GRANTS. THE
PENALTIES FOR CLASS SIZES AND
RATIOS ARE ASSESSED AS A
CONDITION OF APPORTIONMENT,
MEANING EVERY ONE CLASSROOM
THAT'S OUT OF COMPLIANCE FOR
PART OF THE YEAR CAN RESULT IN A
SUBSTANTIAL PENALTY. IN 2223,
ONLY THREE LÀ USD SCHOOLS OUT OF
OVER 100 THAT WERE AUDITED DID
NOT MEET THAT CLASS SIZE
PORTION. ALL OF THESE SCHOOLS
HAD STAFFING AND FACILITIES FOR
ONLY A SINGLE CLASS, AND DID NOT
WANT TO DENY ENROLLMENT TO A
FAMILY IN THEIR SERVICE AREA
WITH WHOM THEY ARE DEVELOPING A
RELATIONSHIP THAT WOULD LAST FOR
MANY YEARS. DESPITE 97%
COMPLIANCE OUT OF A SAMPLE,
SCHOOLS THAT WERE AUDITED, THE
DISTRICT WILL FACE AN ESTIMATED
PENALTY OF $7 MILLION FOR 2223
FOR NOT MEETING THE AVERAGE
CLASS SIZE REQUIRED. IT'S A
PENALTY THAT IS IDENTICAL
WHETHER THE DISTRICT HAD ALL
SCHOOLS OUT OF COMPLIANCE OR
ONLY A HANDFUL MAKING IT WORSE.
THE LEGISLATOR LEGISLATURE
AMENDED STATUTE LAST YEAR TO ADD
TK PENALTIES TO THE LIST OF
STATUTES THAT ARE NOT GRANTED
THAT CANNOT BE GRANTED A WAIVER.
THE BUDGET AGREEMENT MADE LAST
YEAR IN SENATE BILL 114
EXACERBATED THE PENALTY
SITUATION. THÀNH AND SB 114. THE
LEGISLATURE ALLOWED CHILDREN
BORN IN JULY AND AUGUST TO
ATTEND TK FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THIS EXPANSION HAD BEEN FIRST
PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR IN
JANUARY, AND LOS ANGELES UNIFIED
BEGAN RECRUITING FAMILIES
IMMEDIATELY FOR THE SPRING
BUDGET. JULY 10TH, 2023, WHEN SB
114 WAS SIGNED, L.A. UNIFIED HAD
ALREADY ENROLLED OVER 1600
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BORN IN
THE SUMMERTIME, KNOWN AS EARLY
ENROLLMENT STUDENTS. SB 114
INTRODUCED NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR
EARLY ENROLLMENT STUDENTS,
INCLUDING A CLASS SIZE MAXIMUM
OF 20 AND A 10 TO 1 RATIO, WITH
PENALTIES ASSESSED IF EVEN ONE
OF THESE CLASSROOMS IS OUT OF
COMPLIANCE. L.A. UNIFIED WAS
FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION
BETWEEN DISENROLLING FAMILIES
WITH ONLY A MONTH'S NOTICE AND
RISKING SUBSTANTIAL PENALTIES.
WE DECIDED TO CHOOSE TO RISK THE
PENALTIES TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT
FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR
FAMILIES. WE URGE THIS
LEGISLATURE TO TAKE IMMEDIATE
ACTION TO WAIVE ALL TK PENALTIES
UNTIL AFTER IMPLEMENTATION IS
COMPLETED IN 2526. WE ALSO URGE
THE LEGISLATURE TO ATTEND
STATUTE, TO AMEND STATUTE TO
ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SEEK A
WAIVER FROM THE STATE BOARD FOR
THE TK CLASS SIZE AND RATIO
REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE BEYOND
THEIR CONTROL, OR TO AMEND
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE PENALTY TO BE
PRORATED BY THE PERCENTAGE OF
SCHOOLS OUT OF COMPLIANCE,
RATHER THAN A FLAT PENALTY FOR
EVEN ONE SCHOOL BEING OVER THE
LIMIT. CAN I ASK YOU TO PLEASE
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS? WE CAN GO
TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. WHILE WE
BELIEVE THESE PENALTIES NEED TO
BE REVIEWED, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR
OUR STATE. ALL HAS DONE TO
CREATE TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN. SO ALL CHILDREN
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY UNDER THE
UNIVERSAL PRE-K UMBRELLA TO
ATTEND A YEAR OF PRESCHOOL
BEFORE KINDERGARTEN. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS RAHEELA ATABAKI. I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION, EXPANDED LEARNING
PROGRAMS, AND NEW TEACHER
INDUCTION AT WASHINGTON UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT. WASHINGTON
UNIFIED IS LOCATED IN YOLO
COUNTY, RIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGE,
WE ARE A SMALL DISTRICT. WE HAVE
SIX TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
CLASSES CURRENTLY, AND WE ALSO
HAVE SIX PRESCHOOL STATE
PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS, THESE ARE
SPREAD ACROSS, THROUGH, 3 TO 4
OF OUR SEVEN SCHOOLS. WE HAVE A
AM, PM MODEL, AND, WE ARE
OPERATING WITH A 10 TO 1 STUDENT
TO STAFF RATIO, RIGHT NOW USING
OUR ONE TIME MONIES TO ADD EXTRA
SUPPORT STAFF, WE ARE USING OUR
PARAEDUCATORS TO SUPPORT THE
CLASSROOMS. WE ALSO OFFER
EXTENDED DAY CARE THROUGH THE
ILA PROGRAM, WHICH IS PROVIDED
BY OUR COMMUNITY BASED PROVIDERS
FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED IT. THE
STUDENTS THAT JOIN THE AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAM HAVE THEIR OWN
DESIGNATED ROOMS, THEY ARE
FURNISHED AND RENOVATED
SPECIFICALLY FOR TK AND K
STUDENTS SUPPORTING THEIR GROWTH
AND DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONALLY,
WE HAVE ADDED PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TK
STAFF IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, BY
BRINGING IN EXPERTS IN THE EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WORLD, THESE
TRAINERS HAVE OFFERED GUIDANCE
AND RESEARCH BASED STRATEGIES TO
EMPOWER EDUCATORS, AND TO HELP
THEM MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF
OUR TK STUDENTS. WE HAVE ALSO
ADDED FULL INCLUSION TK
CLASSROOMS, WHICH INCLUDE OUR
SPECIAL ED STUDENTS, AS WELL AS
OUR GENERAL ED STUDENTS.
TOGETHER, WE ARE USING FORMATIVE
ASSESSMENTS SUCH AS
OBSERVATIONS, STUDENT WORK
SAMPLES AND INFORMAL CHECK INS
TO, TO PROVIDE ONGOING FEEDBACK
TO FAMILIES AND TO MONITOR
STUDENT LEARNING. WE'RE MOVING
TOWARDS USING THE RDPS FOR NEXT
YEAR, TO ASSESS STUDENTS,
DEVELOPMENT ACROSS VARIOUS
DOMAINS. WE ARE MODELING OUR
PROGRAM ALSO AFTER OUR STATE
PRESCHOOL, WHICH IS VERY
SUCCESSFUL. LOOKING AHEAD, OUR
GOAL IS TO BRING TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN TO ALL OUR SCHOOLS
WITH, PROBABLY THE NEXT 2 TO 3
YEARS, ONE OF OUR PLANS IS TO
BRING DUAL IMMERSION TK TO ONE
OF OUR DUAL IMMERSION SCHOOLS,
WE HAVE PROVIDED EXTENSIVE
TRAINING TRAINING SESSIONS TO
OUR STAFF AS WELL AS OUR AFTER
SCHOOL STAFF, TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY, THEY CAN MAKE AGE
APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR OUR
INCOMING STUDENTS, ALL OUR TK
PRINCIPALS HAVE ALSO ATTENDED
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
TRAINING THIS PAST YEAR, WE ARE
REDESIGNING OUR TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN STATE PRESCHOOL
PLAYGROUNDS THIS SUMMER, TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY CATER TO THE
NEEDS OF OUR YOUNGER LEARNERS
AND HAVE AGE APPROPRIATE
EQUIPMENT. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY
TO, ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU
MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE ALL THE PANELISTS, I
THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. AND
TURN IT OVER TO OUR COLLEAGUES.
THE CONVERSATION ABOUT
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN OR
UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN IS REALLY THERE'S
TWO THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS THAT
ARE, AS IMPORTANT. ONE IS
ACCESS, BUT THEN THE SECOND IS
QUALITY. AND SO MY QUESTIONS ARE
BASED ON THOSE TWO, TWO
COMPONENTS, LET ME START WITH
POTENTIALLY, THE EASIER ONE
TRYING TO GET A GRASP ON THE
ACCESS AND WHERE WE STAND IN
TERMS OF, THE ENROLLMENT TRENDS,
BECAUSE ALL OF YOU WHO DO THIS,
YOU KNOW, 24 OVER SEVEN, AS
EDUCATORS ALWAYS TEND TO DO, YOU
KNOW, THAT ENROLLMENT HAS BEEN
AN ISSUE AND DECLINING
ENROLLMENT. AND THERE'S
DIFFERENT TRENDS WHERE WE SEE
DIFFERENT THINGS. SO I'M
CURIOUS, FROM THE UNIVERSAL TK
PERSPECTIVE, MAYBE FROM A,
DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE, IT
SOUNDS LIKE IN THE TWO DISTRICTS
WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY, THERE'S
BEEN AN INCREASE IN DEMAND AND
INTEREST. BUT WHAT IS WHAT ARE
THE TRENDS STATEWIDE? WHAT
SHOULD WE ANTICIPATE, SO THE
REGARDING THE CURRENT UPTAKE, WE
KNOW THAT PRIOR TO TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN EXPANSION, THE, THE
RATE OF, OF ENROLLMENT WAS ABOUT
63, FOR TRANSITION KINDERGARTEN
FOR ELIGIBLE CHILDREN, I KNOW
CDE WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO
FINALIZE DATA FOR THE ANNUAL
ENROLLMENT DATA FOR THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS, AS FAR AS, AND
SO SOME OF THAT DATA HAS BEEN
SOMEWHAT DELAYED, BUT 63% IS A
IS OUR PRE, EXPANSION, NUMBER.
WHAT WHAT YEAR ARE YOU REFERRING
TO? I'M SORRY, 20 2122 OKAY.
YEAH. AND THAT'S THE LATEST
AVAILABLE DATA, CORRECT. OKAY.
LEO, PLEASE, SO IT'S DIFFICULT
TO ASSESS KIND OF TAKE UP
PERCENTAGE, TAKE UP ENROLLMENT
BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH DELAYED
ENROLLMENT DATA. THE BEST WE CAN
DO AT THIS POINT IS LOOK AT OUR
ADA DATA, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT. IT'S NOT GETTING THE
NUMBER OF KIDS ENROLLED, BUT
IT'S GETTING THE NUMBER OF KIDS
ATTENDED. SO IT'S GOING TO IT'S
GOING TO, IT'S GOING TO
UNDERSCORE THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN ENROLLED. BUT WE DO
HAVE ADA DATA FOR PURPOSES OF
LCFF. AND THE MAIN PURPOSE IS
FUNDING. SO I CAN SHARE IN
PRELIMINARY ADA DATA FROM 2324.
SO THAT'S ADA COLLECTED THROUGH
DECEMBER IS ABOUT ROUGHLY
125,000 STUDENTS. AND SO THAT
DOESN'T GIVE YOU LIKE THAT'S NOT
THE NUMBER OF ENROLLED STUDENTS.
IT LIKELY UNDERSTATES THAT, BUT
THIS WAS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT,
3000, 1000 AND ADA FROM 2223.
AND I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT
SOME OF THE FLAWS IN LOOKING AT
ADA NUMBERS AND LOOKING AT IT
COMPARED TO ENROLLMENT. BUT IT
MOSTLY GIVES YOU A GOOD SENSE
THAT THERE IS GROWTH IN THE
PROGRAM, A BIG FLAW IS I
MENTIONED ATTENDANCE. THE SECOND
FLOOR IS THE EARLY ADMITTANCE.
IT'S ONLY CAPTURING THOSE
STUDENTS THAT GENERATE, ENROLL
AND GENERATE ADA, GENERATE ADA.
SO IT'S NOT CAPTURING ANYBODY
WITH BIRTH DATES OUTSIDE OF THE
ELIGIBILITY WINDOW UNTIL THEY
UNTIL THEY START GENERATING IT.
BUT BECAUSE THIS IS ONLY
PRELIMINARY DATA, THAT'S NOT
GOING TO CAPTURE THOSE EARLY
ADMITTANCE, KIDS APPRECIATE THAT
, THAT SORT OF LEADS TO THE NEXT
QUESTION, WHICH FROM A BUDGET
PERSPECTIVE IS HOW DO WE PLAN
FOR WHERE WE'RE GOING IN TERMS
OF, IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS,
AND WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE AS
WE TRANSITION TO IN 25, 26 TO
THE, TO THE RATIOS THAT ARE
REQUIRED IN FULL IMPLEMENTATION,
HOW ARE WE THEN? I GUESS THE
QUESTION IS, HOW ARE WE
PROJECTING THIS IN TERMS OF WHAT
THE LÀ IS ANALYZING? AND I KNOW
THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT HERE,
FINANCE IS NOT HERE, BUT MAYBE
K¾T CAN HELP US. SURE. YEAH. SO
WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT THE SAME
ADA INFORMATION AS IT COMES AND
INCORPORATING THOSE THOSE DATA
INTO OUR MODELS TO PROJECT WHAT
WHAT WE THINK WHERE WE THINK.
THE LCFF COSTS ARE GOING TO COME
IN. SO WE ANTICIPATE IN MAY THE
ADMINISTRATION WILL PROVIDE THE
MOST RECENT ESTIMATES. AS THEY
DO. THEY PROVIDE THE ESTIMATES
IN JANUARY. THEY'LL PROVIDE SOME
IN MAY. THIS WAS TYPICAL
PRACTICE. AND WE'LL WE'LL TAKE
THOSE ESTIMATES AND REVIEW THEM
TO SEE IF WE AGREE WITH THOSE
ESTIMATES. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE
EVERYBODY'S USING THE SAME SETS
OF DATA TO MAKE THE
DETERMINATION. SO THERE'S NOT A
LOT OF CONFLICT IN PROBABLY WITH
THE LÀ Ó ESTIMATES WOULD BE IN
TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION, THERE
MIGHT BE SOME LIKE CHANGES IN IN
KIND OF METHODOLOGY AND OUR
APPROACHES, BUT BUT WE ARE
RELYING ON THIS, THIS, THIS ADA
DATA IS THE BEST THING THAT WE
HAVE TO THAT WILL DRIVE THE LCFF
COSTS. OKAY. SURE DO YOU THINK
IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WE CAN
EXPECT THAT, OR IT'S FAIR TO
ASSUME THAT THE PERCENTAGE KIND
OF THE SUBSCRIPTION RATE WILL
INCREASE, SOMEWHAT, AS WE THINK
ABOUT THE FAMILIES WHO ARE
ENROLLING, WHO WILL BE ENROLLING
CHILDREN, THEIR CHILDREN IN TK
IN 25, 26, THIS THIS PROGRAM
EXPANSION WAS KIND OF ANNOUNCED
WHEN THEY WERE HAVING CHILDREN.
AND WE KNOW MANY FAMILIES
ACTUALLY PLAN AROUND, YOU KNOW,
PLAN EVEN BIRTHS AROUND TK AND
ELIGIBILITY DATES. SO I THINK
OUR INTERNAL ANALYSIS OR WE'RE
LOOKING AT BETWEEN 65 AND 67%
UPTAKE IN 2526. BUT OF COURSE
WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR, DATA
AND UPDATE THOSE ESTIMATES, THE
DISTRICTS, GAVE SOME,
TESTIMONIALS ON WHAT THEY'RE
DOING WITH THE AS IT RELATES TO
THE STUDENT TEACHER RATIO AND
THE PARAPROFESSIONALS AND THOSE
THAT ARE IN THEIR CASE, WHO
THEY'RE UTILIZING TO ENSURE THAT
THE RATIOS ARE THERE. BUT WE
HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF, OF
TESTIMONY OTHERWISE THAT IT'S
CHALLENGING FOR DISTRICTS TO
IMPLEMENT, THOSE RATIOS AND TO
FIND THE QUALIFIED, INDIVIDUALS
THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF
FULL IMPLEMENTATION, CERTAINLY
THE DISTRICTS CAN ONE OF YOU, IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME
COMMENTS ABOUT THAT, BUT ALSO
INTERESTED IN HEARING, WHETHER
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS HEARING
ON THAT FRONT AND, AND, AND IF
THE LÀ WANTS TO CHIME IN, BUT I
DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE
DISTRICTS HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON
THAT. SO AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T HAD
THE SAME CHALLENGES AS OTHER
DISTRICTS, PARTLY BECAUSE OF OUR
SIZE AND PARTLY BECAUSE WE'VE
BEEN IN THE EARLY ED SPACE FOR A
LONG TIME. BUT SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, YOU
KNOW, AROUND RECRUITING, HAS
BEEN IMPORTANT, I THINK THINGS
THAT THE STATE HAS PUT IN PLACE
TO ALLOW TEACHERS TO START
TEACHING BEFORE FINISHING THEIR
CREDENTIAL, HAVING THEIR
BACHELOR'S DEGREE HAVE BEEN
HELPFUL TO, TO MAKE SURE I THINK
ALSO CTC DEVELOPING THAT P3
CREDENTIAL WILL GIVE US SOME
LONG TERME RELIEF AND REALLY
HELP THE FIELD OVERALL. SO LET
ME ASK YOU, SINCE YOU'RE LARGE
ENOUGH, IT'S AN INTERESTING
POINT. ARE YOU SEEING TEACHERS
MOVING FROM UPPER GRADE? IS THAT
HOW YOU'RE FILLING THOSE RATIOS,
OR WHO ARE BECOMING THESE NEW TC
TEACHERS AND THESE NEW
CLASSROOMS? SO I'M GOING TO SAY
THE TC TEACHERS WHO'VE BEEN
COMING INTO THOSE CLASSROOMS ARE
THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO
WORK WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS,
WHICH HAS BEEN A VERY POSITIVE
THING, AND THEN I THINK THE
SUPPORT THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM
WE STARTED A POSITION CALLED THE
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE, WHICH IS A
FULL TIME POSITION. SO TEACHERS
IN THESE GRADE LEVELS KNOW THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO ALSO HAVE
SUPPORT, WHICH HAS MADE IT I'M
GOING TO SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE
ATTRACTIVE FOR TEACHERS WHO WANT
TO BE WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS TOO.
SO SORRY. I GET THAT. AND I
UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND IS LIKE, YOU'VE GOT
TO FIND NEW TEACHER. WHERE ARE
YOU FINDING THEM? ARE THEY THE
ONES THAT ARE MOVING FROM
WITHIN, OR ARE THEY NEW
GRADUATES? WHO ARE THESE
TEACHERS? SO AND IS IT BECAUSE
YOUR ENROLLMENT TRENDS ARE
SHOWING MAYBE IN SOME OF THE
HIGHER STILL ELEMENTARY GRADES,
MAYBE LOWER, AND YOU'RE ABLE TO
CAPTURE SOME OF THOSE TEACHERS
IN THE TC? JUST HOW HOW ARE YOU
MANAGING THAT? SO A LOT OF
RECRUITMENT WITH COLLEGES TO GET
IN YOUNGER TEACHERS. YEAH OKAY.
DO YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE? I WOULD ADD THAT IN
OUR DISTRICT, WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY
TO RECRUIT SOME OF OUR PRESCHOOL
STATE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS. I FEEL
LIKE THEY'RE THE MOST EXPERT IN
THIS AREA. SO, THE DISTRICT WAS
ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM IN GETTING
THEIR CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION
AND BEING ABLE TO GET THEIR
CREDENTIAL BEALL. SO THEY'RE
BECOMING THE TEACHERS. YES. SO
WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO THAT, HAVE
MOVED FROM BEING STATE PRESCHOOL
TEACHERS INTO, INTO TC AND LÀ.
ARE YOU SEEING SOME OF THAT AS
WELL? YES THE SAME TIME. OKAY. I
WANTED TO ASK ABOUT, AGAIN,
CONTINUING ON THE ISSUE OF, OF
QUALITY, AND I THINK WASHINGTON,
MAYBE MENTIONED THIS AND I WAS
TRYING TO WRITE DOWN SOME NOTES,
BUT BUT THE PREVIOUS PANEL
TALKED ABOUT, THE CLASS
ASSESSMENT, FOR, FOR, FOR
PRESCHOOL, FOR PRE-K. WHAT, WHAT
ARE WE DOING? AND I HEARD ABOUT
THE AGE DEVELOPMENT. APPROPRIATE
THREE PERIODS, SORT OF, PROGRESS
REPORTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE CALLED IN TC, BUT, SO I
CAPTURED THAT. BUT ARE THERE
OTHER ASSESSMENTS OR THINKING
ABOUT USING THAT SAME ASSESSMENT
FROM PRESCHOOL IN, IN TC? AND
CAN YOU CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT
YOU'RE DOING? I HEARD YOU SAY
SOMETHING. SO WE'VE THE OLD,
ASSESSMENT THAT WE HAVE WAS A
VERY WATERED DOWN KINDERGARTEN
TYPE ASSESSMENT. SO WE'VE MADE
THE CHANGES TO START USING THE
DRP, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE
PRESCHOOL USES, THE, THE TC
TEACHERS HAVE BEEN ATTENDING,
TRAININGS THIS PAST YEAR, AND
THEY ARE FULL ON READY FOR NEXT
YEAR TO START THE DRP. OKAY. IN
LÀ. WHAT ARE YOU. SO WE
DEVELOPED A TC PROGRESS REPORT,
WHICH WAS BASED OFF OF THE
PRESCHOOL LEARNING FOUNDATIONS,
BUT IT'S EMBEDDED INTO THE
STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, SO
THE TC TEACHERS COULD ACCESS IT.
OKAY. IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE
DRP AS WELL. OKAY. AND I KNOW
THE PANELISTS FROM CDE IS NOT
HERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
CAN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE WHAT
WAS PRESENTED IN TERMS OF THE
ASSESSMENT. I THINK IT WAS SHE
MENTIONED THE CLASS ASSESSMENT
FROM PRESCHOOL AND, AND JUST
CURIOUS IS THE DEPARTMENT
PROVIDING DISTRICTS WITH THAT AS
A OPTION FOR HOW ARE WE, GIVING
SUPPORTS TO, TO, TO, TO
DISTRICTS ON HOW TO ASSESS
PROGRESS. YES, SO WE HAVE SO
CURRENTLY THE, THE CLASS OR THE
CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT SCORING
SYSTEM IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAMS BEGINNING NEXT YEAR, AS
PART OF IMPLEMENTATION, CTE IS
ROLLING OUT SUPPORTS FOR STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT ARE
REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT IT.
CURRENTLY, DISTRICTS BEYOND THE
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM ARE NOT REQUIRED TO. BUT
WE KNOW THAT CALIFORNIA HAS
INVESTED Ã AND I BELIEVE THIS
WILL BE TOUCHED ON ON A QUALITY
AND WORKFORCE, PANEL, INVESTED
IN A QUALITY SUPPORT SYSTEM,
THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT TK CAN
PARTICIPATE IN. IT'S NOT TK
ISN'T FUNDED TO AT LEAST THROUGH
THAT STATEWIDE INVESTMENT OF 50
MILLION FOR THE STATE PRESCHOOL
QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT
SYSTEM, BUT IT IS SOMETHING
THAT, TK SCHOOL DISTRICTS COULD
WORK WITH QUALITY COUNTS,
CONSORTIA, TO PARTICIPATE IN.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER
TO OUR COLLEAGUES, SEE IF YOU
HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. AND THEN
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE TO GO
PRESENT A BILL AT ANOTHER
COMMITTEE, BUT I WILL BE BACK, I
THINK THE ONLY REMAINING ISSUE
THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY LA
UNIFIED THAT I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE WAS RAISED WAS ON
THE RATIOS AND THE PENALTIES AND
, AND, CERTAINLY SOMETHING
THAT'S BEEN, BROUGHT UP TO, TO
OUR ATTENTION. BUT IN, ONE OF
THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT HAVING
STAFF WITH INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE, NOT JUST IN THIS
COMMITTEE, BUT IN THE TOPIC, IS
TO BE ABLE TO LEARN OFF OF OUR
STAFF AND CONFERRED AND, AND,
CONFIRM THAT, YOU KNOW, THE
PENALTIES ON 12 TO 1 HAVE, HAVE
BEEN THERE, FROM, FROM THE
BEGINNING, THE 10 TO 1 I
UNDERSTAND ON THE, ON THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE, THE JULY
AND AUGUST BIRTHS AND SO WE I
HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY WITH LA
UNIFIED TO, TO TALK ABOUT THIS,
I THINK WHAT I WOULD THE ONLY
THING I'D SAY IS, IT'D BE
INTERESTING IN HERE AND WE HEARD
A LITTLE BIT FROM LA UNIFIED
YESTERDAY ON, SOME UNIQUE
CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHEN THIS
OCCURS AND WHERE PERHAPS,
DISTRICTS MAY, MAY HAVE, I'LL
JUST SAY A CASE, BUT, OTHERWISE,
YOU KNOW, THE IT WAS, IT WAS
PRETTY CLEAR WHAT THE INTENT WAS
WITH, WITH TRYING TO, BALANCE
ALL THE NEEDS OF EARLY CHILD
CARE, EDUCATION, IN ESTABLISHING
THOSE, THOSE PENALTIES. AND, AND
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY APPRECIATE
THAT THERE'S BEEN A COMMITMENT
FROM PLACES LIKE LA UNIFIED EVEN
PRIOR TO FULL ADOPTION. AND
MOVING THE DIRECTION OF, OF
UNIVERSAL PRE-K, AND
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WORK. BUT
GOING FORWARD, I THINK WHAT
WOULD BE HELPFUL IS IDENTIFYING
CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH MAYBE THE
RULE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR VERY
SPECIFIC REASONS. AND SO, AGAIN,
YOUR DISTRICT DID PRESENT SOME,
SOME IDEAS OF THAT. AND THAT'S
WHAT I THINK WE'D BE INTERESTED
IN HEARING MORE FROM OTHER
DISTRICTS, BECAUSE I KNOW OTHER
DISTRICTS HAVE AN INTEREST IN
THIS TOPIC AS WELL. SO
APPRECIATE THAT. AND WITH THAT,
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO, MR.
MURATSUCHI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT
TO JOIN MISS NEVILLE AND PAYING
MY RESPECTS TO, DELAINE EASTIN,
OUR FIRST WOMAN, STATE
SUPERINTENDENT, MAY SHE REST IN
PEACE, I, I, I THINK IT'S
APPROPRIATE THAT WE ARE FOCUSING
ON EARLY EDUCATION, SOMETHING
THAT SHE CHAMPIONED. AND SO, IN
THAT VEIN, I APOLOGIZE. I MISSED
THE LAO'S PRESENTATION, BUT
BOTTOM LINE, WHAT IS YOUR
OVERALL ASSESSMENT IN TERMS OF,
YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE OUR BIGGEST
CHALLENGES, IN, ACHIEVING OR
WORKING TOWARD OUR, UNIVERSAL TK
, BY 25, 26, SO, SO MY
PRESENTATION WAS JUST AN
OVERVIEW OF RECENT ACTION. SO I
ACTUALLY DIDN'T WEIGH IN ON, ON
SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING
CHALLENGES. SO, SO APPRECIATE
THE QUESTION, BUT SOME OF THE
MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES WE'VE
BEEN WHEN WE'VE BEEN HEARING
ABOUT ARE SOME OF THE WORKFORCE
CHALLENGES. SO GETTING GETTING
THE WORKFORCE, GETTING THE
WORKFORCE IN PLACE, AND WE'VE
HAD SOME DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF
WHAT DISTRICTS ARE DOING TO
ADDRESS THAT WORKFORCE
CHALLENGE. WHAT ABOUT SCHOOL
FACILITIES, SO WE DO HAVE SOME
DATA ON THE FACILITIES
CHALLENGES. SO I GUESS STEPPING
BACK TO WHEN TK EXPANSION WAS
FIRST WAS FIRST DISCUSSED,
WORKFORCE AND FACILITIES WERE
ELEVATED AS SOME OF THE MAJOR
CHALLENGES THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS
WOULD FACE. BUT THE WORKFORCE,
SEEMS TO BE THE MOST PRESSING
WITH, WITH THE FACILITIES ISSUE
BASED ON REPORTS SUBMITTED TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BY
829 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS PART OF
THE ONE TIME PLANNING GRANT,
ABOUT 75% OF SCHOOLS REPORTED
THAT THEY HAVE ADEQUATE SPACE TO
MEET PROJECTED ENROLLMENT. SO IN
OUR VIEW, THAT'S NOT AS PRESSING
OF AN ISSUE AS THE WORKFORCE
ISSUE THAT THAT WAS RAISED, THAT
WAS RAISED WHEN COMPARING THE
TWO. BUT THAT SAID, THERE ARE
25% OF SCHOOLS THE REMAINING OF
THAT. THE FLIP SIDE, THAT THAT
REPORTED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
ADEQUATE SPACE AT THE TIME OF
THE SURVEY. OKAY. THE TWO
DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVE
REPRESENTED, WHAT IS YOUR
EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF, THE
FACILITIES, WHETHER YOU HAVE
THE, FOR SURE SPACE IS A BIG
CHALLENGE FOR OUR DISTRICT. WE
ARE A SMALLER DISTRICT AND
TRYING TO FIND CLASSROOMS. I
HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY STRATEGIC
WITH PRINCIPALS AND OUR
FACILITIES DEPARTMENT TRYING TO
FIND ANY SPACE. SO BECAUSE
EXPANSION IS COMING. SO IT IS A
CHALLENGE AND COULD YOU, LIKE
HIGHLIGHT WHAT ARE THE BEST
EXAMPLES OF WHY WHY, YOU KNOW,
OUR EXISTING SAY K THROUGH FIVE
CLASSES ARE INADEQUATE FOR TK?
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. A LOT OF
OUR SCHOOLS, AT LEAST IN IN WEST
SACRAMENTO, WERE NOT BUILT FOR,
FOR THIS MANY STUDENTS. SO A LOT
OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS HAVE
COME IN THE PAST 20 YEARS AND
FILLED UP THESE SPACES. SO WE
ARE WE ARE OUT OF SPACE, A LOT
OF EXPANSION AND GROWTH WITH
FAMILIES. SO IT'S OVERALL OUT OF
SPACE RATHER THAN PARTICULARLY.
THAT IS CORRECT. AND THEN NOW
WE'VE ADDED THE TK. AND TK IS
NOT JUST WE CAN'T JUST PUT THOSE
STUDENTS ANYWHERE WE WANT TO
HAVE BATHROOMS IN OR CLOSE BY
AND PLAYGROUNDS THAT ARE CLOSE
BY. SO IT'S A BIT OF A MORE
UNIQUE SITUATION, WHAT ABOUT
LAUSD? I SAY WE GO THROUGH SOME
OF THE SAME CHALLENGES, BUT, NOT
AS MANY. I THINK FOR US IT'S
GOING TO MAY SOUND ODD, BUT
SOMETIMES THE BATHROOMS DON'T
HAVE SMALL ENOUGH TOILETS, SO WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING
IN SMALLER TOILETS. FIXTURES AND
FURNISHINGS I THINK WERE OKAY
BECAUSE A LOT OF THE CLASSROOM
FURNITURE AND THINGS WE CAN
ALTER. BUT SOMETIMES THOSE
THINGS LIKE, RESTROOMS ARE CAN
BE AN ISSUE. OKAY. THAT'S
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.
SO, GIVEN THAT I'M FROM LA, I'M
MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE LA USD,
BUT, GIVEN THE WORKFORCE AND THE
FACILITIES SHORTAGE, YEAH.
OVERALL CHALLENGES, ARE YOU
STILL ON TRACK TOWARD,
ACCOMMODATING ALL OF THE DEMAND,
FOR THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF
UNIVERSAL TK? SO, YEAH, WE ARE I
THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE. THE
OTHER PART OF IT, WITH OUR,
WE'RE ALSO A DIRECT CONTRACTOR
FOR STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO
WE HAVE A LOT OF SPACE. AND I
THINK SOME OF THE THINGS AROUND,
FRPM ELIGIBILITY AROUND IT AND
EARLY ENROLLMENT PROGRAM IS
FULL. YOU CAN REFER THEM TO AN
EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM. THOSE
CHANGES IN STATUTES HAVE REALLY
HELPED US SERVE ALL FOUR YEAR
OLDS. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL
FOUR YEAR OLDS, EVEN BESIDES OUR
TK PROGRAM, WE'RE CLOSE TO, OR
WE'RE JUST OVER 26,000 KIDS. SO
IT DEFINITELY HELPS THAT
FAMILIES HAVE AN OPTION SO THAT
UP KHAMBREL HAS BEEN A GOOD
THING FOR US. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
AND I CAN OH, IF I CAN ADD JUST
FROM K¾T Â I HAVE FULLER,
REMARKS ON THE FOR THE TK
FACILITIES PANEL, BUT JUST TO
AFFIRM, THAT WHILE THERE ARE A
MAJORITY OF LEA'S REPORT HAVING
SPACE, I THINK YOU HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE
SPACE. AND SPEAKING TO THE
BATHROOMS, BATHROOMS, BEING
LOCATED IN CLASSROOMS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT OR VERY CLOSE TO IT TO
KIND OF PREVENT DISRUPTIONS TO
THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AS WELL
AS THE PROXIMITY OF A, A TK
CLASSROOM OR EVEN A KINDERGARTEN
CLASSROOM. CLOSE TO WHERE
PARENTS MIGHT DROP THEIR
CHILDREN OFF, PICK THEM UP, OR
WHERE BUSSES MAY DROP OFF OR
PICK UP AS WELL. OKAY. BUS DROP
OFFS. STAYING WITH THE CTE,
MISS, DOCTOR NEVILLE, IS IT MISS
NEVILLE, MENTIONED EARLIER A
STATISTIC. I WASN'T CLEAR IF I
WROTE IT DOWN CORRECTLY, BUT WAS
IT 8.5% OR 11.5% OF ELIGIBLE
THREE YEAR OLDS, OR ENROLLED IN
UPK? CORRECT. WE PREVIOUSLY HAD,
PRIOR DATA WE HAD WAS 8.5% OF
ELIGIBLE THREE YEAR OLD CHILDREN
WERE ENROLLED IN THE CALIFORNIA
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, GIVEN
SOME CHANGES TO POLICY IN THE
LAST BUDGET YEAR, WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO AND THE SHIFT TO
EXPANDING FOUR YEAR OLD ACCESS
TO TK. WE'RE SEEING MORE THREE
YEAR OLDS ENROLL, AND SO WE HAVE
THAT 11.5, I BELIEVE, IS THE
FIGURE SHE QUOTED ALL RIGHT. AND
OVERALL, I MEAN, IN TERMS OF
THIS, THIS, BALANCING ACT THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO STRIKE OF, OF,
YOU KNOW, ACHIEVING OUR GOALS
FOR UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL WHILE AT
THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, NOT
UNDERCUTTING, UNDERMINING OUR,
QUALITY CHILD CARE INDUSTRY,
WHAT WHAT IS THE OVERALL
RESPONSE IN THE COMMUNITIES, YOU
KNOW, EITHER IN WASHINGTON OR IN
LA UNIFIED OR OR K¾T STATEWIDE
IN TERMS OF I MEAN, IS A
GENERALLY THE FAMILIES IN YOUR
COMMUNITIES ARE ARE SEEING THE
SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES AS BEING
BETTER OR WORSE OR, YOU KNOW,
ARE THERE I MEAN, THEY IT SEEMS
LIKE THEY ARE CHOOSING TO SEND
THEIR FOUR YEAR OLDS TO THE,
UNIVERSAL TK PROGRAMS, WHICH I
ASSUME IS THE REASON WHY THE
CHILD CARE INDUSTRY IS CONCERNED
ABOUT THE LOSS OF THE FOUR YEAR
OLDS. BUT IS THAT IS THAT A
CORRECT, ASSESSMENT AT LEAST IN
WASHINGTON, IN WEST SAC, THE,
PARENTS HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY
WITH THE OPTION OF HAVING, THE,
THE TK AT THEIR, OTHER
CHILDREN'S SCHOOL. SO THEY DON'T
HAVE TO MAKE MULTIPLE STOPS TO
DROP OFF. THAT'S A BIG THING.
AND THEN ALSO THE FACT THAT
WE'RE PROVIDING THE NINE HOUR
DAY, THROUGH ELOPE HAS BEEN,
VERY HELPFUL TO WORKING
FAMILIES. OKAY. YEAH. I'M GOING
TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MISS
ATABAKI BECAUSE WE DO SEE THAT
PARENTS, WHEN THEY UNDERSTAND
THE CHOICES, THEY'RE VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF IT. WE DO STILL
HAVE QUITE A FEW STUDENTS WHO
ARE IN OUR STATE SUBSIDIZED
PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY NEED THE
FULL YEAR, FULL DAY PROGRAMS AND
AN ELEMENTARY CALENDAR MAY NOT
WORK FOR THEM. SO HAVING THAT
OPTION FOR BOTH SIDES HAS BEEN A
BIG THING. AND IT'S BEEN VERY
POSITIVELY RECEIVED BY OUR
FAMILIES. OKAY. AND OF COURSE,
WHAT WE'LL HEAR FROM THE, THE
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS PERSPECTIVE
AFTERWARDS, BUT, I JUST WANTED
TO, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MR. CHAIR,
THIS THIS OPPORTUNITY AND MISS
GABLE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE
HISTORY BETTER THAN I DO. I JUST
WANTED TO ADDRESS THE LA
UNIFIED. YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW,
RAISING THE ISSUE OF THE TK
PENALTIES. SO SO, I WAS NOT PART
OF THE CONVERSATIONS. AND SO I
MAY BE GETTING MYSELF IN TROUBLE
HERE, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO
SHARE WHAT? YOU KNOW, WHAT I
KNOW OF THE ISSUE AND WHAT YOU
KNOW, WHAT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE
TO ME. AND IF ANYONE CAN, YOU
KNOW, FILL IN THE GAPS OF MY
UNDERSTANDING, I WOULD
APPRECIATE IT. BUT THE ONLY
REASON, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD AND
UNDERSTAND, THE ONLY REASON WHY
WE HAVE THE PENALTIES IS BECAUSE
IT WAS PART OF THE DEAL BETWEEN
THE EXPANSION OF, OF, YOU KNOW,
THE UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN AND THE CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS. BUT TO PENALIZE OUR
SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR, YOU KNOW,
EXPANDING, DOING, DOING WHAT
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, AND TO
BE PENALIZED, YOU KNOW, FOR, YOU
KNOW, EVEN SOME OF THEIR SCHOOLS
GOING OVER THE, THE, THE, THE
STAFFING RATIOS. I MEAN, IT JUST
SEEMS TO BE CONTRADICTORY TO OUR
COMMITMENT, OUR EFFORT TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE OVERALL ACCESS
FOR UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN, AND SO, YOU KNOW,
I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MEET WITH, SUPERINTENDENT,
CARVALHO AND, SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS FROM LA USD YESTERDAY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, EVEN PROPOSING
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A COMPROMISE
OF, LIKE, A PROPORTIONAL
PENALTY, FOR ONLY FOR THE
SCHOOLS THAT THAT MAY BE OVER
THE STAFFING RATIO, RATHER THAN
PENALIZING THE ENTIRE SCHOOL
DISTRICT. I MEAN, I HAVEN'T
HEARD, A RATIONAL POLICY
ARGUMENT TO JUSTIFY THE, THE
PENALTIES. SO I JUST WANT TO PUT
THAT OUT THERE, WOULD WELCOME
ANY, ANY, ANY COMMENTS OR
FEEDBACK, GOING FORWARD. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. I
HEARD ALSO SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT
OUT, FACILITIES. SO WE DO HAVE A
PANEL SCHEDULED TO TALK ABOUT
THAT. I THINK IT'S A REALLY
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE
ABOUT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST CAN
YOU FIT THE CHILDREN INTO THE
RIGHT FACILITY? THE FACILITY?
BUT IS IT THE RIGHT FACILITY?
AND THAT REQUIRES, IT'S NOT JUST
A BASIC CLASSROOM, AS WE ALL
KNOW, SO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT
THAT, BECAUSE THAT DOES LEAD TO,
TO THE QUALITY OF WHAT WE ARE
HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH, AS DOES,
BY THE WAY, THE RATIOS. RIGHT,
AGAIN, YOU KNOW, OUR CONSULTANT
HERE, HAS SOME TIME AND I'VE
LEARNED A LOT ABOUT, THE
EVOLUTION OF THE REASONING FOR
UK BECAUSE I'VE HAD A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT, OKAY, ARE WE
ARE WE JUST DOING THIS TO SAY
WE'RE DOING THIS JUST TO BE
REALLY HONEST, THAT'S WHAT I'VE
ASKED. OR ARE WE DOING THIS IN A
WAY THAT'S ACTUALLY, BENEFITING
CHILDREN AND ALLOWING THEM TO
GROW AND EXPAND THEIR MINDS IN
THE WAYS AND DEVELOP IN THE WAYS
THAT THAT ARE APPROPRIATE AND
THE MODELS THAT OF WHICH I THINK
THIS UT CALIFORNIA, UT, UK
PROGRAM, IS BASED OFF OF, YOU
KNOW, TALKS ABOUT SOME RATIOS
THAT ARE ACTUALLY, SMALLER THAN
THIS IN TERMS OF STUDENTS TO,
TO, TO INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS,
TEACHERS. AND SO, I WELCOME A
CONVERSATION AND I THINK WE
SHOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION AS
THIS FULLY GETS IMPLEMENTED,
OUR, AND WE HAVE SOME LEARNED
LESSONS AS TO, ARE WE
IMPLEMENTING THIS THE RIGHT WAY
AND NOT, GET ACCUSTOMED TO WHAT
WE'RE DOING TODAY AND TO SAY,
WELL, THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE DONE
IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE
TO DO IT. WE ARE EARLY ENOUGH IN
THIS NEW EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
WHERE WE SHOULD BE ANALYZING IT
AND COURSE CORRECTING AND
LEARNING FROM THE LESSONS OF THE
PRACTITIONERS, AND SO I THINK WE
HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION
THAT IS AN EVEN BIGGER
CONVERSATION. I'M HOPEFUL, MR.
CHAIR, WITH YOUR EDUCATION
COMMITTEE AND OUR SUBCOMMITTEE,
WE PROBABLY SHOULD SPEND SOME
TIME ON THAT AND FURTHER
DISCUSSING THOSE ISSUES. AND
OBVIOUSLY, THE ISSUE OF THE
RATIOS AS WELL. SO WE WILL DO
THAT. BUT THANK YOU TO THIS
PANEL. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT,
OUR NEXT ISSUE IS, CHILD CARE
AND PRESCHOOL FUNDING RATES
OVERSIGHT. AND OUR, SUBCOMMITTEE
NUMBER TWO ON HUMAN SERVICES
CHAIR WILL BE BACK SOON, BUT I
WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
INTRODUCE THE PANEL AND
CERTAINLY NO SURPRISE THAT ONE
OF THE BIGGEST PANELS ON THIS,
WE HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR,
FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, FOLKS, THAT I
CAN COUNT AT THE MOMENT. EIGHT,
WE'LL BE TALKING ON THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE ON THE SINGLE
RATE SYSTEM FOR FUNDING OUR
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. THE PANEL
WILL PROVIDE US WITH AN UPDATE
ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
COST OF CARE PLUS RATES,
SUPPLEMENTS FROM 2324 BUDGET ACT
AND THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR
AN ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY,
WHICH I THINK WE HAVE ALL HEARD
ABOUT, OVER THE LAST YEAR IN
PARTICULAR FOR ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY FOR FUNDING ALL
CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
RATES. WHILE THE MOVEMENT TO A
SINGLE RATE IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE
THE FUNDING SYSTEM MORE
STRAIGHTFORWARD FOR EVERYBODY TO
IMPLEMENT, AND IT ALIGNS TO
SERVICE STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES, THE COST OF CARE,
THE TRANSITION THÀNH IS
COMPLICATED AND FACES A CLIFF
AHEAD IN FEDERAL FUNDS ALONE, SO
WE MUST BE READY TO MAKE THIS
MAJOR PRIORITY FOR THE 2526
BUDGET. WE. IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY
TO START AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU
ARE ALL HERE TO HELP US GET
STARTED ON THIS CONVERSATION, I
DON'T I THINK WE'RE GOING TO
START OFF WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE AND THEN LET'S
FOLLOW THE AGENDA, BECAUSE IN
THIS CASE, THERE'S A FEW OF YOU
AND SOME ARE SITTING UP AND SOME
ARE OTHERS, WE'LL DO THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE,
DSS, CDE, SEIU, CHILD CARE
RESOURCE CENTER, AND THEN PARENT
VOICES, IF THAT WORKS FOR
EVERYBODY. SO GET STARTED.
JACKIE BARROSO WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE. WE
WERE ASKED TO PRESENT ON THREE
ITEMS. ONE IS JUST PROVIDE A
GENERAL REVIEW OF HOW PROVIDERS
ARE PAID, THE SECOND BEING
PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS A SINGLE
RATE STRUCTURE AND THE THIRD
BEING WHAT RATE ADJUSTMENTS HAVE
WE DONE IN THE INTERIM TOWARDS
THAT SINGLE RATE STRUCTURE, SO
IN TERMS OF HOW PROVIDERS ARE
PAID HISTORICALLY, THERE HAVE
BEEN TWO DIFFERENT PROVIDER
RATES. WE HAVE THE REGIONAL
MARKET RATE, WHICH TRADITIONALLY
HAS BEEN FOR VOUCHER BASED
PROGRAMS, WHICH IS BASED OFF OF
A SURVEY OF HOW MUCH DO CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS CHARGE FOR CHILD
CARE SERVICES. AND IT VARIES BY
COUNTY, BUT THEN ALSO TIME
PERIODS. THERE'S A DAILY RATE,
WEEKLY RATE, MONTHLY RATE AND
THEN THE SECOND PROVIDER RATE
THAT WE HAVE IS THE STANDARD
REIMBURSEMENT RATE, WHICH IS
TRADITIONALLY FOR DIRECT
CONTRACT PROGRAMS. AND THAT IS A
FIXED PER CHILD DAILY
REIMBURSEMENT RATE. THAT IS THE
SAME FOR ALL PROVIDERS ACROSS
THE STATE, ADDITIONALLY,
PROVIDERS, THEY RECEIVE, FAMILY
FEES, RECENTLY, AS A PART OF
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WE CAPPED
FAMILY FEES AT 1% OF A FAMILY'S
INCOME, BUT THEN ALSO LIMITED IT
TO, FAMILIES WITH INCOMES 75%
ABOVE THE STATE MEDIAN INCOME.
IF THEIR INCOME FALLS BELOW
THAT, THEY'RE EXEMPT FROM FAMILY
FEES. THERE'S ALSO FAMILY
CO-PAYS. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT A
VOUCHER PAYMENT RATE IS LESS
THAN WHAT A PRIVATE CHILD CARE
PROVIDER IS CHARGING, THE FAMILY
WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING
THE DIFFERENCE. SO THOSE THREE
THINGS IS HOW A PROVIDER IS PAID
, MOVING ON TO PROGRESS MADE.
PROGRESS MADE BY THE STATE AND
MOVING TOWARDS A SINGLE RATE
STRUCTURE. RECENTLY, THE STATE
HAS TAKEN MANY ACTIONS, IN 2122,
THE STATE DECIDED TO MOVE ALL
PROVIDERS TO THE REGIONAL MARKET
RATE, OR RMR, BUT THEY WOULD BE
ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE
THE STANDARD REIMBURSEMENT RATE
TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT WAS
HIGHER. AT THE SAME TIME, THE
LEGISLATURE PASSED LANGUAGE THAT
ESTABLISHED TWO WORK GROUPS TO
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF A SINGLE
REIMBURSEMENT RATE STRUCTURE.
ONE WORK GROUP IS A JOINT
ENDEAVOR BETWEEN THE STATE AND
THE CHILD CARE UNION. THE OTHER
WORK GROUP CONSISTS OF A MIX OF
PROVIDERS, INCLUDING CENTER
BASED PROVIDERS THAT ARE NOT
REPRESENTED BY THE UNION, AND
BOTH OF THESE WORK GROUPS ARE
WORKING IN PARALLEL OF ONE
ANOTHER TO CAPTURE AGAIN BOTH
THE REPRESENTED AND NON
REPRESENTED PROVIDER PERSPECTIVE
. RECENTLY, BOTH WORK GROUPS
HAVE RECOMMENDED MOVING TOWARDS
A SINGLE RATE STRUCTURE THAT
REFLECTS THE ACTUAL COST OF
CARE, IN 2324, AS A PART OF THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT,
THE LEGISLATURE REQUIRED THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO
DEVELOP AND CONDUCT AN
ALTERNATIVE RATE METHODOLOGY, IN
ORDER TO MOVE TO A SINGLE RATE
STRUCTURE. THE ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY WOULD BE BASED OFF
OF A NEW COST STUDY AND A COST
ESTIMATE MODEL THAT, AGAIN,
GENERALLY REFLECTS THE ACTUAL
COST OF CARE. AND BY ACTUAL COST
OF CARE, IT'S LOOKING AT WHAT
DOES THE STATE REQUIRE HEALTH
STANDARDS, QUALITY STANDARDS,
SAFETY STANDARDS, BUT THEN ALSO
LOOKING AT THE WAGE FOR
PROVIDERS AND TRYING TO CREATE A
RATE THAT ENCOMPASSES WHAT DO WE
NEED TO PAY PROVIDERS IN ORDER
TO MEET THOSE STANDARD, THOSE
STATE REQUIREMENTS, BUT THEN
ALSO TO PAY PROVIDERS IN THE IN
A SURVEY DONE LAST YEAR, A
LIVING WAGE, THE DEPARTMENT IS
CURRENTLY WORKING WITH AGAIN
BOTH WORK GROUPS, IN ORDER TO
DEVELOP DEFINITIONS AND INPUTS
THAT WOULD INFORM THE
ALTERNATIVE RATE METHODOLOGY.
MOST RECENTLY, THE
ADMINISTRATION DID REACH
CONSENSUS WITH THE JOINT LABOR
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THAT IS
THE WORK GROUP THAT CONSISTS OF
THE STATE AND THE UNION ON BASE
AND ENHANCED RATE DEFINITIONS
FOR THE ALTERNATIVE RATE AND THE
DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY WORKING
WITH ANOTHER WORK GROUP TO REACH
SIMILAR DEFINITIONS FOR MOSTLY
NON REPRESENTED PROVIDERS PER
STATUTE, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
SUBMIT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO
SUPPORT A SINGLE RATE STRUCTURE.
USING THIS ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY. BY JULY 1ST, 2024,
THIS WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE
THE RATES THEMSELVES, BUT WOULD
RATHER REFLECT THE GENERAL
FRAMEWORK OF THE ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY, THAT'S OUR
UNDERSTANDING. AND THEN WITHIN
60 DAYS OF THE FEDERAL APPROVAL
OF THIS GENERAL ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY FRAMEWORK, THE
DEPARTMENT THEN SHALL PROVIDE
THE LEGISLATURE WITH AN OUTLINE
OF IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENTS,
BUT THEN ALSO WILL REOPEN
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THE
UNIONS, TO START TALKING ABOUT
THE VARIOUS INPUTS THAT COULD
INFORM THE ACTUAL RATE VALUES
UNDER THIS METHODOLOGY. OVERALL,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES
THAT THE STATES DETERMINE
PAYMENT RATES BASED ON
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY BY JULY
1ST, 2025, AND SUBMIT AN
IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE. SO IN
TERMS OF THE TIMING OF WHEN
RATES WOULD BE BASED OFF OF THE
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY, THIS
ULTIMATELY DEPENDS ON THE
RESULTS OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
, BUT THEN ALSO THE ANNUAL
BUDGET PROCESS, IN TERMS OF IF
AND HOW MUCH THE STATE WILL
APPROPRIATE TO SUPPORT THESE
ALTERNATIVE RATES THROUGH FUTURE
BUDGETS. LASTLY, TOUCHING ON
RATE ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE
OCCURRED IN THE INTERIM AS WE
WORK TOWARDS A SINGLE RATE
STRUCTURE, AGAIN, THROUGH THE
MOST RECENT COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT, THE STATE
IS PROVIDING A TEMPORARY RATE
SUPPLEMENT TO PROVIDERS THAT IS
SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF JUNE
2025. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THE
ALTERNATIVE RATE METHODOLOGY IS
NOT ADOPTED BY THEN, RATES WOULD
WOULD DECREASE BACK TO NORMAL
LEVELS, MEANING THEY WOULD GO
BACK TO THE 2070 FIFTH
PERCENTILE. THE 2018 REGIONAL
MARKET RATE, OR THE STANDARD
REIMBURSEMENT RATE, WE, BASED
OFF OF MOST RECENT ESTIMATES,
THE CURRENT RATE SUPPLEMENT,
COST $400 MILLION ANNUALLY. SO
THEN THAT WOULD GO AWAY, WHICH
REPRESENTS ABOUT A 5% OF THE
TOTAL CHILD CARE BUDGET. THAT'S
THE END OF MY COMMENTS. THANK
YOU. OUR NEXT PANELIST, PLEASE.
GOOD MORNING, KIM JOHNSON,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES, THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
MEMBER, THE LÀ JUST DID AN
OUTSTANDING JOB OF GOING OVER
THE NEXT STEPS AND PROCESS AND
THE PROCESS TO DATE. SO I'LL
JUST UNDERSCORE A FEW AREAS
HERE. AGAIN FUNDAMENTALLY, WHAT
WE ARE TRYING TO SHIFT FROM IS A
SURVEYING STRUCTURE THAT LOOKS
AT WHAT FAMILIES CAN PAY AND
BASES OUR RATE STRUCTURE BASED
ON THAT INFORMATION TO A
STRUCTURE THAT LOOKS AT THE TRUE
COST OF CARE, BASED ON WHAT
PROGRAMS NEED TO PROVIDE THE
SUPPORTS AND SERVICES.
FUNDAMENTALLY, THAT'S THE
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOWS FOR
EITHER OF THOSE OPTIONS GOING
FORWARD, WE HAVE THROUGH THE
ADOPTION OF ASSEMBLY BILL 116,
LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR
COMMITTED TO THE USE OF THAT
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY. AND
AGAIN, MISS BAROCIO JUST
OUTLINED A NUMBER OF STEPS WE'VE
TAKEN TO, IN THE INTERIM, AS
WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT
OPERATIONALIZE THAT ALTERNATIVE
GOING FORWARD, I'LL JUST AGAIN
UNDERSCORE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THE WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE
ENGAGING THE PUBLIC IN
COMMUNITY. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY OUR
KIND OF FIRST STEP, NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY IN GETTING INPUT AS WE
GO FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE HELP
OF THE DESIGN OF THE SURVEY
ITSELF, AND IN GETTING OUTREACH
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SURVEY,
REACHED AS MANY PROGRAMS AS
POSSIBLE AND MEMBERS OF THE
WORKFORCE TO RESPOND TO THOSE
KINDS OF COMPONENTS, WE HAVE
SHARED JUST TO BE UNDERSCORE, WE
HAVE SHARED THE OUTCOME OF THE
RESULTS THAT THE LAO REFERENCED
BETWEEN CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
UNITED AND THE STATE THAT IS
POSTED PUBLICLY ON OUR WEBSITE
THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE
LEGISLATURE ON MARCH 22ND, JUST
ABOUT A MONTH AGO. AND, SPEAKS
TO THEN OUR PROCESS STEPS THAT
WE'LL BE TAKING TO GET THIS
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY APPROVED
, AND ALSO, THE BASE ELEMENTS,
THE STRUCTURE OF THIS NEW
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY THAT
WE'VE GONE FORWARD WITH. SO WE
ARE NEXT STEPS, SUBMITTING OUR
STATE PLAN TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. BY JULY
OF THIS YEAR, THAT SUBMISSION
WILL INCLUDE THE STATUS OF THE
PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY, COMPLETED
ACTIVITIES TO DATE, THE TIMELINE
FOR COMPLETING DATA COLLECTION
AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
REQUIRES A CERTAIN TIME FRAME
FOR DATA COLLECTION AND THE
UPDATES ON ESTABLISHING THE NEW
RATES WE EXPECT TO HEAR BACK
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN
THE FALL OF THIS YEAR. AND THEN,
AS AGAIN, THE LAO OUTLINED,
PURSUANT TO OUR AGREEMENT AND
OUR CURRENT MOU WITH CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS UNITED WITHIN 90 DAYS
OF THAT APPROVAL, IS WHEN THE
STATE AND CPU WILL REOPEN. OUR
MOU RELATED TO RATES IN THE COST
OF CARE PLUS RATE FOR GOOD FAITH
NEGOTIATIONS TO RESTRUCTURE
CURRENT SUBSIDY RATES AND
ASSOCIATED FUNDING. WE ALSO
AGAIN WILL ENGAGE THE
NON-REPRESENTED WORKFORCE IN
PROGRAMS AND HAVE THAT
CONCURRENT INFORMATION TO SET
FOR THE FOR THE REST OF THE
FIELD, I WOULD ALSO JUST NOTE
THAT, THE LAO OUTLINED. SO THEN
WHEN DOES THE ACTUAL NEW
STRUCTURE GO INTO PLACE? THE
REASON THAT WE DON'T HAVE A DATE
CERTAIN FOR THAT IS BECAUSE AS
WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS
AND WE LAND ON THOSE STRUCTURES,
WE'LL NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT
REGULATORY AND POLICY GUIDANCE
NEEDED, CONTRACTOR TRAINING AND
UPDATES TO DATA SYSTEMS. THE
ACTUAL AUTOMATION THAT ALLOWS
THE ISSUANCE OF PAYMENTS, AND
THAT WILL BE THE INFORMATION
WE'LL PROVIDE AT THAT TIME TO
ACTUALLY ESTABLISH THE RATES.
AGAIN, LONG TIME IN THE MAKING
PART OF THE MASTER PLAN THAT I
JUST REFERENCED. MANY WORK
GROUPS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WHAT
YOU HEARD IS A FAIRLY COMPLEX
SYSTEM THAT WE'VE HAD FOR A
VERY, VERY LONG TIME. SO WE'RE
EXCITED ABOUT THIS CHANGE AND
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY HAVE A
RATE DRIVEN BY THE COST OF
PROVIDING THE GREAT SERVICES TO
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. THANKS SO
MUCH, VIRGINIA EARLEY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, ON BEHALF OF STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION TONY THURMOND. SO
CDC HAS BEEN VERY CLOSELY
COLLABORATING WITH DSS IN EVERY
STEP OF THE PROCESS TO ENSURE
THAT EXPERTISE ABOUT THE
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM IS INCLUDED. AS THE NEW
RATE STRUCTURE IS DEVELOPED, AS
IT WILL APPLY TO THE CALIFORNIA
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. AS WELL
AS CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. WE'RE
REALLY HAPPY THAT THIS WORK IS
ONGOING BECAUSE WE REGULARLY
HEAR FROM OUR CONTRACTORS THAT
THE LOW RATE AND STATE PRESCHOOL
IS MAKING IT CHALLENGING FOR
THEM TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN
QUALIFIED STAFF, AS WELL AS TO
RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC'S
IMPACTS ON ENROLLMENT. WHILE ONE
TIME COST OF CARE PLUS RATES ARE
HELPFUL, CONTRACTORS HAVE SHARED
THAT IT IS. IT'S CHALLENGING FOR
THEM TO INCREASE SALARIES WITH
FUNDS THAT ARE NOT ONGOING TO
TRULY INCREASE SALARIES FOR
REQUIRES AN ONGOING COMMITMENT
TO FUNDING INCREASES, AS BOTH
LAO AND DSS HAVE MENTIONED,
WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH
DSS STARTING BACK IN 2022 ON A
RATE REFORM AND QUALITY
WORKGROUP AND THEN CONTINUING ON
WITH A JOINT LABOR MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE. AND THE NEW THE SORT
OF RATE AND QUALITY ADVISORY
PANEL THAT'S MEETING NOW TO
INCORPORATE CENTERS INTO THAT
DISCUSSION, AS WELL AS AS AS
OTHER VOICES, IN THE COMING
MONTHS, K¾T IS FOCUSED ON
ENSURING THAT IN ALIGNMENT WITH
THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE RATE
AND QUALITY WORKGROUP, THAT ANY
RATE STRUCTURE CAPTURE THE TRUE
COST OF CARE, THAT IT REFLECTS
THE COST OF CALIFORNIA STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS,
WHICH IN SOME CASES ARE
DIFFERENT FROM DSS CHILD CARE
PROGRAMS, AND ALSO THE VOUCHER
AND THE PRIVATE PAY CENTERS AND
FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES, THIS
MAY MEAN THAT RATES FOR CDE AND
DSS PROGRAMS MIGHT NEED TO BE
DIFFERENT TO CAPTURE THESE
DIFFERENTIATED REQUIREMENTS.
WHILE THE FINAL RATES STRUCTURE
AND THE RATES THEMSELVES ARE
STILL UP IN THE AIR, WE DID WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT, IN LINE WITH WHAT
DIRECTOR JOHNSON JUST
HIGHLIGHTED, THE K¾T WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES TO DATA
SYSTEMS IMMEDIATELY, AND THE
TIMELINE ASSOCIATED WITH DATA
SYSTEM CHANGES, AS WELL AS THE
ADDITIONAL CDE RESOURCES NEEDED
TO ACCOMPLISH THESE CHANGES,
WILL REALLY DEPEND ON THE EXACT
NATURE OF THE CHANGES REQUIRED
BY THE AGREEMENT, WHICH ARE
UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, SO, FOR
EXAMPLE, IF THE FINAL RATE
STRUCTURE REQUIRES DATA THAT THE
CURRENT DATA SYSTEM DOES NOT
COLLECT, IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR
CDD TO CREATE A NEW FISCAL DATA
SYSTEM RATHER THAN ADAPTING ONE
THE STATE ALREADY HAS, WHICH
WOULD TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME AND
RESOURCES. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER. PLEASE KIMBERLY
ROSENBERGER, WITH SEIU, HERE ON
BEHALF OF CCPU, WHICH IS OUR
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS UNITED,
WHICH IS UW AND SEIU
COLLABORATION, IN TERMS OF THE
PROGRESS WE'VE MADE, IT IS TRUE
THAT WE'VE LANDED ON THOSE
ELEMENTS BASED OFF OF THE MOST
RECENT P5 SURVEY, WHICH HAD
INFORMATION ON PROVIDERS
COMMUNITY STATUS, FAMILIES USING
CARE WHERE CHILDREN ARE CARED
FOR. AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS,
ESTABLISHED A BASE RATE ELEMENT.
HOW TO APPLY THEM TO TITLE 22 TO
TITLE FIVE AND FAMILY FRIEND AND
NEIGHBOR, IT DEVELOPED A LIST OF
VARIABLES THAT WE THINK SHOULD
BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN
FIGURING OUT THE ACTUAL TRUE
COST OF CARE, INCLUDING BENEFITS
, HOURS OF OPERATION, TRAINING
NEEDS, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, BUT NO
ACTUAL VALUES WERE ATTACHED TO
ANY OF THESE FACTORS. THERE'S
MENTION OF ONE TIME COSTS VERSUS
ONGOING. THERE ARE THREE
ENHANCEMENT FACTORS
NONTRADITIONAL HOURS, SPECIAL
NEEDS TRANSPORTATION. THOSE ARE
CRUCIAL TO SUPPORTING, OUR
CURRENT CHILD CARE STRUCTURE,
BUT IN THE ELEMENTS, YOU'LL SEE
A LOT OF TBDS AND THAT WAS
NECESSARY FOR US TO MEET THE
TIMELINE NEEDED SO THAT WE CAN
GET THIS IMPLEMENTED FEDERALLY.
THOSE DON'T NEED TO BE
FINALIZED, BUT WE WOULD REALLY
ENCOURAGE AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE
HEARING IS THOSE NEED TO BE
DISCUSSED IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER
FOR US TO STAY ON TRACK. SO I
KIND OF WANT TO EMPHASIZE TWO
THINGS, THE WORKGROUP THAT WE'RE
WORKING IN PARALLEL, I DON'T
KNOW IF WE WOULD HAVE CONSENSUS
ON THAT. AND THE CHILD CARE
INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE WORKED
REALLY HARD TO HAVE MEANINGFUL
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PARTNERS
IN Â, S¼, ESPECIALLY CENTERS.
WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PROVIDERS
TO CARE FOR THE CHILDREN THAT
HAVE THOSE NEEDS. AND FOR THE
FAMILIES THAT NEED US, WE CANNOT
HAVE INFIGHTING. AND SO THIS
STRUCTURE, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES
HEARD. AND THERE'S AN
AFTERTHOUGHT. SO WE WOULD
ENCOURAGE THAT WHEN THAT OTHER
WORKGROUP IS UTILIZED THAT THEY
GET TO HAVE MEANINGFUL
ENGAGEMENT, SO THAT THERE ISN'T
THAT KIND OF INFIGHTING WHERE
WE'RE CARRYING THE WEIGHT AND
BURDEN BECAUSE WE DO CONSIDER
THEM OUR PARTNERS, AND WE NEED
TO ALL WORK TOGETHER, BUT WE
KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON A TIMELINE
, SO WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE
HAS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A
FLEXIBILITY. Kò, HENCE THE TBDS,
WHICH IS, THE OUTSTANDING
QUESTIONS THAT WE AS CPU HAVE
ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION. THERE
IS SO MUCH WIGGLE ROOM IN THIS
NEW ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY THAT
WE NEEDED TO ENSURE MEETING THE
FEDERAL TIMELINE, BUT THEY CAN
BE DISCUSSED BEFORE THE REOPENER
, AND THEY SHOULD BE DISCUSSED
IN ORDER FOR US TO MEANINGFULLY
BARGAIN AND TO DO IT SINCERELY,
SO WE'RE WE WOULD LIKE TO
DISCUSS LIKE WHAT IS IT NEEDED
TO EMPOWER THE STATE AGENCIES,
TO IMPLEMENT, TO HAVE THE PROPER
TRANSITIONS TO FINALIZE THOSE
COST OF CARE FACTORS? IT DOESN'T
MEAN THAT THAT WILL DETERMINE
WHAT THE CONTRACT IS, WHAT THE
COSTS ARE. THOSE WILL BE
NEGOTIATED, BUT THERE ARE
NUMBERS THAT CAN BE ATTACHED,
REAL NUMBERS THAT ARE
MEANINGFUL. THOSE COST FACTORS,
ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE READY
TO DISCUSS. AND WE THINK WE CAN,
WE ALSO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT
THE TIMELINE AND THE TRANSITION,
WE ALREADY JUST HEARD RECENTLY
ABOUT A WAIVER, ON THE FEDERAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE, TIMELY
PAYMENTS. AND THAT JUST GIVES US
A LITTLE BIT OF PAUSE, BECAUSE
IF WE'RE WAIVING THINGS THAT CAN
BE IMPLEMENTED WITH DISCUSSION,
THIS TRANSITION TRANSITION MEANS
WE NEED TO START HAVING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. SO WE'RE NOT
KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD,
THE FLAG WE HEARD. AND THIS IS
WHY WE'RE PUSHING SO MUCH TO
HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS NOW IS
BECAUSE IF WE FALL BACK TO THE
2018 75% RMRS, WE WILL LOSE OUR
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. THAT IS A
CATASTROPHE THAT WE CANNOT HAVE
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO AVOID. SO
WE DO HAVE QUESTIONS ON, HOW WE
ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THOSE, WHAT
THE STATE AGENCIES NEED TO GET
THOSE, THEIR, THEIR COMPUTER
SYSTEMS UP TO DATE, INCLUDING
THE COST FACTORS. AND WE HAVE
RECOMMENDED SOME NEXT STEPS THAT
WE THINK WILL HELP MOVE THINGS
ALONG, INCLUDING LAYING OUT
DATES THROUGH TRAILER BILL WITH
REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR
AND COMPLETION OF THE ASSUMPTION
OF TABLES FOR COST OF CARE
FACTORS, REQUIRING REPORTING
DATE MECHANISMS. ESTIMATING COST
OF CARE MODEL IMPLEMENTATION.
AND THEN THERE'S FEDERAL
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE THINK WE
SHOULD INCORPORATE NOW. AND
WE'RE WE'RE RECOMMENDING THESE
STEPS NOT BECAUSE, WE THINK
IT'LL HELP MOVE THINGS ALONG,
BUT BECAUSE WE NEED IT TO MOVE
ALONG, BECAUSE WHEN WE GET TO
NEXT YEAR AND WE'RE BARGAINING
ON THE BUDGET, WE NEED TO HAVE
ALL OF THESE ALREADY LAID OUT.
AND WE NEED THE STATE AGENCIES
TO BE EMPOWERED TO DO THOSE
DECISION MAKING AND
IMPLEMENTATION NEEDED. SO WE
WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING AS
PARTNERS. AND IN DOING THAT, WE
RECOGNIZE THAT THEY NEED
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE
LEGISLATURE TO HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO MOVE FORWARD. SO WE
WOULD REALLY JUST UNDERSCORE,
THAT THAT IT IS TIME SENSITIVE
IN THIS LEGISLATIVE YEAR. IT'S
NOT NECESSARILY, BUDGETING OUT
FOR THE NEXT CONTRACT. IT'S
GIVING THE AUTHORITY AND
MECHANISMS NEEDED FOR THOSE
STATE AGENCIES. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY. GOOD.
PROCEED. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS DONNA SNEERINGER. I'M
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF
STRATEGY OFFICER WITH THE CHILD
CARE RESOURCE CENTER. WE ARE A
LARGE MULTI-SERVICE CHILD AND
FAMILY SERVICES ORGANIZATION,
AND WE CURRENTLY ADMINISTER
NEARLY ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
SUBSIDIZED PAYMENT PROGRAMS WITH
CONTRACTS WITH BOTH DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND
HAVE BEEN LONG TIME PARTICIPANTS
IN THIS REIMBURSEMENT RATE
DISCUSSION WITH OUR PARTNERS,
JUST, WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR TAKING THE TIME
AND FOR YOUR INVITATION TO
PROVIDE TESTIMONY ON RATE
REFORM. I'M GOING TO START BY
RESTATING WHAT YOU ALL KNOW.
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY UNDERVALUED AND
UNDERPAID, CARING FOR CHILDREN
WAS LARGELY THE WORK OF WOMEN,
OFTEN WOMEN OF COLOR, AND THE
COMPENSATION HAS NEVER FULLY
HONORED THE SKILL TRAINING, AND
PATIENCE NEEDED TO PERFORM THIS
WORK. THIS CRITICAL LABOR FORCE,
WHICH PROVIDES SERVICES TO
WORKING FAMILIES, ALLOWING THEM
TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR ECONOMY,
IS CURRENTLY FACING A HISTORIC
SHORTAGE OF WORKERS HIRING HAS
BECOME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AS THE
NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS MAKE
CHOICES TO ENTER HIGHER PAYING
PROFESSIONS, AND THAT'S
ESPECIALLY TRUE OF THOSE WHO
HAVE HIGHER EDUCATION AND
TRAINING. IN A NEWLY RELEASED
PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE OF
CALIFORNIA REPORT ON CHILD CARE,
WORKFORCE SHOWS THE AVERAGE AGE
OF THE AVERAGE WAGE OF A WORKER
AT $18 PER HOUR. RIGHT NOW, FAST
FOOD WORKERS ARE IN 20 AND
PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING THESE
JOBS. WE HAVE AN URGENCY HERE
THAT I THINK REALLY CANNOT BE
UNDERSCORED ENOUGH. ADVOCATES IN
THE LEGISLATURE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WELL OVER A DECADE TO
ADDRESS THIS CRISIS. TRUST ME,
I'VE BEEN AT EVERY WORKGROUP AND
MEETING EVERY YEAR. AND AFTER
YEARS OF DISCUSSION, WE HAD OUR
FIRST LEGISLATIVE BILL
INTRODUCED TO THE ASSEMBLY IN
2014. THAT WAS A DECADE AGO.
THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THREE
CONSECUTIVE OF WORK GROUP
RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND RATE
REFORM, THE FIRST FUNDED BY
FIRST FIVE CALIFORNIA WITH THEIR
WHITE PAPER IN 2018. THEN THE
ASSEMBLY BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION
REPORT IN 2019, AND THE MASTER
PLAN, AS STATED BY DIRECTOR
JOHNSON. EVERYONE AGREED WE NEED
TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, AND
THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY MANY
DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS,
AS STATED BY MANY OF MY FELLOW
PANELISTS, THE ADMINISTRATION
AND LEGISLATURE HAVE MADE
HISTORIC INVESTMENTS TO SHORE UP
THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY, BUT
LARGELY THE DOLLARS FOR WAGES
AND REIMBURSEMENT HAVE BEEN
ALLOCATED THROUGH STIPEND AND
SHORT TERME SOLUTIONS. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
REIMBURSEMENT DEAL WE AGREED
UPON LAST YEAR ONLY PROVIDED FOR
THE TWO YEARS OF THE CONTRACT
PERIOD, AND ALSO WAS FUNDED IN
PART BY THE LOSS OF THE COST OF
LIVING ADJUSTMENT, WHICH WAS
OWED TO THE REST OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SYSTEM. SO
WE WERE TAKING FROM ONE PART OF
THE SYSTEM TO SHORE UP ANOTHER.
AND AS DIRECTOR JOHNSON
MENTIONED, WE ARE ON THE
PRECIPICE OF THE NEXT STEP TO
SUBMIT A PLAN. I CAN HARDLY
BELIEVE WE'RE SO CLOSE. WE
REALLY ARE. AND THIS PLAN GOES
TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. BUT OUR
WORK IS FAR FROM COMPLETE. THE
LÀ AND DIRECTOR REVIEWED THE
GOALS, SO I WON'T GO INTO THAT.
BUT AND DSS DID SUBMIT A PLAN TO
THE LEGISLATURE. AS MENTIONED,
THE RATE AND QUALITY ADVISORY
PANEL, WHICH IS THE CURRENT
ITERATION OF THE RATE WORK GROUP
THAT IS NEVER ENDING. DID MEET
ON APRIL 8TH AND REVIEWED THE
FIRST ROUND OF AGREEMENTS THAT
CAME FROM THE JOINT LABOR
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AGREEMENT.
THERE WERE SOME MAJOR CONCERNS
RAISED BY PANEL MEMBERS AND THE
PUBLIC RELATED TO MANY OF THOSE
TO BE DETERMINED ITEMS, AS WELL
AS SOME NEW THINGS. WE HAD NEVER
SEEN BEFORE. THE BASE RATE
ELEMENTS FOR WAGE DETERMINATION
THÀNH NOW INCLUDE USE OF THE
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
NUMBERS FOR CHILD CARE, WAGES AS
ONE OF THE ELEMENTS WHICH COULD
BE USED FOR SETTING THE BASE.
THE REASON WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT
THIS IS WE KNOW IT REFLECTS
CURRENT PAY, AND WE KNOW PAY IS
INADEQUATE. USING THIS MEASURE
WILL ARTIFICIALLY DEFLATE THE
BASE FROM THE START, AND IN
REALITY, WE IT'S JUST ANOTHER
WAY TO PAY BASED ON THE CURRENT
MARKET. AND THE WHOLE POINT OF
THIS WAS TO GET AWAY FROM PAYING
LIKE WE PAY IN THE CURRENT
MARKET. SO THERE WERE A LOT OF
CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT THAT.
THERE WERE ALSO OTHER
ALTERNATIVES, AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO
WATCH VERY CLOSELY WHICH OF
THOSE ALTERNATIVES GETS PICKED
UP IN THE REPORTS BACK TO YOU.
THE BASE ELEMENTS ALSO ARE ONLY
CURRENTLY THE JMC AGREEMENT,
WHICH MEANS A HUGE NUMBER OF OUR
PROGRAMS ARE CHILD CARE CENTERS
HAVE NOT REALLY SEEN WHAT THE
FRAMEWORK FOR THEIR
REIMBURSEMENT WILL LOOK LIKE.
THE PROCESS WITH CCPU HAS BEEN
GOING ON FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.
THERE HAS BEEN NO REAL
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CENTER BASED
POPULATION GOING PARALLEL TO
THAT OUTSIDE OF THE RATE
ADVISORY GROUP, WHICH HAS BEEN
MUCH A REPORT BACK AND
CONVERSATION. BUT THERE STILL IS
WORK TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE COVERING THE COSTS
IN CALIFORNIA, BOTH PUBLICLY
CONTRACTED AND PRIVATE CENTERS
RECEIVE SUBSIDY PAYMENTS. THEIR
BUSINESS MODELS CONTAIN
DIFFERENT PRESSURES FROM HOME
BASED CARE, AND IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS
RIGHT. IT'S ALSO APPEARS THAT
AS, AS KIM MENTIONED, THERE IS A
LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE AND I
DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A TIGHT
ENOUGH TIME. WE HAVE A VERY
TIGHT TIMELINE AND NOT ENOUGH
FRAMEWORK TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T
GET BEHIND. WE'VE GOT SOME BAKED
IN DELAYS BEHIND WHEN THE REPORT
IS SUBMITTED TO ACF, AND WHEN WE
START NEGOTIATIONS, WE BELIEVE
WE REALLY NEED TO START NOW. AND
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT
WITHOUT A NEW AGREEMENT ON JULY
1ST OF 2025, THE EXISTING JMC
AGREEMENT AND CONTRACT WITH CCPU
EXPIRES AND RATES WILL REVERT
BACK TO PRIOR REIMBURSEMENT
RATE. THIS WILL RESULT IN A 25
TO 30% CUT TO WHAT WE PAY OUR
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, AND AS
PREVIOUSLY STATED, THEY WON'T
MAKE IT. WE CAN'T HIRE AS IT IS
AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO
AVOID. SO BASED ON ALL THAT I'VE
LEARNED OVER THE YEARS ON THIS
CONVERSATION, THÀNH, I WANT TO
MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO
WHAT WE NEED TO DO. FIRST, I
WANT TO UNDERSCORE WE NEED TO
START NOW AT NAILING DOWN THESE
TO BE DETERMINED ELEMENTS AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE READY.
AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE
LEGISLATURE SET CLEAR STATUTORY
DEADLINES AND REPORT BACKS, SO
THAT WE STAY ON TIME AND DON'T
GET CRUNCHED UP AT THE BUDGET AS
THE BUDGET SEASON MOVES FORWARD
NEXT YEAR, IT'S CRITICAL TO
ENSURE THE FULL SYSTEM IS
INVOLVED IN RATE DETERMINATION,
NOT JUST THOSE REPRESENTED BY
CCPU, THE CCPU PARTNERS THAT WE
HAVE, HAVE AND THE PRIVATE CHILD
CARE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN WORKING
HAND IN HAND. WE HAVE ADVOCATED
FOR THIS TOGETHER, BUT WE CANNOT
ONLY HAVE DECISIONS MADE IN THAT
ONE AREA AND LEAVE SO MANY OF
OUR CENTER BASED PROVIDERS
BEHIND. WE ALSO WOULD RECOMMEND
THAT YOU CONSIDER OUR LOOKING AT
THE CURRENT DOLLAR INVESTMENT
AND CREATING SOME BASE FUNDING
LEVEL EQUIVALENT TO THE CURRENT
RATE, PLUS THE CARE COST, US
COST PLUS STIPEND TO ENSURE
THERE ISN'T A REDUCTION TO THE
ALREADY INADEQUATE RATES. A
SAFETY NET, SO TO SPEAK, SO THAT
IF WE DO RUN OUT OF TIME, WE
STILL HAVE A PLAN. WE REALLY
ENCOURAGE TRANSITION PLAN. WE
KNOW THESE THINGS ARE
COMPLICATED. THEY TAKE TIME. AND
THE MORE CLARITY WE HAVE AROUND
THE DIRECTION SO THAT WE'RE ALL
ROWING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
WOULD BE GOOD AND DEVELOP A
POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR RATE REFORM
TO PAIR WITH THIS, SOME POLICIES
TO CONSIDER WOULD BE DELINKING
SUBSIDY RATES FROM PRIVATE PAY
PARENTS AND WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD
, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NEW PAYMENT RULES OUTLINED IN
THE RECENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES. LASTLY, WE ALL
KNOW THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGING
BUDGET ENVIRONMENT AND THAT FULL
IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW
ALTERNATIVE RATES WILL TAKE
MULTIPLE YEARS. THIS ISN'T GOING
TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. I THINK
WE'RE ALL VERY CLEAR EYED ABOUT
THAT, BUT PLEASE WORK WITH US TO
ENSURE THAT THE DECISIONS THAT
ARE MADE ARE CREATING A
VISIONARY SYSTEM WHICH WILL
BUILD THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY IN
CALIFORNIA FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME AND NOT STIFLE OUR PLAN
BECAUSE OF A DIFFICULT BUDGET
CLIMATE, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS AND APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU, NEXT PANEL IS
PLEASE MY NAME. GOOD MORNING. MY
NAME IS LILIANA CAMACHO. I AM A
LEADER WITH PARENT VOICE OF
SANTA CLARA. I'VE LIVED IN
MOUNTAIN VIEW FOR 20 YEARS. I AM
A MOM OF FOUR KIDS. MY OLDEST
WILL BE TURNING NINE ON SUNDAY.
I HAVE THREE LITTLE ONES. MIA IS
THREE, DAVID'S TWO, AND KAYLA IS
14 MONTHS. WHEN I HAD KAYLA, I
WENT ON MATERNITY LEAVE FOR MY
PAST JOB. BY THE TIME I WAS
READY TO GO BACK TO WORK, I WAS
FORCED TO RESIGN DUE TO THE FACT
I DIDN'T HAVE CHILD CARE FOR
HER. THE REASON WHY IT'S SO
IMPORTANT FOR ME, FOR MY KIDS TO
HAVE CHILDCARE, IT GOES BACK FOR
NOW. AS A KID, I NEVER WENT TO
PRESCHOOL AND WHEN I WAS IN
SECOND GRADE, I GOT ASSIGNED TO
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OR
ELD CLASSES. I DIDN'T GET
RECLASSIFIED UNTIL I WAS IN HIGH
SCHOOL AND I COULDN'T TAKE ANY
ELECTIVES BECAUSE I HAD TO TAKE
DOUBLE ENGLISH. I HAD TO TAKE
TWO BUSSES TO GET TO MY HIGH
SCHOOL. I WAS BULLIED FOR MY
ENGLISH AND IT WAS TRAUMA TO ME,
AND IT MADE ME HATE SCHOOL AND
WANT TO QUIT. MEANWHILE, MY
LITTLE SISTER THAT WENT TO
PRESCHOOL AND RECLASSIFIED
RECLASSIFIED ELD WHEN SHE WAS IN
THIRD GRADE. HER EXPERIENCE WAS
DIFFERENT THAN MINE. WHEN MY
DAUGHTER MIA TURNED THREE, I WAS
EXCITED FOR HER TO START SCHOOL.
BUT LIVING IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, IT
IS REALLY HARD TO GET AFFORDABLE
CHILDCARE. I HAVE BEEN ON THE
CHILDCARE VOUCHER WAITING LIST
FOR TWO YEARS AND EVEN HAD TO
REAPPLY BECAUSE PAPERWORK GOT
LOST, ACCORDING TO MY CHILD CARE
PLAN THAT WORK, THERE ARE SEVEN
PROVIDERS IN THE ENTIRE CITY WHO
ACCEPT VOUCHERS, SEVEN PROVIDERS
IN A CITY OF 80,000 PEOPLE. THE
ONLY FREE OPTION I WAS OFFERED
WAS THE WAS ONE FREE PRESCHOOL
IN MOUNTAIN VIEW THROUGH THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT IS ONLY
THREE HOURS A DAY. THAT DOESN'T
HELP PARENTS WHO HAVE TO WORK
THREE HOURS IS BETTER THAN
NOTHING, AND MY DAUGHTER'S
EDUCATION COMES FIRST. SO I TOOK
IT. I COULDN'T MAKE ANY
APPOINTMENTS. I COULDN'T DO ANY
WORK FOR MY PART TIME JOB IN
THREE HOURS. SOME DAYS I DIDN'T
HAVE TIME TO MAKE FOOD FOR
MYSELF BECAUSE I WAS SO FOCUSED
ON THE KIDS, I ONLY WORRIED THAT
THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME
STRUGGLES I DID IN SCHOOL. IT IS
NOT JUST MOUNTAIN VIEW. OTHER
CITIES ARE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS
. WHILE WAITING FOR VOUCHERS, I
STARTED TO SEARCH FOR SUBSIDIZED
CHILD CARE CENTERS. I'VE DRIVEN
TO FIVE DIFFERENT CITIES ACROSS
TWO COUNTIES, MAKING CALLS OR
VISITING AT LEAST 20 CHILDCARE
PROGRAMS. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY
TOOK VOUCHERS OR IF THEY HAD ANY
SUBSIDIZED SLOTS. THEY ALL HAD A
LONG WAITING LIST THAT I HAD TO
APPLY IN PERSON TO GET EVEN. GET
ON. I SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS
ENDING UP WITH NO CHILD CARE
PARENTS ARE DEFINITELY IMPACTED
BY LOW PROVIDER RATES. PROVIDERS
CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE VOUCHERS
AND STAY IN BUSINESS, AND
CENTERS CANNOT HIRE MORE
TEACHERS TO SERVE MORE CHILDREN
OR HAVE TO CHARGE HIGHER
COPAYMENTS TO PARENTS. THIS
IMPACTS ME PERSONALLY BECAUSE
WHEN I HAD TO PAY A CO-PAYMENT
OF 400 A MONTH FOR MY OLDEST
DAUGHTER TO HAVE FULL CHILD
CARE, EVEN THOUGH I WAS BARELY
MAKING ANY MONEY. THEN THIS PAST
FEBRUARY, I GOT A CALL FROM A
SUBSIDIZED PROGRAM IN SUNNYVALE
THAT I HAD A SPACE FOR ALL THREE
OF MY YOUNGER KIDS. I WAS IN
SHOCK. I HAD TO PINCH MYSELF,
DOUBLE CHECK THE NUMBER TO MAKE
SURE IT WASN'T A SCAM. I FELT
LIKE I WAS GETTING A FEVER. I
WAS SO OVERWHELMED I CRIED TEARS
OF JOY TO FINALLY GET THIS PHONE
CALL. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR
THREE YEARS IT TO. IT TURNS OUT
THAT THE RELIEF WAS TEMPORARY.
ALTHOUGH MIA AND DAVID HAD HAVE
BEEN IN CHILDCARE SINCE. SINCE
FEBRUARY, KAYLA STILL REMAINS ON
THE WAITING LIST. I WAS INFORMED
THAT THEY HAVE THE SPACE FOR
HER, BUT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH TEACHERS. KAYLA IS
WAITING BECAUSE WE DON'T PAY
EARLY EDUCATORS WHAT THEY'RE
WORTH. AT LEAST I WAS ABLE TO
GET CARE FOR MIA AND DAVID AND
CHANGE MY SCHEDULE TO FULL TIME.
IF MY IF THE OLD FEE SCHEDULE
WAS IN PLACE, WE SHOULD HAVE
BEEN PAYING FOR 180 EVERY MONTH
FOR FULL TIME CHILDCARE. KEEPING
THAT MONEY MEANS WE CAN PAY FOR
KASEY'S TUTORING. SEEING HER DO
WELL IN SCHOOL HAS HELPED MY OWN
HEALING AND PROCESS. I DON'T
HAVE TO TELL MY DAUGHTER NO, WE
CAN'T DO THAT EVERY TIME SHE
WANTS TO DO SOMETHING THAT COSTS
US LITTLE MONEY. SHE'S ALREADY
PLANNING VACATIONS FOR US. NOW
THAT SHE KNOWS THAT I'M ABLE TO
WORK FULL TIME, WE'RE ABLE TO
INVEST THAT MONEY BACK INTO OUR
CHILDREN. WE CAN EVEN TRY TO
SAVE A BIT. AND IT'S NOT. IT'S
NICE NOT TO FEEL THAT WE'RE
ALWAYS BROKE, NO MATTER HOW HARD
WE WORK. IT MAKES ME SAD THAT
EVEN THOUGH I FOUND CHILDCARE,
MY KIDS DON'T GET TO GO TO
SCHOOL WHERE WE LIVE. TRUST ME,
I AM GRATEFUL TO HAVE GOTTEN A
SPOT, BUT IT'S NEARLY 30 MINUTES
FROM HOME, AND IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN BETTER FOR ME IF THE IF I
HAD CHILD CARE OPTIONS IN
MOUNTAIN VIEW, A CITY WHERE I
LIVED GREW UP IN MOUNTAIN VIEW,
IT WAS MY HOME, MOUNTAIN VIEW IS
CLOSE, BUT AND I DON'T WANT TO
LEAVE. IT JUST FEELS FAMILIES
LIKE MINE ARE GETTING PUSHED OUT
BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE. WHEN
WE HAVE A TRUE COST CARE MODEL
AND MORE SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE
SPACES, I HOPE TO SEE 100
SUBSIDIZED PROVIDERS IN MOUNTAIN
VIEW, NOT JUST SEVEN. WE NEED
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS ACROSS THE
STATE. IT'S TIME WE VALUE OUR
EARLY EDUCATORS AND GIVE
FAMILIES MORE OPTIONS TO CHOOSE
CHILDCARE WHEN AND WHERE THEY
NEED IT. WE'RE ASKING THIS
COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH PARENTS
AND PROVIDERS TO PASS A FINAL
BUDGET THAT INCLUDES 20,000 NEW
SUBSIDIZED SPACES FOR FAMILIES
AND TAKES REAL STEPS TOWARDS THE
COST OF CARE MODEL FOR
PROVIDERS. WHEN PARENTS AND
PROVIDERS AND CHILDREN THRIVE,
WE ALL WIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? OKAY. MY
BAD. WHAT'S NEXT? OKAY OKAY.
COMMERCIAL. DID YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT TO ASK
THE PANEL? WE'LL HAVE A JUST A
FEW QUESTIONS, WHAT IMPROVEMENTS
ON THE CHILDCARE FUNDING RATE
SYSTEM WITH THE ALTERNATIVE
TECHNOLOGIES? THANK YOU,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, FOR THAT
QUESTION. KIM JOHNSON, SOCIAL
SERVICES. SO AGAIN,
FUNDAMENTALLY, THE RATE SURVEYS,
THE REGIONAL MARKET RATE SURVEYS
THAT WE'VE CONDUCTED TO DATE
HISTORICALLY IN CALIFORNIA, THE
SURVEYS ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE
PARENT CAN AFFORD. AND THAT'S
HOW WE SET OUR RATE STRUCTURES
BASED ON THOSE DIFFERENCES
GEOGRAPHICALLY THROUGHOUT THE
STATE AND OTHER COMPONENTS AND
PROGRAM TYPES. SO FAMILY, CHILD
CARE, CENTER BASED, ETC. THIS
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY ALLOWS
US TO STILL SURVEY PROGRAMS IN
THE WORKFORCE, BUT RELATED TO
THE COST OF CARE. SO THAT'S THE
FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN TERMS OF
THE KIND OF CONTEXTUAL BASIS BY
WHICH WE'RE SETTING RATES IN THE
STRUCTURE. MAY I ALSO, AT LEAST
FOR CPU, A REALLY IMPORTANT, IS
THE RECOGNITION OF FAMILY,
FRIEND AND NEIGHBORS. THOSE ARE,
PROVIDERS THAT ARE IN THE
COMMUNITY. WHILE THEY'RE NOT
LICENSED, THEY OFTEN TAKE IN A
NUMBER OF CHILDREN. THEY HAVE
BEEN THE LARGEST PROVIDER CARE
AS WE'VE EXPANDED SLOTS. AND SO
THE NEW METHODOLOGY INCLUDES
ENHANCEMENT FACTORS SUCH AS
NONTRADITIONAL HOURS, SPECIAL
NEED AND TRANSPORTATION. THOSE
ARE WHERE WE SEE THE GREATEST
NEED FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE
OFTEN, PROVIDERS AREN'T TAKING
THOSE CHILDREN BECAUSE OF COST,
VALUE IS SO LOW THAT THEY SIMPLY
CAN'T CONTINUE PROVIDING SERVICE
TO OTHERS. SO THOSE ADDITIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS WE THINK WILL
IMPROVE, AREAS THAT DESPERATELY
NEED ADDITIONAL CARE. I HAVE ONE
MORE QUESTION, WILL THE 25, 26TH
JANUARY BUDGET INCLUDE A
PROPOSAL TO SHIFT TO THE
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY? YEAH,
HOPEFULLY. OKAY. I'LL TAKE THAT
AS AN ANSWER. I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS WE UNDERSCORED TODAY AND
OTHERS COMMENTED ON IS THAT IN
ORDER TO DO SO, THERE NEEDS TO
BE A LOT OF CONVERSATION
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, HENCE THIS
INSTEAD OF AN AFFIRMATIVE. YES.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT
NEXT YEAR, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE
HAVE TO CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS.
AND ALSO WE THINK THAT THE STATE
AGENCIES MAY NEED ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES. SO WE WANT TO BE
SUPPORTIVE IN THOSE REQUESTS.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO ASK
THE ADMINISTRATION AND MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE YOU COVERED AS
WELL. SO GOOD. SO IF IT'S
APPROPRIATE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A
COUPLE OF OH GO AHEAD. I'M
SORRY, TAMAR WEBER, THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, SO THIS
SUNSET OR, EXTENSION OF THE COST
OF CARE, PLUS FUNDING LEVEL WILL
BE SUBJECT TO COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING FOR CCPA
REPRESENTATIVE PROVIDERS AND
DELIBERATIONS AS PART OF THE
NEXT BUDGET DEVELOPMENT FOR NON
CPU REPRESENTED PROVIDERS, BUT
THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO KIND
OF UNDERSCORE THAT WE ARE
COMMITTED TO MOVING TO THE COST
OF CARE, ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY
AND THE OPENING OF COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING WILL BEGIN, BEFORE
THE EXPIRATION OF THE CURRENT
AGREEMENT. SO BEFORE THAT JULY
1ST, 2025 DATE. OKAY YOU WANT TO
MAKE A STATEMENT OR. YEAH, I
HAVE A STATEMENT IF IT'S OKAY.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A SAD DAY FOR
ME BECAUSE MY BEST FRIEND WAS
DELANEY EASTON AND I THINK SHE
MADE ME BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE
THIS IS SUCH IT WAS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT THING THAT SHE ALWAYS
WANTED CHILDREN TO BE TAKEN CARE
OF. SO, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE
TO HAVE A FEW COMMENTS FROM THE
LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S CAUCUS. YOU
KNOW, THE LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S
CAUSES CAUCUS HAS CONSISTENTLY
PRIORITIZED, PRIORITIZED CHILD
CARE FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES. THE
FOCUS IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT CHILD CARE IS
PROVIDED BY WOMEN WORKERS,
PREDOMINANTLY WOMEN OF COLOR,
AND IS CRITICAL TO THE ECONOMIC
SUCCESS OF ALL WORKING WOMEN.
SINCE 2014, THERE HAVE BEEN
LEGISLATIVE ATTEMPTS TO REFORM
THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE SYSTEM
FOR CALIFORNIA CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS. IN APRIL 2019, THE
ASSEMBLY RELEASED A BLUE RIBBON
COMMISSION REPORT WHICH
HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO MAKE
SIGNIFICANT REFORMS TO
REIMBURSEMENT TO ENSURE CHILD
CARE WORKERS ARE PAID A FAIR
WAGE AND TO REAFFIRM THAT CHILD
CARE WORKERS ARE HISTORICALLY
HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED, UNDERPAID AND
UNDER-RESOURCED. IN THE LAST TWO
CONSECUTIVE BUDGET AGREEMENTS,
THE LEGISLATURE CAME TO
AGREEMENTS TO MOVE FORWARD
TOWARD THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE
REIMBURSEMENT RATE AND THE
TRANSITION TO AN ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY. THE METHODOLOGY
METHODOLOGY WOULD BE BASED ON
THE ACTUAL COST OF CARE, RATHER
THAN THE TUITION CHARGE BY THE
PRIVATE MARKET. IN ADDITION, THE
FIRST TWO CONTRACTS NEGOTIATED
BY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS UNITED
THERE WERE AGREEMENTS TO MOVE
FORWARD THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW
REIMBURSEMENT METHODOLOGY. THIS
CONVERSATION HAS BEEN GOING ON
FOR A DECADE AND IS TIME TO MOVE
PAST PLANNING AND TOWARD THE
ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION TO SHORE
UP OUR DEPLETED AND SHRINKING
CHILD CARE WORKFORCE, EVEN AS WE
CONTINUE TO DRAG OUT THE PROCESS
, THE INADEQUATE RATE STRUCTURE
PERPETUATE PERPETUATES THESE
CHALLENGES. PROGRAMS STRUGGLE TO
HIRE TEACHERS AND AIDES, SO
ENTIRE CLASSROOMS ARE SITTING
DARK, NOT SERVING LOW INCOME
CHILDREN WHO ARE ON WAITING
LISTS FOR CARE. THE
REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE SO LOW
THAT PROVIDERS OFFER 33% LESS
THAN IN-N-OUT'S STARTING HOURLY
WAGE AT $20. SO WHERE WE STAND
NOW, THE REPORT PREPARED BY CDSS
AND PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE
ON MARCH 22ND, 2024, REITERATES
EXISTING KNOWLEDGE AND EXISTING
AGREEMENTS. THE JOINT LABOR
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS TOWARD THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A BASE RATE ARE A
START, BUT LARGE NUMBERS OF THE
CHILD CARE FIELD WERE NOT
INCLUDED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.
THE AGREEMENTS ARE ONLY BASED ON
COST OF FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES,
WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT BUSINESS
MODEL THAN THE CENTER BASED
CARE, WITH LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE A MEANINGFUL CHANGE BEFORE
2025. IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO
ENSURE THAT WHAT IS ADOPTED WILL
FINALLY SECURE, EQUITABLE AND
LIVABLE WAGES FOR ALL OF OUR
CHILD CARE WORKFORCE AND A
GUARANTEE THAT INVESTMENTS WILL
BE BE MADE TO FINALLY PROVIDE
RELIEF TO THE STRUGGLING GROUP
OF WOMEN WORKERS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY. I
THINK SHE'S LOOKING DOWN AT ME
SAYING, KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE
KIDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. FOR THOSE
REMARKS. AND AGAIN, THE LONG
FIRM, LEADERSHIP THAT THE
WOMEN'S CAUCUS HAS PROVIDED ON
THIS ISSUE, WE'VE GOT TO GET
THIS RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS, AS WE
BEGIN TO IT'S NOT VERY MANY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SYSTEMS TO
UPDATE RATES TO MAKE UPDATE THE
SYSTEM. AND ONCE THAT UPDATE IS
COMPLETE, THE LIKELIHOOD THAT
THAT WILL CHANGE ANY TIME SOON,
I'M NOT SURE IF I MIGHT STILL BE
AROUND. I BELIEVE THAT AS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AGAR CURRY HAS
INDICATED AS WELL, THAT WE HAVE
GOT TO MAKE SURE, THAT, THE
ADJUSTMENTS AND RATES TRULY
REFLECTS ALL OF THE COSTS THAT
IT TAKES TO PROVIDE CARE FOR OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY'RE IN
HOME BASED, WHETHER THEY'RE
CENTER BASED, OR EVEN WHETHER
THEY ARE A THREE YEAR OLD ON A
TCK, PROGRAM ON A SCHOOL CAMPUS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
KNOW I WILL HAVE A NATURAL
NEGATIVE REACTION TO IS IF WE
SAY THAT, A PROGRAM ON A SCHOOL
CAMPUS SHOULD HAVE A HIGHER RATE
THAN ON A HOME BASED, BECAUSE IF
WE DON'T TRULY COVER THE COST OF
CARE, THEN IT MAKES NO SENSE TO
THINK WE CAN EXPAND THE NUMBER
OF SLOTS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL
DIRECT CONNECTED, BECAUSE WE
HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE WHAT THEY
DESERVE TO BE PAID. AND IT IS
ATROCIOUS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
LITERALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR
MOST PRECIOUS PEOPLE ARE PAID
THE LEAST. RIGHT? AND SO A FEW
QUESTIONS JUST ABOUT IN TERMS OF
HOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT FUNDING
AND ALL THOSE THINGS IS, IS THE
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO
FUNDING PROGRAMS MÁS TOWARD
INCREASED FUNDING BY PROVIDER AS
A PART OF THE NEW METHODOLOGY,
ADOPTION? I'LL START WITH THAT.
CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION, I THINK, AGAIN, A
COUPLE POINTS I WOULD MAKE, AS I
REFERENCED EARLIER IN THE PANEL,
THAT THE MASTER PLANS
RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE TO A
SINGLE REIMBURSEMENT RATE
STRUCTURE. I THINK I SHARED WITH
YOU THE RANGE OF THE COST
ASSOCIATED WITH THE OVERALL
IMPLEMENTATION, NOT JUST THE
RATE COMPONENT WAS 2 TO $12
BILLION, WE RECOGNIZE THAT
WITHIN THIS, CONVERSATION THAT
WE'RE HAVING AND SHIFTING FROM
SURVEYING RELATED TO THE COSTS
THAT FAMILIES PAY TO THE COST OF
CARE THAT IS ALSO LIKELY TO HAVE
SOME SIGNIFICANT COST PRESSURES.
IT WILL COST MORE, AND AGAIN,
IT'S THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS
AND CONVERSATIONS, WE WILL HAVE
MORE CLARITY ABOUT HOW MUCH MORE
, I AGAIN, I THINK WE HAD SOME
ADDITIONAL I'LL REFER TO THE LÀ
Þ. I THINK LAST YEAR DID A
REPORT TOO, THAT ALSO HAD THAT
NUMBER IN THE BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS, SO AGAIN, WE'LL BE
LOOKING AT, TO YOUR POINT, A
COUPLE OF POINTS I WANT TO MAKE
IN RESPONSE TO YOUR REMARKS.
ONE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
REQUIRES US TO ASSESS THE
ADEQUACY ADEQUACY OF OUR RATES
ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS. SO THERE
IS A REQUIREMENT BY THE STATE TO
DO CONTINUE DOING THE SURVEY AND
REASSESS AS WE MOVE THROUGH
TIME, BUT WE ARE EXPECTING THAT
THIS SHIFT IN HOW WE'RE LOOKING
AT THAT COST MODEL INFLUENCING
THE RATE STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE
TO COST ADDITIONAL DOLLARS,
LIKELY HIGHLY HIGH IN THE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO THEN
WHEN WE NEGOTIATE AND I'VE
SHARED THIS IN PRIOR TESTIMONIES
, WHERE WE ARE TODAY TO ALL
POINTS BEING MADE BY MY FELLOW
PANELISTS TO THE POINT THAT
WE'RE GOING TO IDENTIFY THAT WE
NEED TO BE, THERE'S CERTAINLY
GOING TO BE A GREAT DELTA THERE
THAT WILL HAVE TO THEN IDENTIFY
TOGETHER THE GOVERNOR AND
LEGISLATURE HOW MUCH WE WILL BE
INCREASING EACH, EACH YEAR TO
MOVE TOWARDS WHAT THE COST OF
CARE IS. SO I THINK MY QUESTION
THEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE IS WHEN SHOULD WE SEE A
PROPOSAL FOR THE GOVERNOR ON HOW
WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THOSE
COSTS THAT DELTA OR YOU'RE
LEAVING IT UP TO THE LEGISLATURE
FOR OUR GREAT IDEAS? TAMAR
WEBER, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
WELL, AS ALWAYS, THE BUDGET
AGREEMENT IS A SHARED PROJECT
THAT WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE
LEGISLATURE, THE FUNDING OF THE
ACTUAL, COST OF CARE ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY. THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT WILL BE DETERMINED, IN THE
NEXT, BUT OR IN THE NEXT FEW
BUDGET CYCLES AS IT ACTUALLY
GETS ROLLED OUT. SO WE CERTAINLY
CAN'T COMMIT TO ANY FUNDING
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THOSE WILL BE
PART OF FUTURE BUDGET
DEVELOPMENT TALKS. BUT AGAIN, I
DO WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT WE
ARE COMMITTED TO TRANSITIONING
TO THIS COST OF CARE ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY. WE'VE INVESTED A
LOT OF RESOURCES ALREADY TO GET
TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. AS
THE DIRECTOR OUTLINED EARLIER.
SO, THAT'S I THINK WHAT WE CAN
SAY RIGHT NOW, BUT THE GOVERNOR
DOESN'T HAVE A FEW BUDGET CYCLES
LEFT. SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THAT
, AT MATTER OF FACT, I THINK HE
ONLY HAS TWO BUDGET CYCLES LEFT.
SO WILL WE GET THE JOB DONE
WITHIN THE NEXT TWO BUDGET
CYCLES? IS ANYTHING MORE THAN
THAT? IS PASSING THE BUCK TO
SOMEONE ELSE? ANY THOUGHTS OF
WHAT YOU ARE THINKING IN TERMS
OF MAKING SURE WE GET THIS DONE
WITHIN THIS GOVERNOR'S
ADMINISTRATION, WELL, AS A
DIRECTOR MENTIONED, WE ARE
SUBMITTING THE PLAN, THIS COMING
JULY. AND SO THAT MEANS THAT
WE'LL BE WORKING TOWARDS,
FIGURING OUT IMPLEMENTATION AND
DETERMINING FUNDING LEVELS IN
THE, WHAT'S GOING TO BE NEXT
YEAR'S BUDGET YEAR. SO THAT'S
24, 25 OR 25, 26. WELL, I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THIS,
BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE, GOES ON
RECORD IN ENSURING THAT IT IS
OUR EXPECTATION THAT WE FIGURE
THIS OUT, WITHIN THIS GOVERNOR'S
ADMINISTRATION AND SO THAT WE
CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A
STABLE SYSTEM, AND WE CAN HAVE
PREDICTABILITY FOR THE LONG
TERME BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE
SERVICE DESERTS THAT WE HAVE TO
TAKE CARE OF. WE STILL HAVE A
WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS. WE
HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. SO IF WE
DON'T GET THE FUNDING STREAM
TAKEN CARE OF, WE CAN'T FULLY
PLAN FOR FUTURE OUT YEARS.
RIGHT. AND SO I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, CLEAR ON
THAT, COULD AN ANNUAL REVERSION
ACCOUNT SIMILAR TO PROPOSITION
98, ACCOUNTING FOR CHILD CARE
FUNDING, PROVIDE BETTER
TRANSPARENCY FOR FUNDING STATE
COMMITMENTS VERSUS ANNUAL
EXPENDITURES, BASICALLY SERVE AS
AN ECA RAINY DAY FUND. ANY
THOUGHTS ON THAT? TAMARA WEBER,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE FUN. WE'RE JUST,
YOU KNOW, SO, THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE A
PROPOSAL FOR AN ANNUAL REVERSION
ACCOUNT FOR CHILD CARE. AND WE
DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC FEEDBACK
ON THAT IDEA AT THE MOMENT. BUT
WE ARE HAPPY TO DISCUSS,
PROPOSAL WITH THE LEGISLATURE
AND LEGISLATIVE STAFF, SO REACH
OUT, FANTASTIC, YOU PROBABLY
SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
THAT PROPOSAL FROM. MY SELECT,
SELECT COMMITTEE IS ACTUALLY A
BUDGET COMMITTEE, BUDGET
COMMITTEE, TWO SUBCOMMITTEE TWO,
AND OBVIOUSLY THE IDEA IS, IS
THAT, AGAIN, I, I, I CANNOT
UNDERSCORE JUST HOW CRITICAL IT
IS TO HAVE A STRONG, ROBUST,
CHILD CARE SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA,
BECAUSE THIS THE SOLUTION TO SO
MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT
CALIFORNIA HAS TO FACE AND, AND
SOLVE. RIGHT I'M NOT DIRECTING
THIS TO YOU BY THE WAY, WE'RE
JUST, WE HAVE A CONNECTION NOW,
SO, YOU KNOW. THAT WE HAVE GOT
TO MAKE SURE THAT CERTAINLY A
RAINY DAY WOULD Ã FUND, IT'S
CERTAINLY, I THINK WHAT DO GOOD
FOR THE LONG TERME STABILITY,
ESPECIALLY AS WE SEE THE UPS AND
DOWNS OF CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY.
THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE
FIXING THAT. THAT'S JUST WHAT WE
HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR, AND SO,
LOOK FORWARD TO, US MAKING THAT
PROPOSAL, WE'RE DOING IT THIS
YEAR, NEXT YEAR, THIS YEAR, THIS
YEAR. SO, GREAT DEBATES TO COME,
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE FAMILY COPAY
WITH LOW RATES? ANYONE HAVE AN
ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION? I'M
GLAD TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE
COMMITTEE ON THAT. I DON'T HAVE
THAT AT THE AT MY FINGERTIPS,
BUT GLAD TO FOLLOW UP. OKAY THIS
HAS CERTAINLY BEEN, AND AS YOU
SEE, MEMBERS ARE GOING IN AND
OUT, THIS IS A CRAZY WEEK FOR
EVERYONE, BUT WE FELT LIKE WE
NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN
THOUGH WE'RE ALL GOING IN AND
OUT, DOES NOT REFLECT THE
SERIOUSNESS IN WHICH WE ARE
TAKING THIS ISSUE, IT'S JUST THE
COST OF BUSINESS, OF ALL THESE
BILLS FLOATING AROUND ALL OVER
HERE, AROUND THIS BUILDING, BUT
I WANT TO THANK THIS PANEL VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. I
WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS
. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, WE'LL
MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER FOUR.
CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND
WORKFORCE SUPPORT.
AND I BELIEVE FIRST OFF, WE'LL
HAVE LAO START US OFF. AND YOU
MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU ARE READY.
JACKIE BAROCIO, LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE, IN TERMS OF
ISSUE NUMBER FOUR, I JUST WANTED
TO FLAG THAT UP. JUST PROVIDE A
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS.
SPECIFICALLY, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT REQUIRES THAT STATES,
SPEND AT LEAST 12% OF FEDERAL
CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT FUND
DOLLARS ON QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
ACTIVITIES, AS THE CURRENT
BUDGET ASSUMES THAT THE STATE
WILL RECEIVE A TOTAL OF $1
BILLION. OF THESE, 1 BILLION OF
THE FEDERAL CHILD CARE
DEVELOPMENT FUND, DOLLARS OF
WHICH ABOUT 160 MILLION WOULD
NEED TO BE SPENT ON QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES. AND OUR
RECENT BUDGET ANALYSIS, WE ALSO
FLAGGED THAT THERE'S A POTENTIAL
FOR AN ADDITIONAL $10 MILLION,
OF ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDS THAT
WOULD NEED TO BE DIRECTED
TOWARDS, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
ACTIVITIES. AND THIS IS JUST THE
RESULT OF ACTUAL AWARD LETTERS
COMING IN HIGHER, BUT THEN ALSO
RECENT INCREASE TO TOTAL CCDF
FUNDING LEVELS, HISTORICALLY,
WHILE THE LEGISLATURE HAS
APPROVED, THE DOLLARS ASSOCIATED
WITH QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
ACTIVITIES, THE ADMINISTRATION
OAN WOULD DECIDE HOW TO SPEND
THESE DOLLARS OUTSIDE OF THE
BUDGET PROCESS WITHOUT
LEGISLATIVE INPUT. SO IN OUR
RECENT ANALYSIS, WE JUST SUGGEST
THAT THE LEGISLATURE REQUIRE THE
ADMINISTRATION TO SUBMIT A DRAFT
OF THEIR K¾T CHILD CARE
DEVELOPMENT FUND QUALITY PLAN
EVERY 3RD MAY REVISION AS A PART
OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, SO THAT
THE LEGISLATURE CAN PROVIDE
INPUT ON WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE
FUNDED, SIMILAR TO THE LEVEL OF
OVERSIGHT THAT WE HAVE ON OTHER
CHILD CARE ITEMS. THANK YOU. SO
GOOD. I WAS GOING TO SAY GOOD
MORNING, BUT I THINK WE'RE IN
THE AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON
DOCTOR LUPE MILAM. I'M THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CHILD
CARE AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION AT
CDSS, SO WE APPRECIATE THE
EMPHASIS ON THE AGENDA, ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY AND
WORKFORCE SUPPORT. AND AT CDSS,
WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BEGIN
BY RECOGNIZING THAT QUALITY
MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE
NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
AND COMMUNITIES, AND QUALITY
EXISTS ACROSS ALL SETTINGS, AS
EMPHASIZED IN YOUR AGENDA FOR
THE MASTER PLAN ALSO FOCUSES ON
THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY AND
SPECIFICALLY THE MASTER PLAN.
HIGHLIGHTS SUPPORTS FOR CHILDREN
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT BY
EMPHASIZING EDUCATORS
COMPETENCIES. INCENTIVIZE
FUNDING CAREER PATHWAYS, AND
IMPLEMENTING SUPPORTS PROGRAM
STANDARDS AS WELL AS ENHANCING
STANDARDS AND PROVIDING PATHWAYS
FOR THE WORKFORCE TO ADVANCE
COMPENSATION AND COMPETENCIES.
HI EQUITY. I'M SORRY, HIGH
QUALITY EARLY LEARNING AND CARE
PROGRAMS MEET CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES NEEDS FOR DIFFERENT
REASONS HEALTH AND SAFETY, FOR
EXAMPLE. SO INCLUDING LICENSURES
BEING THE FOUNDATIONAL BASE OF
HEALTH AND SAFETY AND QUALITY
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
THAT CAREGIVER AND THAT CHILD,
AS WELL AS THAT RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE FAMILIES CULTURALLY,
LINGUISTICALLY, AND APPROPRIATE
PRACTICES AS ALSO COMPETENCIES,
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
INCLUSIVE CITY, ESPECIALLY IN
THE LEAST RESTRICTED
ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES, IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING TOWARDS THE
PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENT GRANT TO
FOCUS ON WAYS TO ADDRESS HOW
QUALITY MUST TAKE EQUITY INTO
ACCOUNT WHEN LOOKING AND
DEFINING QUALITY AS BOTH A
PROCESS AS WELL AS AN OUTCOME,
TO EMBED EQUITY IN THERE AND
RECOMMENDATION, IN REGARDS TO
THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUITY FOR
OUTCOMES, IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING
QUALITY, WE ARE ALSO DOING
SIGNIFICANT WORK TO SUPPORT
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT USING A
SYSTEMIC APPROACH. CURRENTLY, AS
REFERENCED IN THE FEDERAL STATE
PLAN, THE WORKFORCE AND ALL CCDF
FUNDED PROGRAMS HAVE ACCESS TO
AN ARRAY OF PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DIFFERENT
MODALITIES ONLINE, ALSO IN
PERSON IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD
SYSTEM, THE PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE TO
CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT
WORKFORCE, REGARDLESS OF SETTING
TYPES AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS
THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
THAT IS EMBEDDED BOTH IN THE
QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT
SYSTEM. SHS AS WELL AS THE
WORKFORCE PATHWAYS PROGRAM.
SITES THAT DON'T REQUIRE
PROGRAMS TO BE RATED IN ORDER TO
PARTICIPATE AND ACCESS THOSE
SERVICES. WE ALSO OFFER AN ARRAY
OF DIFFERENT QUALITY INITIATIVES
THAT INCLUDES PUBLICATIONS,
ONLINE RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMS
TO SUPPORT QUALITY IN A SENSE OF
PARTICIPANT CAN UTILIZE THESE
SERVICES AT THEIR OWN PACE IF
THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE THEIR PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT TOO. AND THEN, OF
COURSE, COACHING IS CORE TO THIS
SERVICE, AND FOR THE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
TRAININGS, THERE ARE SEVERAL
EXAMPLES OF PROFESSIONAL
SUPPORTS THAT INCLUDES
MULTILINGUAL SUPPORTS, SUPPORTS
FOR INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS AS
NOTED IN OUR STATE PLAN. AND ONE
OF THOSE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THE
LEARNING LANGUAGE PROJECT, AND
IT FOCUSES ON MULTILINGUALISM
AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH
EVIDENCE BASED CURRICULUM, WHICH
INCLUDES ORAL LANGUAGE LEARNING
STRATEGIES, WE'RE ALSO
STRENGTHENING THE PIPELINE FOR
WORKFORCE INTO LICENSED CARE BY
INVESTING IN PROGRAMS SUCH AS
THE CALIFORNIA EARLY CHILDHOOD
MENTOR PROGRAM, THE CHILD CARE
INITIATIVE PROJECT, WHICH WE
REFERENCED AS CIP. AND THEN, OF
COURSE, THE CHILD CARE RESOURCE
AND REFERRAL PROGRAMS, AND ALSO
THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL PLANNING
COUNCIL THAT PROVIDES KEY DATA
FOR THIS WORK, TOO. AS AN
EXAMPLE OF THE INVESTMENTS WITH
SIP, SIP, SIP ALLOWS FOR
INVESTMENTS, FOR PAYMENTS IN
TERMS OF AND CAPACITY BUILDING
SUPPORTS, AS WELL AS GREATER
RETENTION FOR THE WORKFORCE AND
THEN RECENTLY, CDSS WORKED WITH
THE CALIFORNIA CHILD CARE
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL AGENCIES
TO DEVELOP A SELF ASSESSMENT
TOOL THAT AGENCIES CAN IMPLEMENT
TO LOOK AT THEIR SELVES AS
QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS ON
PROGRAMS, GUIDELINES AND
REQUIREMENTS. SEEKERS ARE
CURRENTLY PILOTING THAT TOOL,
AND THE DATA WILL ASSIST TO
CONTINUE TO REFINE THAT TOOL AS
WE ROLL IT OUT FOR
IMPLEMENTATION IN THE FUTURE. SO
APPRECIATE THE ROLE WITH
CO-CREATING IT TOGETHER WITH OUR
CRNS, WE'RE GATHERING FEEDBACK
ON QUALITY INITIATIVES ON
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS
THROUGH THE STATE PLAN PROCESS
AND WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE
FEEDBACK AS WELL AS MANY OTHER
SPACES. THE STATE PLAN PROCESS
DOES ALSO SUPPORT THE
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE
ADMINISTRATION AND THE
LEGISLATOR, AND WERE REQUESTED
BY THE STATE LAW TO SHARE THE
DRAFT OF THE STATE PLAN WITHIN
THE LEGISLATORS. BY APRIL 1ST OF
THE YEAR, WHICH WE HAVE AND THE
LEGISLATOR HAS 30 DAYS TO
PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THAT PLAN,
WHICH DRIVES THEN OUR
INVESTMENTS REGARDING QUALITY
IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS, WITH THAT, AGAIN, I
WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE ARE
PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE
SOME OF OUR QUALITY AND
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
EFFORTS, AND AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. YOU
KNOW, WHEN YOU USE THE ACRONYM
SIP, IT REMINDS ME OF THOSE
LITTLE SIPPY CUPS. YOU KNOW, YOU
KNOW, CHILD CARE SIPPY CUPS. YOU
KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, DO THEY DO
SIPPY CUPS AND CHILD CARE? THEY
STILL DO. OKAY. APPROPRIATE
PRACTICE. I MISSED THOSE. YES. I
WANT MY SIPPY CUP. YEAH. AND YOU
MIGHT FIND A PROVIDER THAT
PROUDLY SAYS I WAS A SIPPY, YOU
KNOW, MEANING THEY WENT THROUGH
THE CHILD CARE INITIATIVE
PROJECT TO BE ABLE TO, MEET,
RECEIVE THEIR LICENSE THROUGH
THAT PROCESS. FANTASTIC. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, CDE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, SARAH
NEVILLE MORGAN, DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, REPRESENTING STATE
SUPERINTENDENT TONY THURMOND. I
WANT TO START OFF BY EXPRESSING
OUR APPRECIATION FOR THIS
PANEL'S FOCUS ON QUALITY,
BECAUSE AS WE ESTABLISHED IN THE
EARLY STAGES OF THE UNIVERSAL
PRE-K, MIXED DELIVERY, QUALITY
AND ACCESS WORK, GROUP QUALITY,
ACCESS AND EQUITY ARE
INTERTWINED. CGRTS QUALITY WORK
IS GROUNDED IN THE RESEARCH THAT
HAS IDENTIFIED THE ELEMENTS OF
HIGH QUALITY PRE-K PROGRAMS THAT
MATTER MOST FOR CHILDREN, LIKE
EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS AND
CURRICULA THAT ADDRESS THE WHOLE
CHILD AND OUR DEVELOPMENTALLY
INFORMED. WITH A DEEP SCOPE AND
SEQUENCE RELATED TO LANGUAGE,
LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS. CHILD
ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE USED TO
INFORM INSTRUCTION PROGRAM
ASSESSMENTS THAT MEASURE
STRUCTURE AND PROCESS QUALITY,
SUCH AS RESPONSIVE INTERACTIONS,
ADDRESSING BELONGING AND
ANTI-BIAS, AND A WELL PREPARED,
SUPPORTED AND COMPENSATED
WORKFORCE GOING BACK TO THE
PANEL BEFORE THIS, AROUND RATES,
CGRTS APPROACH TO QUALITY IS
CHILD CENTERED AND DEEPLY
FOCUSED ON ADULT CHILD
INTERACTIONS, WITH A GROUNDING
IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION
AND BELONGING IN THE EFFORTS TO
SUPPORT QUALITY IN CALIFORNIA'S
EARLY LEARNING AND CARE SYSTEM
ARE ADMINISTERED THROUGH SEVERAL
CHANNELS, EACH WITH DIFFERENT
ADMINISTRATION, FUNDING LEVELS
AND APPROACHES. THE BIG ONE IS
QUALITY COUNTS CALIFORNIA, A
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF ED,
FIRST FIVE CALIFORNIA AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
OUR QUALITY COUNTS CALIFORNIA
FUNDING IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH
A NETWORK OF LOCALLY IMPLEMENTED
QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT
SYSTEMS, OR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
SYSTEMS, WHICH USE A QUALITY
MATRIX TO MEASURE QUALITY AT THE
SITE LEVEL, CREATE DATA INFORMED
IMPROVEMENT PLANS, AND PROVIDE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING
AND COACHING. ADDRESS AREAS THAT
ARE SHOWN TO NEED ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT. WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL
QUALITY SUPPORT AND IMPROVEMENT
GRANTS, MAINLY ADMINISTERED BY
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, THAT DOCTOR
LUPE JAIME JUST REFERRED TO, BUT
ALSO SOME AT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF ED. I'M GOING TO
DIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DEEPLY
INTO PARTS OF QUALITY COUNTS.
CALIFORNIA. THIS CALIFORNIA
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM CSAP
SHIH'S BLOCK GRANT, WHICH IS A
MAJOR COMPONENT OF THIS. WE
RECEIVE 50 MILLION IN ANNUAL
PROPOSITION 98 EDUCATION FUNDING
TO SUPPORT THIS WORK, AND IT
GOES TO LOCAL COUNTY OFFICE OF
EDUCATION GRANTEES, WHO THEN
SUPPORT THE DATA COLLECTION
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES
LIKE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
USE OF HIGH QUALITY
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS,
RESPONSIVE INTERACTIONS, AND
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES VIA THE
CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT, SCORING
SYSTEM OR CLASS, AND USE OF
ASSESSMENTS AND DEVELOPMENTAL
SCREENINGS SUCH AS AGES AND
STAGES QUESTIONNAIRE. IN 20
2223, 86% OF OUR STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM SITES PARTICIPATED IN
THE BLOCK GRANT, AND WE HOPE TO
CONTINUE TO SEE THIS NUMBER
INCREASE. OF THOSE SITES, 71%
WERE RATED AT THE TOP TWO
HIGHEST QUALITY TIERS, AND WE
KNOW FROM A 2021 LEARNING POLICY
INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF
BERKELEY AND WESTED STUDY THAT
CHILDREN IN PROGRAMS RATED
HIGHER ON CALIFORNIA'S QUALITY
MATRIX HAD GREATER DEVELOPMENTAL
GAINS AND THAT THE GAINS WERE
GREATEST FOR MULTILINGUAL
LEARNERS THAN FOR NON
MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AND
GREATER FOR CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES THAN TYPICALLY
DEVELOPING CHILDREN, AND THAT
CHILDREN OF ALL RACIAL ETHNIC
GROUPS EXPERIENCED GREATER
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT IN
PROGRAMS THAT WERE RATED HIGHER
ON THE QUALITY MATRIX. INFORMED
BY THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
UPK MIXED DELIVERY QUALITY AND
ACCESS WORKGROUP PROCESS REPORT
THAT CDE IS TAKING SOME STEPS TO
MOVE OUR CSAP BLOCK GRANT INTO A
QUALITY RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT
SYSTEM FOR STATE PRESCHOOL THAT
WILL ALIGN US MORE WITH THE K TO
12 MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF
SUPPORT AND PAIR OUR CDE
MONITORING SYSTEM WITH THE
QUALITY COMPONENTS AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL TO REALLY HELP OUR STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS BE SUCCESSFUL
IN IMPLEMENTING THEIR PROGRAM
STANDARDS AT A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
LEVEL. THIS INCLUDES THEIR
REQUIREMENT TO SERVE CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES TO SUPPORT
MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS TO CREATE
BELONGING WHILE ADDRESSING A
REDUCTION IN BIAS SUSPENSION AND
EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES. THEIR
USE OF THE PRESCHOOL
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
LEARNING FOUNDATIONS AND THE
DESIRED RESULTS. DEVELOPMENTAL
PROFILE AND IMPLEMENTING ALIGNED
CURRICULUM ALONG WITH
IMPLEMENTING THE CLASS AND
RESPONSIVE INTERACTIONS IN THIS
REDESIGNED SYSTEM WILL CREATE BE
ABLE TO CREATE INTENTIONAL
CONNECTIONS TO TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN. HEAD START ARE
BEFORE AND AFTER EXPANDED
LEARNING SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND THE
MIXED DELIVERY PARTNERS. AS WE
MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME MORE
INPUT SESSIONS WITH OUR GRANTEES
. UNFORTUNATELY, THE 50 MILLION
ANNUAL CSAP SHS BLOCK GRANT
FUNDING WAS CALCULATED BASED ON
20 1415 ENROLLMENT AND HAS NOT
INCREASED SINCE THEN, NOR IS IT
ACCOUNTED FOR INFLATION, WHICH,
AS WE KNOW, HAS BEEN PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT IN THE PAST TEN
YEARS. IT ALSO DOES NOT SUPPORT
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN, WHICH
CREATES A GAP IN A COHERENCE
ACROSS A UNIVERSAL PRE-K SYSTEM,
AS CDE SUPPORTS A SYSTEM OF HIGH
QUALITY PRE-K LEARNING
EXPERIENCES FOR ALL CHILDREN. WE
ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON HOW TO
BEST SUPPORT AND EDUCATE OUR
FIRST SYSTEM OF IMPROVING ADULT
CHILD INTERACTIONS AND ENHANCING
EQUITY THROUGH THROUGH INCREASED
SCHOOL READINESS FOR ALL
CHILDREN. TO SUPPORT THIS, THE
K¾T IS IMPLEMENTING THE CLASS OR
THE CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT SUPPORT
SYSTEM AND CLASS ENVIRONMENT IN
OUR STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS TO
SUPPORT THIS IMPLEMENTATION.
THÀNH. WE'VE INVESTED IN A
REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE SUPPORT
SYSTEM THROUGH A NEW COMPONENT
CALLED ASPIRE, OR ACHIEVING
SUCCESS IN POSITIVE INTERACTIONS
, RELATIONSHIPS, AND
ENVIRONMENTS. BEFORE I CONCLUDE,
I WANT TO JUST TOUCH ON, WE HAVE
A FEW MORE GRANTS THAT REALLY
COME INTO PLAY, AND WHAT WE HAVE
DONE IS CREATE A THREAD
THROUGHOUT ALL OF THEM TO MAKE
SURE THAT CLASS IS INCLUDED IN
ALL OF THEM. AS WELL AS A DEEP
FOCUS ON CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES, MULTILINGUAL AND
MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS. SO WE
HAVE OUR UPK PLANNING AND
IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS AND EARLY
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT GRANT. OUR
INCLUSIVE EARLY EDUCATION
EXPANSION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS
WORK ON OUR PRESCHOOL,
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN,
LEARNING FOUNDATIONS AND THE
CHILD ASSESSMENT OBSERVATION
TOOL. THE DRP AND THAT CONCLUDES
MY REMARKS. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANNA
POWELL. I'M A SENIOR RESEARCH
AND POLICY ASSOCIATE FROM THE
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF CHILD
CARE EMPLOYMENT AT UC BERKELEY.
OUR RESEARCH FOCUSES ON
CALIFORNIA'S TEACHERS OF
CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE
FIVE. SO SOME BACKGROUND YOU'VE
ALREADY HEARD. I'LL REITERATE
BRIEFLY ON THE WORKFORCE. IT IS
PREDOMINANTLY WOMEN OF COLOR.
71% OF OUR FAMILY CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS AND 64% OF CENTER
TEACHERS AND ASSISTANTS.
ADDITIONALLY, AROUND ONE THIRD
SPEAK SPANISH, AND OUR WORKFORCE
CLOSELY REPRESENTS THE CHILDREN
THAT ARE IN THEIR CARE. UNLIKE
THE EDUCATION OF SCHOOL AGED
CHILDREN, CALIFORNIA DOES NOT
HAVE A COHESIVE SYSTEM OF CHILD
CARE INVESTMENTS. AS A
CONSEQUENCE, MUCH OF IT IS
PRIVATELY FUNDED THROUGH TUITION
PAID BY PARENTS, AND THIS SETS
UP A BROKEN MARKET, WHICH
NEGATIVELY IMPACTS PARENTS,
CHILDREN AND THE WORKFORCE.
BASED ON THE CURRENT PRICE OF
CHILDCARE AND MEDIAN INCOME, A
SINGLE PARENT WOULD SPEND 48% OF
HER INCOME TO ENROLL AN INFANT
IN A CHILD CARE CENTER.
MEANWHILE, THE PRICES PARENTS
PAY TRANSLATE TO MEAGER WAGES
FOR THE CHILD CARE WORKFORCE AS
THE DOLLARS ARE SPREAD THINLY
ACROSS NUMEROUS STAFF POSITIONS,
THE RESULTING MARKET FAILURE
CANNOT AND WILL NOT RESULT IN
AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE CHILD
CARE FOR ALL WITHOUT GOVERNMENT
INTERVENTION. BUT SO HOW DOES
CALIFORNIA SUPPORT THIS
WORKFORCE? AS YOU'VE HEARD,
CALIFORNIA DOES INVEST IN ITS
CHILD CARE PROGRAMS AND THUS IN
THE PROVIDERS WHO WORK THERE.
HOWEVER, THE RATES WHICH
CALIFORNIA CURRENTLY PAYS ARE
PEGGED TO THE MARKET RATE AND
THEREFORE EXACERBATE AND
REINFORCE LOW WAGES AND
TURNOVER, ADDITIONALLY, THE
RECENT DOLLARS THAT ARE FLOWING
TO UPK UNIVERSAL
PRE-KINDERGARTEN THÀNH ARE
PRIMARILY BRINGING NEW DOLLARS
INTO SCHOOLS, THIS IS THE FIRST
TRULY UNIVERSAL OFFERING IN Â
S¼. HOWEVER, IT DOESN'T YIELD A
COHESIVE SYSTEM SUPPORTING ALL
SETTINGS OF ECCE. MOREOVER, THE
RAPID SHIP OF FOUR YEAR OLDS IS
DESTABILIZING TRADITIONAL
SETTINGS. ACCORDING TO OUR
RESEARCH, THE AVERAGE CHILD CARE
CENTER ENROLLED 80 CHILDREN
PRE-PANDEMIC, THIS NUMBER FELL
TO 48 CHILDREN AT THE HEIGHT OF
SHELTER IN PLACE IN 2020 AND
ONLY PARTIALLY RECOVERED TO 55
ENROLLMENTS AS OF 2023. SO
PROGRAMS THAT WERE HOLLOWED OUT
BY THE PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN UNABLE
TO RECOVER THEIR ENROLLMENT OR
STAFFING LEVELS AT THE SAME TIME
AS FOUR YEAR OLDS SHIFT INTO TK,
THEIR EXPERIENCED PRESCHOOL
TEACHERS DO NOT HAVE A DIRECT
WAY OF FOLLOWING THEM WITHOUT
GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND ADDING
TO THEIR STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
INSTEAD, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE
RETRAINING TEACHERS OF OLDER
CHILDREN, SO WHAT IS NEEDED IS A
PATHWAY FOR EXPERIENCED MEMBERS
OF THE EXISTING WORKFORCE TO
GAIN ACCESS TO EITHER THE NEW P3
SPECIALIST CREDENTIAL OR ANOTHER
PATHWAY TO BECOME LEAD TEACHERS
IN TK. FUNDAMENTALLY, I'M GOING
TO JUMP AHEAD BECAUSE I DON'T
WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME. SO
OUR RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS LOW
WAGES HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT ON
THE WORKFORCE. THE MEDIAN WAGE
OF A FULL TIME CHILD CARE CENTER
TEACHER IS ABOUT 39,500, AND
ECONOMIC INSECURITY IS COMMON,
WITH THE MOST SEVERE EFFECTS FOR
BLACK, LATINO AND IMMIGRANT
EDUCATORS, ABOUT HALF OF CENTER
BASED TEACHERS ALSO HOLD A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, BUT
HAVING THAT DEGREE ONLY NETS
THEM A FEW DOLLARS MORE PER
HOUR. RELATIVE TO AN EDUCATOR
WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. SO
THERE IS NOT THE RETURN ON THEIR
EDUCATION THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT
FROM ANOTHER FIELD. AS A
CONSEQUENCE, FOOD SECURITY
INSECURITY IS RELATIVELY HIGH.
ABOUT A THIRD OF THE CHILD CARE
WORKFORCE EXPERIENCES IT. AND
ALONG THOSE LINES OF DISPARITIES
, THAT'S 39% OF CENTER TEACHERS
WHO ARE WOMEN OF COLOR AND 42%
WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS. ECONOMIC
WELL-BEING IS ALSO TIED TO
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
OF THE WORKFORCE. THIS IS BOTH
REWARDING AND DEMANDING WORK,
AND THE POOR WAGES UNDERMINE THE
WORKFORCES ABILITY TO RESPOND TO
JOB STRESS OR INJURY. SO WHAT
WOULD A STRONG SET OF POLICY
SUPPORTS LOOK LIKE? WE AT THE
CENTER HAVE A FIVE PILLAR SET OF
STRATEGIES THAT WE WOULD PUT
FORWARD. YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD
ABOUT COMPENSATION AND PUBLIC
FUNDING, SO I WON'T SPEND TOO
MUCH TIME ON THAT. JUST TO
REITERATE THAT PUBLIC
INVESTMENTS WILL BE NECESSARY
BOTH IN THE RATE REFORM
CONVERSATION AND BEYOND. BUT
ADDITIONALLY, WE WOULD ALSO TALK
ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS,
WHICH INCLUDES BOTH INSTITUTES
OF HIGHER ED, AS WELL AS LOCAL
AGENCIES THAT ARE PROVIDING
ONGOING TRAINING AND SUPPORT,
ROBUST INVESTMENTS IN THIS
POLICY AREA WOULD INCLUDE
SUPPORTING LOCAL BRIGHT SPOTS
AND PILOTS, WHICH ARE ABUNDANT
AROUND THE STATE. A LOT OF
INNOVATION TAKING PLACE WHICH
COULD INFORM BROADER STATEWIDE
SUPPORT. FOR EXAMPLE, FOR
APPRENTICESHIPS HELPING FOLKS TO
JOIN THE WORKFORCE. ADDITIONALLY
A PROFESSIONAL PATHWAY MUST
INCLUDE A READY ACCESS TO THE PK
THREE SPECIALIST CREDENTIAL OR
EQUIVALENT FOR EXPERIENCED
PRESCHOOL TEACHERS WITHOUT
HAVING TO GO BACK IN SCHOOL AND
INCUR FURTHER STUDENT DEBT.
ADDITIONALLY, PROFESSIONAL
SUPPORTS ARE RELATED TO THE WORK
ENVIRONMENTS. CALIFORNIA, AS
YOU'VE HEARD, INVESTS IN QUALITY
COUNTS, WHICH IS A FRAMEWORK FOR
PROGRAM QUALITY, BUT IT DOES NOT
NECESSARILY TOUCH ON STAFF
WELL-BEING AND WORKING
CONDITIONS. SO CALIFORNIA MUST
ONCE AGAIN LISTEN TO ITS
CHAMPIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED TO ADDRESS
THESE ADDITIONAL DIMENSIONS OF
QUALITY. FINALLY DATA IS OUR
FIFTH DIMENSION. YOU'VE HEARD
ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
DATA THAT ARE GATHERED, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY WE DO NOT IN OUR
STATE HAVE A COHESIVE WAY OF
GATHERING WORKFORCE DATA ACROSS
ALL THESE SETTINGS. THIS IN
FACT, PUTS US BEHIND MANY OTHER
STATES, WHICH, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE
IMPLEMENTED FULLY THE WORKFORCE
REGISTRY, WHERE ALL MEMBERS OF
PRESCHOOL TEACHERS, CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS ARE INCLUDED IN THAT
DATABASE. THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR
EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE. SO
ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD MENTION
THAT CALIFORNIA HAS NOT BEEN
ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR
MONITORING THE ROLLOUT OF UPK.
THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING AND
CHANGING VERY QUICKLY, AND WE
COULD CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM
MORE SUPPORT. APART FROM THE
OCCASIONAL PHILANTHROPIC
DONATION TO HELP US GET A
GLIMPSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, IN
CONCLUSION, SUPPORTING THE
WORKFORCE REQUIRES ADDRESSING
PUBLIC FUNDING AND COMPENSATION,
BUT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL ACTIONS
THAT CALIFORNIA SHOULD TAKE
EMPOWERING COUNTIES WITH FUNDING
FOR PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS AND
SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENTS,
AND FUNDING INVESTMENTS IN THE
WORKFORCE REGISTRY AND UPK
IMPLEMENTATION. THANK YOU. HI.
I'M GOING TO BORROW YOU. YES,
PLEASE. MICROPHONE HERE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRISTINA
ALVARADO. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT THE CHILDCARE
ALLIANCE OF LOS ANGELES, TODAY
I'LL BE SPEAKING ON THE
WORKFORCE REGISTRY AS WELL AS
SIP THE SIPPERS, THE REGISTRY IS
RUN BY THE ALLIANCE AND SIP IS
MONITORED THROUGH THE,
CALIFORNIA RESOURCE AND REFERRAL
NETWORK AND IS AVAILABLE IN
EVERY COUNTY THROUGH ALL OF THE
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL AGENCIES.
SO TO BEGIN WITH, THE REGISTRY,
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS CREATE A
PROFILE THAT GENERATES AN
E-PORTFOLIO. THESE CONTRACT AND
ACCESS TRAININGS, UPLOAD
DOCUMENTS SUCH AS TRANSCRIPTS.
AND THEN ON THE BACK END, WE
VERIFY THOSE TRANS TRANSCRIPTS
WITH THE CORRESPONDING COLLEGE
THAT THEY SUBMIT. AND THIS IS
STORED FOR THEM FOR FUTURE USE.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO KEEP GOING
BACK AND GETTING THOSE. AT
PRESENT WE HAVE OVER 163,000
INDIVIDUALS ACROSS CALIFORNIA
WITH A REGISTRY PROFILE. THEY
ALSO HAVE ONLINE ACCESS TO
MOBILE FRIENDLY TRAINING
CALENDARS, WHERE THEY CAN SIGN
UP FOR WORKSHOPS IN EVERY
COMMUNITY, IN EVERY COUNTY
ACROSS THE STATE IN A NUMBER OF
LANGUAGES, RIGHT NOW, IF YOU
LOOK AT OUR SYSTEM, WE HAVE
2500, WORKSHOPS POSTED THERE
TODAY, ALSO, THE PROVIDERS CAN
ACCESS A RESUME BUILDER AND JOB
BOARD. SO THIS ALL OF THIS
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO THEM
AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON. IN
ADDITION, THOUGH, THEIR
ADMINISTRATOR OR SUPERVISORS OR,
YOU KNOW, CHILD CARE BUSINESS
OWNERS HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR
INFORMATION SO THEY HAVE ACCESS
TO THEIR OWN AS WELL AS THEIR
STAFF WHEN LICENSED, WHEN IT'S
TIME TO DO LICENSING, THEY CAN
GET ALL THAT INFORMATION FROM
THE REGISTRY WITHOUT HAVING TO
SUBMIT PAPER OVER AND OVER AGAIN
TO THE, TO THE STATE AND ALL OF
IT IS IN REAL TIME IN TERMS OF
THE COUNTIES THEMSELVES, WE
HAVE, DATA SHARING AGREEMENTS
WITH 50, 55 COUNTIES, THIS HELPS
THEM COLLECT DATA THAT THEY NEED
TO SUBMIT TO THE STATE FOR THEIR
REPORTS. IT ALSO ALLOWS
PARTICIPANTS, AGENTS FROM MANY
OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN
MENTIONED BEFORE OR THAT USE
WORKFORCE SUPPORT, SUCH AS
QUALITY COUNTS, CALIFORNIA
WORKFORCE PATHWAYS, FIRST FIVE,
CALIFORNIA IMPACT, AND A LOT OF
OTHERS FOR THEM TO SIGN UP AND
TRACK THEIR, PROGRESS THROUGH
THE REGISTRY, LAST SEPTEMBER, WE
LAUNCHED A STIPEND MODULE, WHICH
WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED IN SAN
FRANCISCO IN 2013. COUNTIES USE
THIS MODULE. SO THAT INDIVIDUALS
CAN ENROLL DIRECTLY INTO THEIR
PROGRAMS, AND THEY CAN USE THAT
AGAIN TO MEET THEIR REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS TO THE STATE,
FINALLY, STATE AGENCIES RELY ON
THE DATA FROM THE REGISTRY TO
HELP THEM COMPLETE FEDERAL
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, EXCUSE
ME. SO THAT SAVES THE STATE TIME
EFFORT. AND, IT SAVES EVERYBODY
A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA, WORK, I
GUESS, TODAY THE REGISTRY IS
FUNDED THROUGH FIRST FIVE
CALIFORNIA UNTIL 2025. THEN WE
FACE A CLIFF EFFECT. AS NOTED IN
TODAY'S AGENDA, WE ARE EAGER TO
LOOK FOR LONG TERME SOLUTIONS
AND PARTNER WITH ALL OF YOU TO
MAINTAIN THIS IMPORTANT TOOL
AVAILABLE TO THE WORKFORCE, THE
COUNTIES AND THE STATE AGENCIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO REFER,
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE ASSEMBLY
BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION FROM
APRIL 2019, IN WHICH THEY
RECOMMENDED TO EXTEND THE
CALIFORNIA EARLY CARE AND
EDUCATION WORKFORCE REGISTRY TO
ALL COUNTIES AND SUPPORT THE
WORKFORCE. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED
TO INVEST IN AND MAINTAIN
COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE DATA
SYSTEM AND THE CALIFORNIA EARLY
CARE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE
REGISTRY TO IDENTIFY THE
CHARACTERISTICS AND NEEDS OF THE
WORKFORCE AND TO ASSESS THE
REACH OF POLICY INITIATIVES AND
INVESTMENTS SO A QUICK WORD ON
CIP, WHICH IS I KNOW, I KNOW,
YOU LIKE THAT WORD. AND WE DO
TOO. SO WE CALL THEM SIPPERS.
AND CIP IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS
BEEN FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE. I
WOULD SAY FOR AT LEAST 30 YEARS,
IF NOT MORE, IT IS TO HELP NEW
BUSINESS OWNERS START A FAMILY
CHILD CARE HOME. THERE'S AN
EMPHASIS ON INFANT AND TODDLER
CARE, SIPPERS ORTEZ. AID,
TRAININGS AND THEY ALSO LEARN
ABOUT HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS.
THEIR COUNSELED ON HOW TO GET
READY FOR THE VISIT FROM TITLE
22 OR TITLE. YOU KNOW WHAT? FOR
THE FOR THEIR, LICENSE AND, WE
DO TRACK THE SIP SIPPERS IN, IN
THE REGISTRY AS WELL. SO OVER
THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, WE'VE HAD
OVER 16,000 SIPPERS WHO HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN OVER 100,000
WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MAEVA
MARK AND I AM THE VP OF ADVOCACY
AND POLICY WITH CHARANGO. AND WE
ARE A CHILD CARE PROVIDER IN THE
BAY AREA, SERVING OVER 5000
FAMILIES. I WANT TO TAKE THIS
TIME TO HONOR DELAINE EASTIN
BECAUSE SHE WAS A FIERCE
ADVOCATE AND HELPED US OPEN OUR
DELANEY CENTER IN FREMONT,
CALIFORNIA. WE ARE. I AM ALSO A
FORMER PRESCHOOL TEACHER AND
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, AND A
PROUD CO-FOUNDER OF BLACK
CALIFORNIANS UNITED FOR EARLY
CARE AND EDUCATION AND A MEMBER
OF THE BUDGET COALITION. I'M
HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY IN OUR
EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM,
WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE FIRST
FIVE YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE ARE
THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR THEIR
BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S WHY
WHEN WE CONSIDER INVESTMENTS AND
POLICY SOLUTIONS, THEY MUST BE
ROOTED IN WHOLE CHILD, WHOLE
FAMILY, AND WHOLE COMMUNITY
APPROACHES. TO QUOTE AN AFRICAN
PROVERB, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO
RAISE A CHILD HERE IN CALIFORNIA
, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BUILD AN EQUITABLE MIXED
DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT CENTERS THE
CHILD AND WORKS FOR FAMILIES AND
THE WORKFORCE. NO ONE COMES INTO
THIS FIELD TO GET RICH. NO
PARENT SEEKS OUT CHILD CARE
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO. FAMILIES
SEEK OUT CHILD CARE BECAUSE THEY
HAVE A NEED, A NEED FOR GAINFUL
EMPLOYMENT AND ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE, CONVENIENTLY LOCATED
QUALITY CARE FOR THEIR CHILD. A
NEED FOR THEIR CHILD TO BE READY
TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN
LIFE. SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK
LIKE? FIRST, LET'S FOCUS ON THE
CHILD. EACH AND EVERY CHILD
NEEDS CULTURALLY RICH
DEVELOPMENT, LOCALLY AND
LINGUISTICALLY RELEVANT,
RESPONSIVE AND AFFIRMING CARE
AND EDUCATION IN A SAFE AND
NURTURING, TRAUMA INFORMED,
INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
THAT IS COMMITTED TO THEM,
MEETING THEIR MILESTONES AND
BUILDING THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS.
SECOND, RISK AFFECTING PARENTS
CHOICE. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
PARENTS ARE CHILDREN'S FIRST
TEACHERS AND THEY KNOW THEIR
CHILD'S NEEDS BEST. THEREFORE,
FAMILIES MUST HAVE AND KNOW
ABOUT THE VARIETY K¾T OF OPTIONS
AND SETTINGS THAT MEET THEIR
NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, WHETHER
IT BE FRIEND, FAMILY, NEIGHBOR,
CARE, A FAMILY, CHILD CARE HOME,
A CENTER BASED OR A SCHOOL BASED
, OR A COMBINATION OF ANY OF
THOSE. THIRD, THE WORKFORCE.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE
WORKFORCE WHERE THE MAJORITY OF
PRACTITIONERS ARE WOMEN OF COLOR
WITH LIFE EXPERIENCE AND
EXPERIENCE FROM THEIR HOME
COUNTRY AND EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE. IT IS ALSO A
WORKFORCE THAT IS HIGHLY
UNDERPAID. THEREFORE, AS OUR
SYSTEM CHANGES AND NEW EVIDENCE
BASED ANTI-RACIST RESEARCH
ARISE, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE FIELD HAS ACCESS
TO FREE AND AFFORDABLE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO
ENHANCE THEIR PROGRAMS AND
CURRICULA, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING NETWORKS,
MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS, COACHING,
PEER TO PEER TRAINING, AND
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT THAT IS
ACCESSIBLE TO PRACTITIONERS.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES NEED TO
BE TAILORED CONTEXTUALLY FOR ALL
LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE, WHETHER IT
BE A FIRST TIME CAREGIVER
ENTERING THE FIELD TO A MASTER
TEACHER WHO WANTS TO ADD TO
THEIR TOOL BELT. NOW LET'S TALK
ABOUT MONEY IN INVESTING IN
EVERY PROGRAM TYPE THAT SERVES
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES,
REGARDLESS OF STANDARDS, CAN
LEAD TO QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.
CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL
PROGRAMS ARE THE MODERN DAY
VILLAGE. THEY PROVIDE INFORMAL
HOME VISITING, EARLY
INTERVENTION AND INCLUSION
SERVICES, NUTRITION, VISION AND
DENTAL SCREENINGS, EARLY
CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH
CONSULTATION, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT,
PARENT LEADERSHIP SKILLS,
ADVOCACY TRAININGS, AND SO MUCH
MORE. IF PROPERLY INVESTED, OUR
EASY SYSTEM CAN BECOME
LIBERATING FOR CHILDREN,
FAMILIES AND THE WORKFORCE. WE
CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT
SUSTAINING OUR CURRENT RATES AND
ADOPTING AN ALTERNATIVE RATE
METHODOLOGY BASED ON THE ACTUAL
COST OF CARE. AS MENTIONED IN
THE PREVIOUS PANEL BY DONNA
SNEERINGER. SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANK
YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU ALL
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
I'M YOU ALL ARE CONVERTING ME
INTO A SIPPER, I'LL TELL YOU
THAT. COME ON DOWN. A FEW
QUESTIONS. I HAVE, FIRST IS,
PARTICULARLY I'M LÀ. YOU
MENTIONED ABOUT THE CDBG QUALITY
PLAN BEING OUTSIDE OF THE,
BUDGET PROCESS, ALTHOUGH THERE'S
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS TO WITHIN
THAT PLAN. CORRECT AS A PART OF
THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET BACKUP DOES
INCLUDE A LINE ITEM FOR QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT
REFLECTS THE MINIMUM AMOUNT
REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. WHAT IT DOESN'T
INCLUDE IS A PROGRAM BY PROGRAM
BREAKOUT OF HOW THOSE DOLLARS
WILL BE USED AND ALLOCATED FOR
EACH ACTIVITY, TRADITIONALLY
THAT HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED AFTER
THE FACT, LEGISLATURE APPROVES
THE TOTAL AMOUNT, BUT THEN THE
ALLOCATION ON A PROGRAM BY
PROGRAM BASIS, IS DONE
ADMINISTRATIVELY. AND WE'RE JUST
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS, AS A PART
OF THE MAY REVISION INCLUDE A
PROGRAM BY PROGRAM BREAKOUT. SO
THEN THE LEGISLATURE HAS
INSIGHT, BUT THEN ALSO
OPPORTUNITIES, TO PROVIDE INPUT
ON THOSE SPECIFIC PROGRAM BY
PROGRAM. WHICH DEPARTMENT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PLAN NOW
THAT IT'S MOVED OVER ITS
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES GOT IT, DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES IS, OBVIOUSLY
THIS LÀ RECOMMENDATIONS,
WHENEVER THEY RECOMMEND THAT THE
LEGISLATURE BE INVOLVED IN THE
PROCESS. OF COURSE, WE ALWAYS
LOVE THAT, IS THAT SOMETHING
YOU'RE AMENABLE TO IN TERMS OF
DISCUSSING AS WE APPROACH THIS
MAY REVISIT MAY REVISE? YES. SO,
DOCTOR LOOP HYMENOPHYLLUM, AND
YES, WE'RE OPEN TO CONVERSATION.
OKAY. LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AS OBVIOUSLY THIS
IS A YEAR OF SOME HARD DECISIONS
AS, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
TIME WHERE OUR, OUR BUDGET IS IN
A BETTER PLACE. AND ONCE THAT
HAPPENS, AROUND THIS TIME, AT
THAT POINT, HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR,
HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR, MAYBE NOT,
I WILL BE GIVEN A NUMBER, A
DOLLAR AMOUNT TO SAY THIS IS
SOME NEW SPENDING OPPORTUNITIES.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO PRIORITIZE
THIS FUNDING? WHERE SHOULD I
PRIORITIZE THAT FUNDING? SO THE
PROCESS THAT WE HAVE IN REGARDS
TO THE PRIORITY OF THE FUNDING
IS THROUGH THE STATE PLAN, CDF
HAS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS IN
REGARDS TO LINKING THROUGH
QUALITY. IT CALLS OUT SPECIFIC
FACTORS THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE MULTI YEAR CONTRACTS TO
REFLECT AND ARE MEETING THE
NEEDS. THE OTHER PIECE WITH THE
STATE PLAN IS THAT WE HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM THE WORKFORCE.
YES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE THAT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY
PRODUCING IN REGARDS TO OUR
PRIORITIES, BOTH THE LEGISLATOR
AND THE ADMINISTRATION ARE
JOINTLY ADDRESSING THAT NEED OF
OUR WORKFORCE ITSELF. AND THAT
PLAN IS A MULTI-YEAR PLAN.
HOWEVER, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE
ARE ALWAYS COLLECTING FEEDBACK
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE INFORMATION AND WHAT WE
ARE ABLE TO ROLL OUT IS MEETING
THE NEEDS OF OUR WORKFORCE. I
WANT TO HEAR FROM OTHER
PANELISTS TOO. WHERE SHOULD I
PRIORITIZE THIS FUNDING? OR I
CAN USE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE. I
MEAN, I WOULD SAY. IF I CAN JUMP
IN, BECAUSE THE WORKFORCE IS SO
STRAINED AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE
HEARD EARLIER, THEY CAN BARELY
MAKE ENDS MEET. ANYTHING THAT WE
CAN SUPPORT THE PROVIDERS IN
TERMS OF THEIR DAILY, WORKLOAD,
THEIR WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, I
KNOW THAT DURING COVID, THEY
WERE THERE 100% FOR THE
WORKFORCE. THEY TOOK CARE OF THE
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THEY WERE ON
THE LINE. MANY OF THEM LOST
THEIR LIVES THROUGH THE PROCESS.
SO I THINK GIVEN THE FACT THAT
THEY'RE GETTING VERY LOW PAY, WE
COULD AT LEAST MAYBE MAKE SURE
THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS
NECESSARY TO WORK IN THEIR IN
THEIR FAMILY, CHILD CARE HOMES,
IN THEIR CENTERS ON A DAY TO DAY
BASIS. THAT DOESN'T ANSWER, YOU
KNOW, WHICH ONE ARE WE GOING TO
LOOK AT FIRST? BECAUSE THAT'S I
THINK THAT'S A BIGGER, PERHAPS A
BIGGER CONVERSATION. BUT
ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP ALLEVIATE
ALL OF THE STRESS THAT THEY'RE
UNDER, WOULD BE I REALLY, I
THINK REALLY WELCOME. I WOULD
ALSO SAY, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THE
CHILD FIRST IF WE WANT CHILDREN
TO BE. WELL, WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE ADULTS THAT ARE
TAKING CARE OF THEM ARE WELL.
AND SO WHEN WE HAVE A WORKFORCE
WHO IS OPEN ALL DAY FROM MORNING
TO NIGHT, TAKING CARE OF OTHER
PEOPLE'S KIDS AND ON THEIR FEET
ALL DAY, AND THEY HAVE TO GO
HOME AND STILL SCRAMBLE. IT'S
THAT WILL SHOW UP WHEN THEY'RE
WITH THE CHILDREN, AND SO I
BELIEVE IT IS VERY NECESSARY TO
ENSURE THAT WHEN WE INVEST,
WE'RE INVESTING IN THE WORKFORCE
. IT'S NOT JUST IN THEIR
TRAINING, BUT ALSO IN THEM AND
PAYING THEM WHAT THEY'RE WORTH.
AT CARLGUARDINO, WE'VE BEEN ABLE
TO, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE
ALL OF OUR CLASSROOM STAFF A
LIVABLE WAGE, BUT IT'S STILL NOT
ENOUGH, ESPECIALLY IN THE BAY
AREA. WE NEED A PROFESSIONAL
WAGE FOR THIS WORKFORCE. S AND
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT LIVABLE
WAGE, WHAT IS THAT? AND SO BASED
ON THE PAST INVESTMENTS THAT
WE'VE HAD WITHIN THE LAST TEN
YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, BRAID
OUR CONTRACTS AND LOOKING AT
THE, LIVABLE WAGE METRIC FROM
MIT, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON AT OUR
EVERY STAFF MEMBER IS MAKING, AT
LEAST. $26 AN HOUR, OUR MOST SO
OUR, OUR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS,
OUR TEACHER AIDES, THOSE ARE THE
MOST ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS THAT
WE HAVE. THEY START AT $26 PER
HOUR. OKAY ANNA POWELL, CENTER
FOR THE STUDY OF CHILD CARE
EMPLOYMENT. AND ADD TO MARY'S
COMMENT, THE LIVING WAGE FOR A
WORKER WITH A CHILD IS MORE LIKE
$42 AN HOUR IN CALIFORNIA. SO SO
THAT WOULD BE PERHAPS A MORE OF
A LONG TERME GOAL FOR US TO MOVE
TO. BUT JUST POINTING OUT THAT
THE INCREDIBLE SUCCESS THAT CAN
CONTANGO HAS HAD WOULD STILL, AS
SHE MENTIONED, BE CHALLENGING
FOR EDUCATORS WHO ARE ALSO
PARENTS TO AFFORD LIVING. I
WOULD URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO
FOCUS ON FUNDING THE FLOOR.
WE'RE NOT AT THE FLOOR OF THE
FUNDING NEEDED TO SUPPORT A
COHESIVE AND SUPPORTED SYSTEM OR
ITS WORKFORCE, AND STAYING
HAVING THAT AS THE NORTH STAR, I
THINK WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT
PRIORITY FOR THE COMING YEARS.
REMAINING IN GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S
TENURE, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
MANY OF THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS
YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAND UP IS
DUE TO THE FEDERAL FUNDS, ARPA
FUNDS AND OTHER THINGS. AND OF
COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ENDING. YEAH
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST
EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS YOU'VE BEEN
ABLE TO SEE THAT YOU HOPE, WOULD
BE ABLE TO CONTINUE, EVEN AFTER
THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS EXPIRE? ARE
THERE ANY SHINING STARS IN THIS?
YOU KNOW, GIVE US A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO INNOVATE, TO DO
PILOTS, TO EXPERIMENT. RIGHT
WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE ONES THAT
KIND OF STAND OUT, SARAH NEVILLE
MORGAN FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, THAT IS A GREAT
QUESTION. AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING
AT ALL OF EDUCATION GOES INTO
MANY, MANY AREAS. SO IF YOU WANT
ME TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON
UNIVERSAL PRE-K, WHICH IS IN MY
SCOPE, I THINK SOME OF THE
FUNDING THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE
INCLUSIVE EARLY EXPANSION
PROGRAM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE
SOME REALLY INNOVATIVE PRACTICES
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO SUPPORT
COACHING AND INCLUSION AND
ADDRESS THAT. SO WE WERE VERY
GRATEFUL FOR THE LEGISLATURE,
INCLUDING ADDITIONAL FUNDS LAST
YEAR IN THE BUDGET, TO REALLY
CONTINUE THAT AND HOPE THAT THAT
ACTUALLY BECOMES MORE PERMANENT
MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE THOSE
FUNDS ARE SO CRITICAL AND
SUPPORT NOT JUST THE LÀ OR LOCAL
EDUCATION AGENCY BASED STATE
PRESCHOOLS, BUT ALSO OUR
COMMUNITY BASED MORE AND MORE
MOVING FORWARD. I THINK THE GAPS
THAT WE SEE IN INNOVATION COULD
TIE BACK INTO THE K TO 12. WHAT
WE DON'T HAVE ARE FUNDS TO
SUPPORT DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION
PROGRAMS, AND THE MORE THAT YOU
CAN START DUAL LANGUAGE SUPPORTS
IN PRESCHOOL OR EVEN EARLIER IN
THE INFANT TODDLER SIDE, THE
MORE WE KNOW THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY
HELPING WITH BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
AS WELL AS THAT AFFIRMATION OF
CULTURE, LANGUAGE AND BELONGING.
SO THOSE CRITICAL PIECES WE'VE
ALSO IN OUR EARLY EDUCATOR
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT GRANT, SEEN
AMAZING THINGS HAPPENING AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL WHERE COHORTS ARE
COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT NOT
JUST STATE PRESCHOOL, BUT ALSO
TK AND KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS IN
ACHIEVING MORE CHILD DEVELOPMENT
UNITS. TO REALLY HELP WITH THAT
FIRM UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A
CHILD NEEDS, AND THEN HELPING
TEACHERS GO THROUGH WITHOUT
INCURRING THE COSTS TO GET THEIR
P K TO THREE CREDENTIAL IF THAT
WAS ON THEIR PATHWAY AND IF NOT,
IF THEY WANTED TO GET A CHILD
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT. PATHWAYS TO
HELP SUPPORT THEM THERE. I THINK
WE WOULD ALL SAY NO ONE SHOULD
GO INTO DEBT TO WORK WITH OUR
CHILDREN. WE DON'T PAY THEM
ENOUGH TO GO INTO DEBT. OUR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAVE A
WONDERFUL SYSTEM THAT TRULY CAN
BE FREE IN SO MANY WAYS. BUT
STILL, THERE ARE SOMETIMES ARE
COSTS INCURRED AROUND BOOKS AND
MATERIALS, AND THERE STILL NEEDS
TO BE MORE COHORT AND OTHER
LINKED CLASSES TO SUPPORT PEOPLE
TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS THEY GO
THROUGH A HIGHER ED PATHWAY.
WE'LL ALWAYS COME BACK TO
COMPENSATION AND RATES, BUT I
THINK THAT'S DIFFERENT. IT'S
BEYOND THE QUALITY DOLLAR SCOPE
AND WHAT WE GET AT THE OTHER
THINGS THAT WE WOULD SAY THAT
NEED TO HAPPEN, REALLY FOCUS ON
OUR PRESCHOOL TK LEARNING
FOUNDATIONS WHEN THOSE COME OUT,
THOSE ARE VERY INNOVATIVE. WE
HAVE EMBEDDED CHILDREN'S
LANGUAGE IN A WAY THAT WE'VE
NEVER SEEN IN ANY OTHER STATE
AND ACTUALLY THINK, NOT ONLY
WILL THESE BE GRABBED ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, BUT INTERNATIONALLY
WITH THE INTEREST THAT WE'VE
SEEN IN WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT
WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, WITHOUT COACHING,
WE KNOW THAT COACHING WORKS.
GOING TO A ONE SHOT TRAINING
WORKSHOP DOES NOT LEAVE ANYBODY
WITH A CHANGE IN PRACTICE. SO
MAKING SURE THAT WHATEVER
SYSTEMS WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER
ALSO INCLUDE QUALITY, EFFECTIVE
COACHING. AND THEN I'D LIFT UP
SOME OF THE CLASS PIECES WE'RE
DOING. SO AS WE LISTEN TO DALLAS
AND WE DON'T LISTEN TO TEXAS FOR
EVERYTHING. BUT WHEN THEY'RE
REALLY DIVING IN TO ADDRESS
EQUITY AND WATCH IT REDUCE
SUSPENSION, WELL, WE ARE
CALIFORNIA, SO WE'RE ALWAYS
GOING TO BE CALIFORNIA FIRST
WITH WHATEVER STATE. BUT REALLY
LOOKING AT THE INEQUITIES THAT
HAPPEN IN PRACTICE AND THE BIAS
THAT WE CAN BRING INTO A PROGRAM
, HELPING THEM REFLECT, BE MORE
RESPONSIVE AND UNDERSTAND
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES. BUT
THAT TAKES COACHING THAT CAN'T
JUST BE DONE THROUGH A ONE TIME
TRAINING. MY LAST QUESTION, FOR
THIS, PANEL IS ARE THERE PROGRAM
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CIP NEEDED
FOR EFFECTIVENESS AT SCALE? DOES
ANYONE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT
? SO IT SEEMS TO ME THIS PROGRAM
IS ONE MEANT TO HELP SOLVE OUR,
CHILD CARE DESERT ISSUES. THE
PANDEMIC CAUSED US TO ACTUALLY
GO BACKWARDS IN TERMS OF OUR
CAPACITY, NOT FORWARDS. AND WE
STILL HAVE NOT RECOVERED FROM
THAT UNLESS I'M WRONG. YOU'RE
RIGHT. SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO
TO, NUMBER ONE, ARE THERE THINGS
WE CAN DO TO EVEN MAKE THE
PROGRAM MORE EFFECTIVE? AND
SHOULD THIS BE ONE OF THE
PROGRAMS THAT WE PRIORITIZE
SIZE, THE MOST IN TERMS OF,
FUTURE DOLLAR OPPORTUNITIES?
YEAH. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND START
AGAIN. DOCTOR LUPE MILAM AT
CGRTS. AND AS FAR AS THE CHILD
CARE INITIATIVE PROJECT, IT IS
HIGHLY RESPONSIBLE FOR, LIKE YOU
MENTIONED, STARTING NEW
BUSINESSES SPECIFICALLY IN CHILD
CARE DESERTS ACROSS THE STATE
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, REALLY
MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE INFANTS
AND TODDLERS THAT ARE THAT
FAMILIES DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
OPTIONS FOR IN TERMS OF CARE
CHOICES ACROSS THE STATE. WITH
THAT, WE RECENTLY Kò, I BELIEVE
IT WAS THE LAST BUDGET INCREASED
THOSE DOLLARS TO ENSURE THAT
THAT SUSTAINABILITY OF THAT
PROJECT CONTINUES. AND IT, IN
THE PAST PANDEMIC PERIOD, THEY
HAD RECEIVED SOME INCREASES DUE
TO THOSE STABILIZATION DOLLARS.
AND WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS A
CLIFF APPROACHING, AND THEREFORE
IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT ALTHOUGH WE COULDN'T
MATCH IT WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF
DOLLARS THAT WE HAD WITH THE
PANDEMIC TEMPORARY FUNDS, WE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
PROVIDERS THAT WERE POTENTIAL
PROVIDERS THAT WERE GOING
THROUGH THE PIPELINE WERE
CONTINUING TO BE SUPPORTED
THROUGHOUT THAT, AS FAR AS
EFFICIENCY OF SCALE, I WOULD
ALSO REFERENCE THAT THEY DO GET
SUPPORTS FROM THE RESOURCE AND
REFERRAL NETWORK IN SAN
FRANCISCO. SO THERE ARE PART OF
THAT SYSTEM OF SUPPORT WHERE
THEY MEET REGIONALLY WITH THE
CITIES, CONTRACTORS ACROSS THE
STATE AND NOT ONLY SHARE
PRACTICES IN REGARDS TO HOW TO
CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM EACH
OTHER AND EFFICIENCIES, BUT ALSO
THE BRIGHT SPOTS, UNDERSTANDING
THAT SOMETIMES ONE APPROACH DOES
NOT FIT ALL AND SOMEBODY ACROSS
THE STATE COULD BE, WHICH WE SEE
MANY TIMES DOING SOME INNOVATIVE
WORK THAT THE OTHERS, RESOURCE
AND REFERRALS CAN CONTINUE TO
BUILD UPON OR LEARN FROM, SINCE
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN
INCEPTION FOR SO MANY YEARS, AS
REFERENCED, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT
OF LEARNING, A LOT OF SUPPORTS,
AND CONTINUING TO CONTINUE TO
JUST RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON HOW WE
CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
SUPPORTIVE OF THAT SYSTEM. SO
THANK YOU. IF I COULD ADD ON SO
BEYOND CIP, WHICH I ACTUALLY I
WAS A TRAINER OVER 20 YEARS IN
THE PROGRAM, YOU DO SO MANY
CONNECTIONS, BUT THERE ARE ALSO
THINGS AROUND SHARED SERVICES
MODELS THAT REALLY SUPPORT
PROVIDERS AS THEY ONBOARD. A LOT
OF OUR PROVIDERS, OUR TEACHERS
COME INTO THIS BECAUSE THEY LOVE
CHILDREN, THEY LOVE THE PROGRAMS
PART. THE BUSINESS SIDE IS NOT
SO MUCH A LOVE AND A DEEP
UNDERSTANDING AND SO HAVING AN
ASPECT IN COMMUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT
MAY WE MAY BE LOOKING AT DESERTS
THAT SHARED SERVICE CAN PICK UP
A LOT OF THE BUSINESS COMPONENTS
AND REALLY CREATE EFFICIENCIES
AND LOWER COST MODELS. I WOULD
REITERATE THE NEED FOR A SHARED
SERVICE NETWORKS. IT'S A STRONG
SOLUTION THAT IS BEING
IMPLEMENTED IN A NUMBER OF
PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND IS
SUPPORTIVE NOT ONLY TO PROVIDERS
WHO ARE JUST GETTING ESTABLISHED
IN THEIR LICENSED HOME BASED
PROGRAM, BUT ALSO THOSE WHO ARE
TRYING TO MAINTAIN ONE.
ADDITIONALLY I WOULD MENTION IN
TERMS OF PROVIDERS GOING THROUGH
THE CHILD CARE INITIATIVE
PROJECT OR BECOMING LICENSED,
THERE'S OFTEN A CHALLENGE FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE RENTERS TO
COMPLETE THE PROCESS OF BECOMING
LICENSED. EVEN THOUGH CALIFORNIA
LAW PROTECTS RENTERS FROM,
LANDLORD, FOR EXAMPLE, NOT
WANTING THEM OR TRYING TO
RETALIATE FOR THEM HAVING A
PROGRAM IN THEIR HOME. THIS IS A
PLACE WHERE HOUSING POLICY CAN
INTERSECT WITH POLICY, AND THAT
IT CAN BE CHALLENGING AS A
RENTER TO, YOU KNOW, PERSEVERE
THROUGH THE CHALLENGES OF
STARTING UP A PROGRAM. SO WE SEE
ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF FAMILY
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ARE HOME
OWNERS, WHICH LIKELY DOES NOT
REFLECT THE OVERALL POPULATION
OF CALIFORNIA. AND THERE MAY BE
OTHER FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO
THROUGH THE PROGRAM. BUT ARE
INTIMIDATED BY THAT PROSPECT. OH
YOU'RE STARTING SOMETHING. OKAY
I WANT TO APPRECIATE THIS PANEL
SO MUCH. I WANT TO OBVIOUSLY,
MORE TO COME, I THINK AT SOME
POINT I MIGHT BE AT BERKELEY, SO
WE'D LIKE TO SPEND SOME MORE
TIME WITH THE CENTER OVER THERE
AS WELL, BUT WANT TO THANK THIS
PANEL, WE HAVE SOME HOUSEKEEPING
ISSUES. WANT TO LET EVERYONE
KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO A TEN
MINUTE RECESS AND WHEN WE
RECONVENE, IT WILL BE IN ROOM
FOUR, FOUR, FOUR, ROOM 444. OH,
ALL THESE GRUMBLINGS. DANG GO TO
THE ELEVATOR. ROOM FOUR, FOUR,
FOUR, AND WE WILL RECONVENE TÍNH
AT 130. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS
INFO HEARING WILL ALSO BE IN
ROOM FOUR FOUR, FOUR, AS WELL AS
THE SUBSEQUENT BUDGET, HEARING
AS WELL. WELL, WE JUST HAVE TO
MAKE ROOM FOR ANOTHER COMMITTEE
TO TAKE OVER THIS ROOM. AND SO
WE WILL SEE YOU THERE. WE WILL
RECESS, FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES.
THAT'S TRUE. RIGHT. CAN WE GET
MEMBERS OF, ISSUE FIVE TO COME
UP HERE? WE JUST WANT TO SEE IF
EVERYONE'S HERE OR NOT. COME ON
UP AND MAKE YOUR WAY UP HERE.
DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE GETTING
STARTED? JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE. WE SEE EVERYONE. I'M
RIGHT AFTER NEXT TO HER. SOUNDS
GOOD. THEN YOU CAN POKE ME IF
YOU LIKE. DON'T SEE ME. OF
COURSE NOT. I'M JUST KIDDING.
I'M JUST KIDDING. YOU GUYS ARE
AMAZING. LOOK DOCTOR JACKSON, I
KNOW YOU GOT MEMO. YEAH. 123455.
YEAH.
OH!
OKAY CAN EAT IN A ROOM. THAT'S
FINE. THE SNACK STARTED GROWLING
. I KNOW, I'M LIKE. I CAN'T HAVE
THE MICROPHONE IN THERE. WE ARE
GOING TO RECONVENE, HERE IN OUR
WONDERFUL NEW LOCATION, ROOM
FOUR, FOUR, FOUR, IN CASE YOU'RE
WONDERING, WHERE ARE WE, WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER
FIVE, BREAKING BARRIERS TO CHILD
CARE ACCESS, A YEAR OF BUDGET
CHALLENGES IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY. K¾T, TO WORK BETTER
AND IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO SUCCESS
IN OUR EXISTING INVESTMENTS,
THIS PANEL WILL COVER
RECOMMENDATIONS INTENDED TO
ADDRESS CHILD CARE DESERTS AND
SUPPORT CHILD CARE CAPACITY AND
ACCESS EXPANSION STATEWIDE WIDE.
I PARTICULARLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
ONE. DURING THE TIME OF THE
PANDEMIC, I REMEMBER WHEN WE
WERE DISCUSSING RAISING ISSUES
OF CHILD CARE, AND AT THE TIME,
I WAS ON THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY
BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ONE OF
THE MOST DEVASTATING THINGS
THAT, WE HEARD WAS OUR LOCAL
FIRST FIBER, FIRST FIVE
RIVERSIDE, HAD, FUNDS TO HELP
CHILD CARE CENTERS TO BE ABLE TO
EXPAND ITS CAPACITY AS OTHERS
WERE CLOSING DOWN, OTHERS HAD
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND. AND ONE
OF THE WORST NEWS WE GOT WAS A
CHILD CARE CENTER. HAD TO GIVE
BACK THE MONEY, BECAUSE IN ORDER
TO EXPAND, THEY WOULD HAVE TO,
YOU KNOW, DO A WHOLE LOT OF
THINGS TO MEET THE FIRE
MARSHAL'S REQUIREMENTS, WHICH
THEN BECAME, COST PROHIBITIVE.
AND THAT THAT ALWAYS STANDS OUT
TO ME, WHICH IS WHY I KNOW FOR
ME, AS ONE OF MY BIGGEST
PRIORITIES, TO CONTINUE TO FIND
BARRIERS AND EVEN TRY TO FIND
MORE COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES
TO WHAT WE ARE, OUR CENTERS ARE
BEING REQUIRED TO DO SO THAT WE
MAKE IT EASIER TO EXPAND, EASIER
TO ESTABLISH NEW CENTERS, EASIER
TO RECOGNIZE THAT CHILD CARE,
PROVIDE ORDERS ARE A ESSENTIAL
BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY, THAT
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT
EASIER NOT HARDER, FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN. WE ARE GOING TO START
OFF WITH THE LAO TO BEGIN. AND
THEN ALSO JUST I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT IF YOU'RE HAVE IF
YOU'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF A
PREVIOUS PANEL, WE MIGHT HAVE
MEMBERS COME BACK TO ASK
QUESTIONS FROM PREVIOUS PANELS.
SO SOME OF YOU MAY BE DRAFTED
BACK TO, UP HERE TO ANSWER THOSE
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT JUST
KNOW, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE. AND IF
YOU'RE WONDERING WHY IS EVERYONE
RUNNING THROUGH THESE HALLS AND,
YOU KNOW, GOING FROM ONE ROOM TO
ANOTHER? WELL, THIS IS THE
INFAMOUS BILL DEADLINE WEEK, IN
WHICH PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET
THEIR BILLS OUT AND VOTES AND
ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO
THINGS ARE A LITTLE, CHAOS. BUT,
WELCOME TO SACRAMENTO, LAO, YOU
MAY BEGIN. JACKIE BURROWS, A
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE. MY
COMMENTS WILL BE SPECIFIC TO
JUST PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
CONTEXT FOR THE CHILD CARE
INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS AS NOTED
IN YOUR AGENDA, ACROSS A COUPLE
OF YEARS, THE STATE IN TOTAL HAS
PROVIDED $350 MILLION TO SUPPORT
BOTH MINOR REPAIRS, BUT THEN
ALSO NEW CONSTRUCTION OF CHILD
CARE, BUILDINGS, AND ACROSS
THESE TWO PROGRAMS, JUST BASED
OFF OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY
THE DEPARTMENT, A TOTAL OF 7000
APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED, THAT
THEN TOTALED AN ASK OF $1
BILLION, WHICH, AS I AS I
MENTIONED, WE ONLY PROVIDED 350
MILLION. SO CLEARLY THE ASKED
EXCEEDED THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE
FUNDING. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS
EXHAUSTED ALL FUNDS FOR MINOR
REPAIR PROJECTS AND IS NOW STILL
IN THE PROCESS OF ALLOCATING NEW
CONSTRUCTION FUNDS, ONE THING
THAT I WILL FLAG IS THAT A
PORTION OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE
FUNDS, WERE ARE BEING FUNDED
WITH TEMPORARY COVID 19 MONEY,
THAT EXPIRED THIS SEPTEMBER, SO
THE LEGISLATURE MAY WANT TO ASK
WHETHER THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN
LIQUIDATED BY THE FEDERAL
DEADLINE, AND IF NOT, COULD
THOSE DOLLARS BE REPLACED WITH
THE GENERAL FUND DOLLAR, JUST TO
ALLOW, PROJECTS TO CONTINUE
BEYOND THE EXPIRATION DATE? BUT
THEN ALSO THE LEGISLATURE COULD
ASK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF FUNDS,
ALLOCATED TO CERTAIN PROJECTS
ARE NOT COMPLETED BY THE
EXPENDITURE DATE OR AN
APPROPRIATION DEADLINE, AND TO
THE EXTENT IF AWARDEES NEED MORE
TIME, WHAT WOULD NEED TO OCCUR
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? THANK YOU.
PERFECT. SO, GOOD AFTERNOON
AGAIN, DOCTOR LUPE MILAM, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE CHILD CARE AND
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION AT CDSS.
AND AGAIN, VERY EXCITED ABOUT
SPEAKING TO BREAKING BARRIERS TO
CHILD CARE ACCESS, PIECE. SO IN
THE RECENT, YEARS, INVESTMENTS
IN THE SUBSIDIES, CHILD CARE AND
DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS HAVE
INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. OVERALL
FUNDING 4.3 BILLION AND 2122 TO
5 POINT 9 BILLION TO 2324. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INCLUDES 6.7
BILLION TOTAL IN FUNDING FOR
CHILD CARE PROGRAMS AND 2425 AND
AS WE REFERENCED EARLIER, THIS
IS AN ENORMOUS GROWTH OF 1.7
BILLION IN FUNDING OVER TEN
YEARS AGO. SO, FOR EXAMPLE,
ACCORDING TO SEPTEMBER OF 2021
CASELOAD REPORT, 56,334 CHILDREN
WERE ENROLLED IN THE CAP PROGRAM
BEFORE THE SLOT EXPANSION. BASED
ON PLENARY DECEMBER 2023
CASELOAD. REPORT 134,274
CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED
IN THAT ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT
PROGRAM, WHICH IS ABOUT 138%
INCREASE. SO JUST HAVE TO SMILE,
ALL AROUND AS THAT'S A HUGE
VICTORY FOR ALL OF US, SEVERAL
INVESTMENTS WERE MADE IN THE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO MEET THE
EXISTING NEEDS, INCLUDING THE
OVERALL EXPANSION OF SUBSIDIES
AND EXPANDED SLOTS. AN EXAMPLE
IS AS REFERENCED, THE
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT, WHICH
INCLUDES MINOR RENOVATION AND
REPAIR AND NEW CONSTRUCTION AND
MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PIECES, I'M
GOING TO TOUCH BRIEFLY ON WHAT,
WAS REFERENCED IN REGARDS TO
THAT. YES SO THE MINOR
RENOVATION AND REPAIR IS FUNDED
THROUGH THE FEDERAL
STABILIZATION DOLLARS THAT
SUNSET, 930 2024, HOUSE OVER,
THE CURRENT CONTRACT THAT WE
HAVE WITH PROVIDERS IN ORDER FOR
THOSE AWARDEES IS 630, 2024, BUT
WE HAVE A OPTION OF BEING A
BEING ABLE TO DO OFFER AN
AMENDMENT THAT WILL TAKE US TO
THE FINAL LIQUIDATION DATE OF
930, 2024, AS THE AS THOSE
REQUESTS ARE BEING PROCESSED AND
THOSE ARE COMING IN NOW. SO THAT
IS OUR CONTINGENCY PLAN TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE MAXIMIZE EVERY
DOLLAR THAT IS SENT THERE. IT
WAS 350.5 MILLION TOTAL BETWEEN
THE TWO GRANTS FOR VERY
COMPETITIVE AND BOTH OF THEM AND
APPROXIMATELY 3772 GRANTEES WERE
AWARDED THE GRANT TO ADD UP THE
5144 RFA APPLICATIONS FOR THE
MINOR, ONE APPLICANT. AND I
WANTED TO SHARE JUST A QUICK
QUOTE OF ONE OF THE APPLICANTS
THAT WAS AWARDED THIS THAT SAID,
WE OFTEN FEEL LIKE NO ONE TRULY
VALUES THE WORK WE DO. THIS
FUNDING GAVE ME HOPE. IT WAS THE
FIRST TIME THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
APPLY FOR SOMETHING SO BIG, AND
WHEN I GOT THE LETTER, IT WAS A
DREAM COME TRUE. I HAD CRIED
BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING SO GOOD
THAT WAS HAPPENING IN. THAT
QUOTE IS POWERFUL, WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THESE GRANTS, HISTORICALLY,
WE HAD NOT INCLUDED FAMILY,
CHILD CARE HOME PROVIDERS AND A
PREVIOUS TYPE OF, OF INVESTMENTS
THAT WERE MORE OF A LOAN TYPE
Tð. AND SO THAT WAS VERY UNIQUE
TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A, A, A AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE, THAT THE GROUPS ARE ABLE TO
APPLY FOR THESE DOLLARS, ANOTHER
INVESTMENT IN MADE TO THE
INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT MEETS THE
NEEDS OF FAMILIES IS ALSO
THROUGH SEEKING TECHNOLOGY TO
ASSIST WITH CHILD CARE NEEDS
THROUGH THE ONLINE REFERRALS,
WHICH IS THE MY CHILD CARE PLAN.
ORG WEBSITE. WE LEARNED A LOT
DURING THE PANDEMIC, ESPECIALLY
KNOWING THAT FAMILIES ARE NOW
SEEKING MORE OPTIONS. IN
ADDITION TO TALKING TO A LIFE
PERSON, BUT ALSO OUR PHONES
BECOME A WAY OF BEING ABLE TO
SEEK CARE AND INCLUDING WORD OF
MOUTH ALSO. SO IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE RESOURCE AND REFERRALS
ACROSS THE STATE, THE STATEWIDE
PLATFORM ASSIST FAMILIES IN
ACCESSING CHILD CARE REFERRALS
ONLINE IN REAL TIME. PROVIDERS
CAN GO IN THERE IN REAL TIME AND
UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION, AND
FAMILIES CAN SEARCH AT HOURS
THAT IS CONVENIENT FOR THEM TO
BE ABLE TO LOOK FOR THE TYPE OF
CARE AND THEIR OPTIONS BASED ON
THE INFORMATION THAT THEY INPUT
IN THAT, PLATFORM PIECE. IN
OCTOBER OF 2023, THE MY CHILD
CARE PLAN ORG SURPASSED OVER 1
MILLION SITE VISITS BY FAMILIES
SEEKING CARE. AND SO I'M SURE
THAT IF WE LOOK AT THAT DATA NOW
, I'M SURE THAT NUMBER HAS GROWN
TREMENDOUSLY. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS
THE CHILD CARE CIP INITIATIVE
PROJECT, WHICH WE'VE TOUCHED ON
ALREADY, WHICH INVEST, IN
REGARDS TO TARGETING AND
RECRUITING AND RETAINING NEW
CHILD CARE SITES. THE ONE PIECE,
I THINK I WOULD ADD, IN ADDITION
TO THE PREVIOUS PANEL, IS THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT NOT ONLY ARE
THEY RECRUITING NEW BUSINESSES,
BUT THEY'RE ALSO SUPPORTING THE
BUSINESSES TO STAY IN BUSINESS,
AND THAT THE RETENTION PIECE IS
JUST AS POWERFUL AS THE
RECRUITMENT OF THOSE OF THOSE,
PROVIDERS. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S
DIFFICULT TO STAY IN THE FIELD.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT
TRUSTED MESSENGER THAT THEY CAN
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND NAVIGATE
WHILE THEY'RE IN BUSINESS IS
HIGHLY IMPORTANT OF THAT. FOR
THAT INVESTMENT TO, ANOTHER FUN
STAT FOR THAT IS FISCAL YEAR
2223. CIP ASSISTED WITH 520,570.
I'M SORRY, 520,571 LICENSEES
WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. SO
THAT'S BOTH NEW AND ONGOING AND
THAT ALSO INCLUDES CENTER BASE
IN THAT TOO, AND 1114 PROVIDERS
ACQUIRED A NEW LICENSE, AS 803
EXPANDED THEIR CURRENT. SO THEY
WENT FROM A SMALL TO A LARGE. SO
YOU CAN HAVE AN IDEA THAT THESE
MAKE IMPACTS ACROSS THE STATE.
WE KNOW THAT THE CAPACITY
BUILDING IS STILL A WORK IN
PROGRESS. WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO
DO AND APPRECIATE THE
PARTNERSHIP AND THE COMMUNITY,
OF IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE
CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER WITH
THE LEGISLATOR TO EXPAND ON
THESE EFFORTS. I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANKS CHAIR.
ALVAREZ. CHAIR. JACKSON, THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE. LIFTS THOUGHTS ON
BREAKING BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO
CHILD CARE. MY NAME IS DOCTOR
SHELLY MAZER, AND I SERVE AS THE
VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVISORY AND
STATE POLICY AT THE LOW INCOME
INVESTMENT FUND, OR LYFT. LYFT
IS A NATIONAL COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION WITH OUR HOME IN
CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE OFFICES IN
SAN FRANCISCO AND LA, AND WE ARE
DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT
EVERYONE LIVES IN A COMMUNITY OF
EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY AND
WELL-BEING. LYFT ALSO HAS A
COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY AND
CENTERING THE VOICES OF THE
COMMUNITY IN ALL OF OUR WORK IN
CALIFORNIA, LIFE HAS BEEN
HONORED TO PARTNER WITH CDSS TO
ADMINISTER THE CHILD CARE
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM AND
HAS ADMINISTERED SAN FRANCISCO'S
CHILD CARE FACILITIES FUND FOR
OVER 25 YEARS. AS A RESULT,
WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK
WITH THOUSANDS OF PROVIDERS,
HEAR THEIR VOICES AND HELP MEET
THEIR NEEDS. IT IS THROUGH THIS
LENS, AND AS A MEMBER OF THE
COALITION, THAT LYFT FIRMLY
BELIEVES THAT TO BREAK BARRIERS
TO ACCESS, WE MUST INVEST IN
BOTH THE PEOPLE INFRASTRUCTURE,
THE WORKFORCE THAT WE'VE
DISCUSSED ALREADY AND THE
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, THE
FACILITIES AND THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY. AS WE HAVE ALL HEARD,
WE DO NEED MORE INVESTMENTS IN
THE WORKFORCE AND BETTER
ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF ALL THE
PEOPLE WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES
TO CARING FOR OUR CHILDREN. I
WILL JUST NOTE LYFT DOES SUPPORT
THE COALITION'S REQUEST THIS
YEAR AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A
STRONG VOICE FOR THAT. THE
LEGISLATURE'S 2021 UNPRECEDENT
COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN
ENSURING SAFE, HEALTHY, QUALITY
CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN
CALIFORNIA THROUGH THE
CALIFORNIA INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT
PROGRAM IS PART OF ADDRESSING A
NEED FOR NEW SPACES AND HAS MADE
A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE
LIVES OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND
THE CHILD CARE EDUCATORS WHO
SERVE THEM. WE KNOW THAT BOTH
REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES
COST MONEY, AND THAT THESE NEEDS
HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH
IS WHY WE SAW OVER 80% OF
PROVIDERS ASK FOR MONEY FOR
CLIMATE RELATED INVESTMENTS IN
THEIR FACILITIES. WE ALSO KNOW
THAT DESPITE THE STATE'S
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT,
THOUSANDS OF CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS DID NOT RECEIVE AN
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT AND THE
NEED REMAINS HIGH. AS YOU HEARD
FROM THE LAO AND FROM DOCTOR
JAIME WILHELM TO CONTINUE THE
WORK THAT'S BEEN SET IN MOTION
AND TO EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF
CHILD CARE ACROSS THE STATE,
LYFT RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE
LEGISLATURE EXTEND THE
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM
BEYOND ITS CURRENT EXPIRATION.
EARLIER, YOU ASKED ABOUT
INNOVATIVE AND GOOD USES. DOCTOR
JACKSON OF ARPA DOLLARS, AND I
WOULD ARGUE THAT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM IS
ONE OF THOSE EXCELLENT USES. ALL
THE CURRENT MONIES, AS YOU
HEARD, HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED, BUT
THE INTEREST REMAINS HIGH AND
PROVIDERS BOTH NEED THE MONIES
TO ADDRESS NEEDED AND QUALITY
UPGRADES AND ARE WILLING TO
CONSIDER EXPANDING IF THEY HAVE
THE CAPITAL TO DO SO. THAT'S WHY
LYFT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDERON, EVEN
IN THIS VERY CHALLENGING BUDGET
YEAR, HAS A REQUEST TO CONSIDER
ADDING $50 MILLION TO THE
PROGRAM THIS YEAR. WE ESTIMATE
THAT TO TRULY MEET ONGOING NEEDS
WOULD REQUIRE AN INVESTMENT OF
APPROXIMATELY $150 MILLION PER
YEAR. HOWEVER, WE ALSO ESTIMATE
THE CURRENT SHORTFALL OF
ELIGIBLE BUT UNFUNDED PROJECTS
TO BE ABOUT 50 MILLION WITHIN
THE IGP. WE RECOMMEND THAT THE
STATE ENSURES IT MAKES PAYMENTS
IN A TIMELY FASHION THAT MAKES
POLICY CHANGES THAT ALLOW
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR
PROVIDERS DURING THE APPLICATION
PROCESS, AS WELL AS TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE PERSONAL
CONNECTIONS TO THE PROVIDERS IN
THAT CHILD CARE COMMUNITY. WE
ALSO RECOMMEND THAT THE STATE
MAKE THESE GRANT FUNDS EXEMPT
FROM TAXES. WE RECOMMEND THAT IN
THE STATE'S CCDF PLAN, THEY TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF REVISED FEDERAL
GUIDELINES REGARDING THE USE OF
FUNDS FOR FACILITIES REPAIR AND
RENOVATION, AND ALLOCATE SOME
DOLLARS TO REPAIR AND RENOVATION
OF BOTH FAMILY CHILD CARE AND
CENTER BASED CARE. THE
LEGISLATURE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER
TAKING ACTION TO LOWER PROVIDER
COSTS AND INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYERS
TO CONTRIBUTE TO CHILD CARE
THROUGH TAX CREDITS, MULTIPLE
DIVERSE STATES INCLUDING OREGON,
COLORADO, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, AND
ALABAMA HAVE CREATED EMPLOYER
AND CHILD CARE PROVIDER TAX
CREDITS, INCLUDING EXEMPTING
CHILD CARE FACILITIES FROM
PROPERTY TAX AND PROVIDING TAX
CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS WHO
CONTRIBUTE TO CHILD CARE COSTS.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE STATE
LEVERAGE OTHER AVAILABLE DOLLARS
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS
ANTICIPATED THROUGH THE
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND,
INCLUDING THE SOLAR FOR ALL
PROGRAM. WE RECOMMEND LEVERAGING
FUNDING DEDICATED TO SMALL
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT
, AND LEVERAGING DOLLARS
ALLOCATED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
. FOR EXAMPLE, THE OREGON
LEGISLATURE ALLOCATED $10
MILLION TO SUPPORT CO-LOCATION
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CHILD
CARE IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
STATE TO ADDRESS THE DUAL NEED
FOR HOUSING AND CHILD CARE, AND
TO BUILD STRONG COMMUNITIES IN
CALIFORNIA, LOCAL COMMUNITIES
ARE ALREADY WORKING TO ADVANCE
CO-LOCATION, AND THE STATE HAS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A
MATCH OR GRANT SUPPORT. FOR
EXAMPLE, IN SAN DIEGO, CHILD
CARE ADVOCATES HAVE WORKED WITH
DEVELOPERS, THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT
CO-LOCATION. AND IN RIVERSIDE
COUNTY, LIFT TO RISE, A
COACHELLA VALLEY HOUSING
ORGANIZATION, HAS AN AMBITIOUS
GOAL OF 40% OF ITS NEW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCLUDING
CHILD CARE. FURTHER, FUNDS, LIKE
THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS
PROGRAM, CAN SUPPORT FAMILY
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS WHO WISH TO
OWN THEIR OWN HOME TO MAKE ALL
STATE GRANT DOLLARS EASIER TO
ACCESS FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.
LYFT HAS PROPOSED AB 2732,
AUTHORED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
PAPPIN, THAT WOULD ADD CHILD
CARE TO THE SEARCH ON GRANTS.
CA.GOV. ONE ADDITIONAL ITEM FOR
CONSIDERATION INCLUDES MAKING
TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE CAL
FIRE URBAN GREEN SCHOOLYARDS
PROGRAM TO MAKE THOSE DOLLARS
EASIER TO FOR CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS TO ACCESS SO THEY CAN
BUILD OUTDOOR SPACES THAT
RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND
CONNECT CHILDREN TO NATURE.
LIFFE APPRECIATES THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ITS
THOUGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
WITH YOU ALL, AND LOOKS FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE THEM
A REALITY. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK
YOU. CHAIR JACKSON. CHAIR.
ALVAREZ AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF EARLY CARE
AND EDUCATION AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF BREAKING BARRIERS TO INCREASE
ACCESS AND EXPANSION. MY NAME IS
JACQUELINE WEISS. I'M THE
COORDINATOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION FOR THE FOLSOM CORDOVA
SCHOOL DISTRICT. I SERVE AS A
BOARD MEMBER OF EVERY CHILD
CALIFORNIA, WHICH I AM
REPRESENTING HERE TODAY. MY
AGENCY OR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS
LOCATED IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY.
THERE ARE NINE SITES AND WE
SERVE OVER 400 PRESCHOOL
CHILDREN PER DAY, IN ADDITION TO
72 SPECIAL ED PRESCHOOL STUDENTS
WHO ARE LOCATED AT THE SCHOOL
SITE WHERE I'M CURRENTLY
WORKING. I'VE BEEN IN THE FIELD
OF EDUCATION FOR, BELIEVE IT OR
NOT, OVER 40 YEARS, AND THE LAST
TEN OF THOSE YEARS HAVE BEEN IN
THE FIELD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION. AND IT SEEMS THAT
EVERY YEAR, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD
COMMUNITY HAS HAD TO ADVOCATE
FOR SUFFICIENT FUNDING. I SEE
MANY TALENTED INDIVIDUALS LEAVE
THE FIELD TO MOVE ON TO OTHER
POSITIONS, OR LEAVE THE FIELD OF
EDUCATION ENTIRELY DUE TO
INSUFFICIENT PAY, STAFFING FOR
OUR PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE A
CHALLENGE FOR US, ESPECIALLY
FINDING QUALIFIED ASSOCIATE
TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTIONAL
ASSISTANTS, INCLUDING
SUBSTITUTES. I ALSO SERVE IN A
DISTRICT WHERE WE ARE
CONTINUALLY LOOKING FOR
BILINGUAL CANDIDATES WHO ARE
REFLECTIVE OF THE POPULATION WE
SERVE, BECAUSE IN OUR DISTRICT,
WE SPEAK 25 TO 30 DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES, AND WE'D LIKE FOR OUR
S¼ FIELD PROGRAM PROFESSIONALS
TO BE REFLECTIVE OF THE STUDENTS
WHO WE SERVE. IT'S ALSO
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ASSOCIATE
TEACHERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AT
LEAST 12 UNITS OF EARLY
CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, OR EQ, OR
CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND
INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE ARE
REQUIRED TO HAVE AT LEAST SIX
UNITS IN S¼ OR CD. ALL OF OUR
GREAT SUBSTITUTES HAVE BEEN
HIRED TO REPLACE OTHERS WHO HAVE
LEFT THE FIELD, SO IT IS A
CONTINUOUS CYCLE OF ADVERTISING,
INTERVIEWING AND HIRING
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. CGRTS AND
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T HIRE A
QUALIFIED SUB AND WE'RE SHORT
STAFFED FOR THAT DAY, BECAUSE WE
ARE STILL HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE
OUT SICK, UNFORESEEN EARLY, SOME
WITH COVID. I ROLL UP MY SLEEVES
AND I HAVE TO GO IN THE
CLASSROOM AND WORK WITH THE
STUDENTS, THEREFORE PUSHING BACK
ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE
RESPONSIBILITIES AND AS I AND
EVERY CHILD AND EVERY CHILD,
CALIFORNIA, OFFER UP SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS THIS AFTERNOON,
I WANT TO ECHO THAT NONE OF
THESE PROPOSALS CAN BE
ACCOMPLISHED IN A VACUUM. RATES
AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ARE
CRUCIAL ELEMENTS IN OUR SYSTEM.
OUR SYSTEM OF CHANGE. AND I WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU CANNOT
BREAK BARRIERS AND CREATE ACCESS
WITHOUT FIRST ADDRESSING THE
COMPENSATION REIMBURSEMENT
PIECE. HOWEVER, SINCE I KNOW
THIS HAS BEEN COVERED ON
PREVIOUS PANELS, I WILL ALIGN MY
COMMENTS WITH THEM.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE NUMEROUS
HURDLES AND REGULATIONS TO
RUNNING EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA, AND I
WILL OUTLINE A NUMBER OF NO, NO,
OR LOW COST RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
WILL HAVE IMMEDIATE POSITIVE
EFFECTS FOR OUR CHILD CARE
PROGRAMS. I'D LIKE TO START WITH
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING. AS YOU
MENTIONED EARLIER, ALL CENTER
BASED PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA
MUST BE LICENSED THROUGH
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING AND ANY
LICENSED CHANGES NEED TO BE
APPROVED BEFORE A CENTER CAN
SERVE CHILDREN. THIS INCLUDES
CHANGING AN EXISTING LICENSE TO
SERVE MORE CHILDREN, SERVING
YOUNGER CHILDREN, OR
ESTABLISHING A NEW LICENSE IN A
NEW FACILITY. AND THIS PROCESS
CAN SOMETIMES TAKE MONTHS. THERE
ARE MASSIVE DELAYS IN PROGRAMS
NOT BEING ABLE TO SPEND
EXPANSION FUNDS AS THEY ARE
WAITING FOR THEIR LICENSE TO BE
APPROVED AS SUBSIDIZED PROGRAMS
MOVE TOWARDS SERVING MORE
CHILDREN, NEW LICENSES, NEW
LICENSES WILL NEED TO BE
EXPEDITED. WE RECOMMEND
PRIORITIZING AND EXPEDITING
LICENSES FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD
CARE CENTERS FOR BOTH EXPANSION
OF SUBSIDIZED SPACES AND CHANGES
IN AGE. IF NOT, THE MONEY GOES
UNSPENT AND CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES GO UNSERVED. THE SECOND
THING I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT IS FACILITY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND YOU TOUCHED
ON IT EARLIER. CHAIR JACKSON,
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING
REQUIRES ALL CHILDREN TO HAVE AT
LEAST 35FT OF INDOOR SPACE AND
75FT OF OUTDOOR SPACE.
REGARDLESS OF AGE, EVEN IF THEY
ARE INFANTS AND NOT MOBILE. SUCH
A LARGE OUTDOOR SQUARE FOOTAGE
RECOMMENDED REQUIREMENT LIMITS
THE LICENSE CAPACITY OF MANY
INFANT CENTERS. A CENTER MAY BE
LICENSED FOR 65 CHILDREN, BUT
WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO SERVE 35
BASED ON THE OUTDOOR SPACE
REQUIREMENTS. EVEN THOUGH THEY
MEET THE INDOOR SPACE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CHILDREN.
SO WE RECOMMEND THAT
CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO A
WAIVER THAT COULD BE CREATED FOR
OUTDOOR SPACE. SQUARE FOOTAGE
REQUIREMENTS FOR INFANT
LICENSES. IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT
INDOOR SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR THE
CHILD, THIS WOULD IMMEDIATELY
AND DRAMATICALLY HELP CENTER
BASED PROGRAMS SERVE MORE
INFANTS, ESPECIALLY IN CHILD
CARE, DESERTS AND DENSE URBAN
AREAS. THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT IS POLICY CHANGES
TO STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING
INFRASTRUCTURE. TITLE FIVE
DIRECT CONTRACTS CENTERS HAVE
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE
NEED TO FULFILL OUR CONTRACTS.
THIS INCLUDES CHILD ASSESSMENTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE EARLIER
DRIPS OBSERVATION THÀNH PARENT
ENGAGEMENT ERRORS, WHICH IS
BEING PHASED OUT WHICH WILL NOW
BECOME CLASS. BUT IT'S A REVIEW
OF THE ENVIRONMENT, PROGRAM
REVIEWS AND MORE FOR CHILD CARE
AGENCIES ARE ALLOTTED ONLY TWO
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS
PER YEAR. HOWEVER, ONLY 18% OF
DIRECT CONTRACTORS UTILIZE THESE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS
BASED ON NUMBERS BY CDE. THIS IS
BECAUSE THESE PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT DAYS ARE NOT
CONSIDERED DAYS OF OPERATION,
EVEN IF THE AGENCY SERVES
CHILDREN FOR HALF OF THE DAY AND
THEN CLOSES FOR THE OTHER HALF.
THIS IS STILL NOT CONSIDERED A
FULL DAY OF OPERATION. AS SUCH,
IN ORDER TO TRAIN OUR STAFF
PROGRAMS NEED TO PAY OVERTIME
AND INFRINGE UPON THEIR ALREADY
OVERWORKED TEACHERS. PERSONAL
LIFE. WE RECOMMEND THAT
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DAYS OF
OPERATION. IT IS CRITICAL THAT
CHILDCARE WORKERS ARE
COMPENSATED FOR THEIR TRAINING
HOURS, AND AGENCIES SHOULD NOT
HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN ENROLLING
FEWER CHILDREN AND TRAINING
STAFF. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY
EXPENSES SHOULD ALSO COVER FOOD,
BEVERAGES AND TRAINING
MATERIALS. THESE EXPENSES ARE
CURRENTLY NOT ALLOWABLE AND MUST
BE PAID FOR OUT OF OTHER AGENCY
FUNDS. STAFF REQUIREMENTS. AS
NOTED EARLIER, THERE IS A
WORKFORCE SHORTAGE. WE ALL KNOW
THAT STAFF REQUIREMENTS FOR
TITLE FIVE PROGRAMS ARE EVEN
MORE RIGOROUS, REQUIRING A CHILD
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT. IN ADDITION
TO THE Â HOURS FINDING
QUALIFIED STAFF IS A HUGE
CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY FOR INFANT
, TODDLER, CHILDREN AND CHILDREN
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. WE RECOMMEND
ALLOWING A PERCENTAGE OF CTR
PROGRAM FUNDS TO BE USED AS A
STIPEND TO INCENTIVIZE INFANT
AND TODDLER TEACHER RECRUITMENT
AND RETENTION. A PORTION OF
THESE FUNDS SHOULD BE DEDICATED
TO PAY FOR SPECIFIC INFANT AND
TODDLER TRAINING. TO HELP
PRESCHOOL TEACHERS SERVE THOSE
YOUNGER CHILDREN, THERE IS NO
REQUIREMENT IN THE CTC PERMIT
FOR TEACHERS TO TAKE INFANT
TODDLER CLASSES. THERE IS
CURRENTLY AN EARLY CHILDHOOD
MENTAL HEALTH ADJUSTMENT FACTOR
FOR CTR AND CSP PROGRAMS TO HELP
PAY FOR A LICENSED CLINICAL
THERAPIST FOR THE CLASSROOM. THE
ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE MINIMAL AND
CANNOT PAY FOR THE COST OF THESE
PROFESSIONALS, AND THESE
PROFESSIONALS ARE VERY HARD TO
FIND TO TRULY AFFECT CHANGE AND
HELP TEACHERS WORK WITH CHILDREN
WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS AND
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, WE
RECOMMEND THAT THE ADDITIONAL
FUNDS FROM THE EARLY CHILDHOOD
MENTAL HEALTH, WE RECOMMEND THAT
ADDITIONAL FUNDS BE ALLOCATED
FROM THE EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL
HEALTH ADJUSTMENT FACTOR BE
ALLOWED TO PAY FOR TEACHER AND
IN CLASSROOM TRAINING. BRINGING
THE TEACHING PYRAMID FROM THE
CENTER OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
FOUNDATIONS, WHICH IS REFERRED
TO AS CCFL TO PRACTITIONERS IN
THE CLASSROOM. THIS TOOL IS
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR
TEACHERS AND PRACTITIONERS TO
HAVE A SUCCESSFUL AND
SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO ENSURING
THE HEALTHY SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN THEY
SERVE, USING EXISTING CONTRACT
FUNDS TO PAY FOR THIS TRAINING
COSTS NO EXTRA MONEY AND WILL
EMPOWER THOSE IN THE CLASSROOM
DIRECTLY. WORKING WITH CHILDREN
AND THESE PROGRAMS CAN CAN BE
IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY. VÆ.
THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR
TEACHERS WILL AUGMENT THE
EXPERTISE OF LICENSED CLINICAL
THERAPISTS. I THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. I
APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK
ON THIS ISSUE AND I WANTED TO
RECOMMEND SOME REAL WORLD, REAL
WORLD, IMMEDIATE RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT WILL DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE
THE FLEXIBILITY AND REDUCE THE
BARRIERS FOR PROGRAMS TO SERVE
SUBSIDIZED CHILDREN IN
CALIFORNIA. VÀ I APPRECIATE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE'S COMMITMENT TO THE
FIELD, AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR JACKSON
AND CHAIR ALVAREZ AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JAMES
MOSES. I WORK FOR CHILD CARE
RESOURCE CENTER. BUT TODAY I'M
HERE REPRESENTING THE INLAND
EMPIRE CHILDREN'S CABINET CHILD
CARE SUBCOMMITTEE, THIS IS A
COMMITTEE THAT'S MADE UP OF OVER
150 MEMBERS. AND THE INFORMATION
THAT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU TODAY
REALLY COMES DIRECTLY FROM MY
COLLEAGUES THAT ARE WORKING IN
THE CHILD CARE FIELD. THEY ARE
BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT
PROVIDERS, STATE AND FEDERALLY
FUNDED PROVIDERS, AS WELL AS
PRIVATE PAY THAT SERVE, YOU
KNOW, THEIR CENTER BASED FAMILY,
CHILD CARE, FAMILY, FRIEND AND
NEIGHBOR PROGRAMS. AND THEN IN
ADDITION, MANY OF OUR CHILD CARE
SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN THE INLAND
EMPIRE PARTICIPATE AS PART OF
THIS CABINET. SO YOU KNOW, I'D
LIKE TO THANK THE PANELISTS THAT
SPOKE ALL DAY TODAY. MANY OF THE
THINGS THAT WE WILL SHARE AND
LIFT UP HAVE ALREADY BEEN
MENTIONED IN SOME WAYS, I'LL
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE MOST
COMMON THEMES THAT CAME UP
AROUND SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT
INLAND EMPIRE PROVIDERS SPOKE
ABOUT. SO SO ONE WAS KIND OF THE
CHALLENGES TO BE FIND, ACQUIRE
AND LICENSE A BUILDING TO VÀ,
YOU KNOW, NOT NOT TO MENTION THE
LACK OF FUNDING AND THE COST TO
THIS. SO, A LOT OF CHALLENGES, A
LOT OF RED TAPE, ALSO ACQUIRING
BUILDING PERMITS, SOME OF THE
CLEARANCES NEEDED SOMETIMES
CREATE OTHER FINANCIAL DEMANDS,
GETTING INVESTED IN, CONNECTED
TO THE FOOD PROGRAM, FINDING
QUALIFIED STAFF TO WORK IN THE
CENTERS OF YOUR FAMILY,
CHILDCARE, HOMES. THEY ALSO
TALKED ABOUT THE BURDENSOME
REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY AND
ENROLLMENT IN SOME OF THE
PROGRAMS WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT
THE LACK OF WORKFORCE. AND THAT
CAME UP REGULARLY. WE HAVE A
LACK OF QUALIFIED TEACHERS, SOME
OF THE MORE COMMON REASONS THAT
THAT WERE SHARED THAT CAME UP A
LOT WERE LOW WAGES, WHICH IS NO
SURPRISE. WE ALSO HEARD FROM A
LOT OF PROVIDERS ABOUT THE
STRESS THAT TEACHERS ARE FEELING
IN THAT, CONNECTS BACK TO SOME
OF THE WORK THAT WAS MENTIONED
ABOUT MAKING SURE WE TAKE CARE
OF THE WORKFORCE AND SUPPORT
THEM. BUT MANY PROVIDERS ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF
WORKING WITH CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS, CHALLENGING
BEHAVIORS, AND THERE'S A LACK OF
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES AND FOR
STAFF AND PROGRAMS, THE
ASSOCIATE TEACHER PERMIT ISSUE
CAME UP. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR
WITH THAT, YOU CAN ONLY RENEW
YOUR ASSOCIATE TEACHER PERMIT
ONE TIME SO YOU CAN BE IN THAT
PERMIT LEVEL FOR TEN YEARS. AND
FOR MANY FOLKS, WHEN THAT
EXPIRES, THEY ARE UNABLE TO BE
LEFT ALONE IN THE CLASSROOM.
TEACH THE CLASSROOM AND MANY OF
THOSE FOLKS ARE BEGINNING TO
LEAVE THE FIELD AS THEY'RE
TEACHER PERMITS EXPIRE AND THEY
CAN'T RENEW, WE'VE HEARD A LOT
ABOUT THIS, BUT THE RISING COST
OF CHILDCARE CAME UP, ESPECIALLY
FOR PROVIDERS THAT ARE LOOKING
TO MOVE INTO MORE INFANT TODDLER
SERVICES WHERE THE COST IS
PROHIBITIVE. THEY ALSO TALKED
ABOUT DELAYS IN PAYMENTS AND
RECEIVING FUNDING AS A CHALLENGE
. ANOTHER THING THAT THEY THEY
BROUGHT UP WAS REALLY AROUND
PARENT PARENT EDUCATION, AROUND
WHAT KIND OF CHILD CARE AND
PRESCHOOL OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE
TO THEM, MANY OF ESPECIALLY ARE
NON TC PROGRAMS SHARED THAT THEY
HEAR FROM A LOT OF PARENTS THAT
THEY BELIEVE TC IS A REQUIRE
MOVEMENT AND THEY'RE NOT AWARE
OF THE OPTIONS AND CHOICES THEY
HAVE. SO THEY'RE NOT GETTING
ACCESS TO THE FULL FIELD, THEY
TALKED ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS
LACK OF AWARENESS AROUND OPTIONS
FOR FAMILIES. AND WE'VE HEARD
FROM SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ABOUT
THAT. IN UPK MIXED DELIVERY
MEETING THINGS, THEY ALSO TALKED
ABOUT THE LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE FOR STATE PRESCHOOL
EXPANSION DOLLARS, WHERE OUR
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
WERE UNABLE TO APPLY FOR SOME OF
THOSE EXPANSION DOLLARS
RECENTLY. SOME OF THE RECOMMEND
OPTIONS THEY LIFTED UP WAS
REALLY TO PROVIDE AND IMPROVE
COLLABORATION AT THE STATE.
STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL TO
INCREASE EFFICIENCIES. TO
SERVICES THAT ARE GOING TO
PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, BETTER AND
EXPANDED SERVICES FOR THE
PROVIDERS, FOR CHILDREN, FOR
FAMILIES, THINGS LIKE WORKING
WITH COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING,
WHICH YOU'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE BUILDING PERMITS THAT
ARE NECESSARY TO OPEN UP A
BUILDING, WORKING IN THE UPK
SYSTEM, CONTRACTING ISSUES. THEY
TALKED A LOT ABOUT A CONCERTED
EFFORT TO BUILD A PIPELINE THAT
PRODUCES TEACHERS AND
ADMINISTRATORS FOR CENTER BASED
AND FAMILY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS,
NOT JUST PUTTING MONEY IN
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, BUT
REALLY CREATE THE PATHWAY THAT
LEADS TO THIS. IT NEEDS TO
INCLUDE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND
OF COURSE, COMPENSATION. THEY
LIFTED THAT UP TIME AND TIME
AGAIN. THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT
PAID TRAINING DAYS THAT THEY
DON'T HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO
THEM. AND THE CHALLENGES, IF
THEY'RE IN STATE FUNDED
PROGRAMS, KSP IN PARTICULAR,
THEY THEY'D LIKE TO SEE RATES
IN, YOU KNOW, ENACT HIGHER
PAYMENTS THAT ARE BASED ON REAL,
REAL COSTS. THEY WANT TO SEE
FAMILIES POINTED TO RESOURCE AND
REFERRAL DEPARTMENTS. AND WE
HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL
DEPARTMENTS. SO IN ADDITION TO
THE WORK THEY DO WITH SIPP
PROVIDERS, THEY PROVIDE GUIDANCE
TO FAMILIES AROUND ALL THE
OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES AND DISCUSS
WITH THEM KIND OF WHAT'S
AVAILABLE TO THEM, WHAT MIGHT
BEST MEET THEIR NEEDS. SO THEY
TALKED ABOUT NEEDING MORE MORE
FUNDING FOR THAT AND THEN ALSO
REQUIRED COLLABORATION BETWEEN
THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE LEAS
AND THE DNR'S. NOT ALL REYES ARE
MANY DON'T KNOW WHAT TC PROGRAMS
EXIST. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THEM AND
OUR LÀ SCHOOL DISTRICTS AREN'T
AWARE OF THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT
EXIST IN THE MIXED DELIVERY
SYSTEM, SO THEY CAN'T SHARE THAT
INFORMATION EITHER. THEY TALKED
ABOUT A HOLD HARMLESS BEING A
BLESSING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS, BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT
WHEN WE MOVED TO, YOU KNOW,
FORWARD WITH A NEW COST OF CARE
QUALITY MODEL, HOW IMPORTANT IT
IS TO BE PAID ON ENROLLMENT, NOT
ATTENDANCE IN TERMS OF JUST
BENEFITING THEIR BUDGET.
PLANNING WAS A BIG DEAL. I
TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS AND CHALLENGING
BEHAVIORS. THEY MENTIONED THAT
TITLE FIVE PROGRAMS TALKED
ABOUT, AND THIS IS BUILDING OFF
WHAT JACKIE SAID ABOUT CAN WE
USE A PERCENTAGE OF OUR OUR
FUNDING TO SUPPORT TRAINING AND
EDUCATION WITH OUR STAFF? ONE OF
THE LAST THINGS OH, THEY TALKED
A LOT ABOUT THE CIP PROGRAM THAT
YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD A LOT
ABOUT, THAT THAT REALLY COMES IN
HANDY TO SERVE THE OUTRIGHT
OUTREACHING AREAS. RIVERSIDE AND
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES HAVE
OUTLYING AREAS THAT ARE THAT ARE
FAIRLY REMOTE, AND MANY OF THOSE
AREAS ARE SERVED PRIMARILY BY
FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS,
FAMILY, FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR
PROVIDERS THAT WE CAN WE CAN
SUPPORT THERE. ANOTHER
RECOMMENDATION THEY HAD WAS
LET'S LEVERAGE WHAT WE PROVIDE
IN THE CHILD CARE AND
DEVELOPMENT FIELDS AND THE
FAMILIES WE SERVE IN THE INLAND
EMPIRE. WE HAVE MORE THAN 70,000
CHILDREN THAT ARE STATE
SUBSIDIZED, AND WE HAVE ACCESS
TO THESE CHILDREN THROUGH OUR
PROVIDERS ON A DAILY BASIS. WE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONNECT THEM
TO, PROGRAMS THAT MIGHT NEED
THEIR NEEDS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
PROGRAMS, HEALTH PROGRAMS,
HEALTH SCREENINGS, THE ABILITY
TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN ARE
DEVELOPMENTALLY SCREENED. AND WE
NEED A BETTER CONNECTION TO
CREATE THOSE COLLABORATIONS AND
MAKE SURE WE CONNECT THOSE
CHILDREN. WE'RE ALREADY SERVING
TO ADDITIONAL SERVICES, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES
WE HAVE IN THE INLAND EMPIRE. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON
SOLUTIONS TO MOVE OUR WORK
FORWARD. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ABSOLUTELY. I'M GOING TO, PASS
IT OVER TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ALVAREZ FOR HIS QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU, DOCTOR JACKSON, AND LET ME
START WITH THIS PANEL, BUT I'M
HOPEFUL THAT SOME OF THE FOLKS
FROM THE OTHER PANELS ARE HERE.
AND IF NOT, I'M SURE THEY'LL
THEY'LL FIND OUT SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT I I'LL BE ASKING,
AND WE'LL CONNECT ANOTHER TIME.
THERE IS A LOT OF, YOU'VE
PRESENTED AND, SPECIFICALLY, TO,
MISS WEISS OR DOCTOR WEISS. I'M
SORRY, MISS WEISS, A LOT OF I
APPRECIATE THE VERY SPECIFIC,
TANGIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS.
ÓRDENES. THAT'S ALWAYS THE BEST
TESTIMONY, BECAUSE THEN WE SORT
OF CAN TRY AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO
DECIPHER THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE
AND UNDERSTAND PERHAPS HOW WE
CAN BE HELPFUL IN THAT
CONVERSATION. SO, I ALSO HEARD
THIS, THIS ISSUE, THAT I'M
CURIOUS ABOUT LEARNING MORE
ABOUT, WHICH IS THE, THE TEN
YEAR SUNSET OF THE, PRESCHOOL
AIDS, I BELIEVE, THAT AFTER TEN
YEARS, THE OUR LAST TESTIMONY,
EXPLAINED TO US THAT SOMEONE
WITH WITH THAT CREDENTIAL, AFTER
TEN YEARS, THEIR CREDENTIAL,
IT'S NOT REPEALED. IT JUST I
GUESS IT'S SUNSETS. IT'S
PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO SAY IT,
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID
IS BECOMING MORE OF A CONCERN?
YOU'RE SEEING MORE OF, I GUESS,
MORE OF AN EXODUS THAN AN ENTRY
INTO THIS PART OF THE WORKFORCE.
YEAH. IN THE IN THE INLAND
EMPIRE OF THE PROVIDERS THAT I
SPOKE WITH TO PREPARE FOR THIS,
I LEARNED AND I WAS AWARE OF TWO
ALREADY, BUT I LEARNED OF A
THIRD ONE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE
CLASSROOMS CLOSED AND HAVE HAD
ASSOCIATE TEACHERS WHOSE PERMIT
EXPIRED LEAVE THEIR LEAVE THEIR
ORGANIZATION TO GO WORK
ELSEWHERE, OR IF THEY WERE ABLE
TO RETAIN THEM, CONTINUE THEIR
THROUGH THAT PERMIT MATRIX,
RENEW IT AGAIN, THAT THEY COULD
HAVE STAYED ON THOSE CLASSROOMS
MAY BE OPEN AS A RESULT OF THIS.
JUST TRY TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT
AN OPTION FOR THEM TO RE, NO. SO
THERE'S SEVERAL PERMIT LEVELS I
THINK FIVE, MAYBE SIX. EVERY ONE
CAN BE RENEWED UNLIMITED AMOUNTS
OF TIME. THE ASSOCIATE TEACHER
PERMIT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN
ONLY BE RENEWED ONCE. AND IF BY
CHANCE I'M MISTAKEN, SOMEONE
HERE ON THE PANEL CAN CORRECT
ME. SO ISSUANCE WITH A SUNSET OF
TEN YEARS, TEN YEARS AND AN
ADDITIONAL ONE TIME OF TEN
YEARS. NO. SO YOU GET THE
PERMIT. YOU HAVE FIVE YEARS. YOU
CAN RENEW IT ONCE FOR ADDITIONAL
FIVE YEARS TOTAL OF TEN. SO YOU
HAVE TEN YEARS. AND THEN IF YOU
DON'T ELEVATE TO THE NEXT LEVEL,
THEN YOU LOSE YOUR PERMIT STATUS
OR YOU YOU'D HAVE TO REVERT
BACK. I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU
KNOW, MY ONLY THOUGHTS AND
CERTAINLY NOT BEING AN EXPERT IN
THIS FIELD, BUT IS, FROM MY
PERSONAL INTERACTIONS WITH MY
CHILDREN IN, IN THE SETTINGS,
THERE ARE SOME PRETTY VALUABLE
EXPERIENCE FROM FOLKS, YOU KNOW,
CERTAINLY AFTER TEN YEARS THAT,
PERHAPS REQUIRING ADDITIONAL
EDUCATION, WHICH WE'RE NOT EVEN
PAYING THEM TO DO, GETTING TO
THE POINT OF, PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, AN ISSUE THAT WAS
RAISED HERE, SEEMS LIKE IT'S
SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT
IS DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO LOSE
THE EXPERIENCE WHICH HAS A VALUE
OF TEN YEARS? BECAUSE AND I'M
SURE THERE WAS A REASON, AND I'M
SURE SOMEONE WILL TELL ME WHY AT
SOME POINT. IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO
END THIS AT TEN YEARS, BUT IT'S
SOMETHING TO AT LEAST CONSIDER.
AND AT LEAST FROM MY STANDPOINT,
I HAVE A FURTHER CONVERSATION
ABOUT. BUT THAT THAT DOES BRING
ME TO THE PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, THAT INDIVIDUALS
HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT CHOICE AND
SO THEY EITHER GO AND, RECEIVE
THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
THAT THEY ALL WANT TO GROW AND
BECOME BETTER AT WHAT THEY DO.
PEOPLE WHO DO THIS OBVIOUSLY
LOVE WHAT THEY DO, AND THEY WANT
TO BE THE BEST AT IT. BUT,
THERE'S A TRADE OFF WITH THAT
TAKING THE TIME OFF BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT GETTING PAID. AND
THEREFORE THERE IS A COST
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. SO I'M
CERTAINLY AGAIN, THAT THAT'S
ANOTHER TOPIC THAT I THINK IS
WORTHWHILE OF AT LEAST EXPLORING
, I ALSO HEARD THE VERY, AGAIN,
DIRECT RECOMMENDATION OF THE
OUTDOOR SPACE AND THAT BEING A
POTENTIAL ISSUE WHEN IT COMES
TO, INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY AND
SLOTS. AND I'M DEFINITELY
INTERESTED IN, ACCOMPLISHING
THAT. I DON'T WANT TO STEP ON
THE CHAIRMAN'S TOES OF HIS,
SUBCOMMITTEE, BUT I THINK THAT
SOUNDS OF INTEREST. IF I CAN
PLUG IT NOW, AND THEN THE
PRIORITIZATION ON THE FACILITIES
THAT SERVE THE STUDENTS, THAT
REALLY, YOU KNOW, NEED THE
SUBSIDIZED STUDENTS AS YOU
TESTIFY TO, I THINK I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS
AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY
REFLECTION ON THE COMMENTS THAT
I MADE. OTHERWISE, I'D YOU LIKE
TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS HERE. COME
ON UP, PLEASE. THANK YOU. CHAIR
KIM JOHNSON, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES I
DON'T THINK THAT MICROPHONE IS
ON. SERGEANTS HOW ABOUT NOW?
IT'S BETTER OKAY. KIM JOHNSON,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES WE DO OFFER A WAIVER
FOR OUTDOOR SPACE FOR COMMUNITY
CARE LICENSING. SO WE'RE HAPPY
TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION IS
ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE. AND IF
THERE'S OTHER STREAMLINING
WITHIN IT, WE'RE HAPPY TO
REVISIT THAT. BUT JUST WANTED TO
SHARE THAT WITH THE COMMITTEE,
APPRECIATE THAT. ANY OTHER
ANYONE FEEDBACK ON ANY OF THE
COMMENTS I MADE OR. OKAY, LET ME
ASK SOME QUESTIONS TO I MEAN,
OBVIOUSLY IT'S ALL RELATED, BUT,
I APPRECIATE I BELIEVE THE CHAIR
ASKED ABOUT THIS. IT'S SOMETHING
HIM AND I, I THINK, SEE EYE TO
EYE ON WHICH IS THE IDEA OF A
RAINY DAY FUND, FOR CHILD CARE.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A
IMPORTANT TOOL FOR OUR BUDGET IN
MANY REGARDS. AND EDUCATION
SPECIFICALLY, I, YOU KNOW, I
HAVE POST EARLY CHILDHOOD K
THROUGH 12 AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AND UNIVERSITIES AND, IT'S
SOMETHING WE'RE DEFINITELY
INTERESTED IN. SO I'M GLAD THAT
WAS AT LEAST EXPLORED OR TALKED
ABOUT, WHEN IT COMES TO THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY, THOUGH,
I WAS I HEARD THE TESTIMONY BY,
CHILD CARE UNITED AND EVEN FROM
THE LÀ Þ IN TERMS OF AND
ACTUALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION IN TERMS OF TIMING OF,
OF, OF PIECES THAT NEED TO BE
IMPLEMENTED PRIOR TO THIS EVEN
TAKING EFFECT. AND I'M NOT SURE
THAT I EITHER MISSED OR HEARD,
WHAT THAT PLANNING IS LIKE. AND
IT'S MAYBE A QUESTION FOR
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, IF THOSE
FOLKS ARE STILL HERE FROM THAT
PANEL OR TO THE LÀ Þ ON HOW
WE'RE GOING TO, MAKE SURE WE ARE
IMPLEMENTING THIS OVER
ESSENTIALLY REALLY THE NEXT
FISCAL YEAR, BECAUSE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OCCURS THE FISCAL
YEAR AFTER. AND WE CAN'T JUST,
YOU KNOW, FLIP A SWITCH. IT
DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN. IT
EVERYTHING TAKES TIME. SO,
ANYBODY CAN PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK
ON THAT. I'D APPRECIATE IT.
JACKIE. SO I CAN AT LEAST
PROVIDE JUST CONTEXT IN TERMS
OF, IN STATUTE, VARIOUS
REPORTING DEADLINES THAT WE DO
HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY, AND
LOOKING AT STATUTE, IT REALLY
GOES UP TO JULY 1ST, 2024 FOR,
IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT WILL
PROVIDE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT A
DRAFT OF, AGAIN, THE GENERAL
FRAMEWORK OF AN ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY, BUT THAT MAY NOT
INCLUDE THE ACTUAL VALUES OF THE
VARIOUS COMPONENTS THAT WILL
MAKE UP THE ACTUAL RATE, BUT I'M
JUST CURIOUS. I MEAN, WE DON'T
HAVE TO HAVE VALUES TO BUILD A
SYSTEM WHERE THE VALUES CAN BE
PLUGGED INTO, I ASSUME MAYBE I'M
TOO SIMPLISTICALLY MINDED ABOUT
THIS, BUT I THINK IN THAT CASE
WE WOULD RECOMMEND ASKING. I
KNOW CDE MADE COMMENTS ABOUT
POTENTIAL SYSTEM CHANGES THAT
WILL NEED TO BE MADE, AND THE
MAGNITUDE OF THE SYSTEM CHANGES
AND THE LENGTH OF TIME NEEDED
FOR THOSE SYSTEM CHANGES MAY BE
DEPENDENT ON, SOME OF THOSE
INPUT DEFINITIONS, BECAUSE IF
WE'RE REQUIRING NOW TO COLLECT
DATA ON A NEW INPUT, THEN THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADD TO
THE EXISTING SYSTEM, BUT I WILL
SAY BEYOND THAT, THE LEGISLATURE
COULD ALSO CONSIDER ADOPTING
ADDITIONAL REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS THAT, REQUIRE THE,
SOME OF THESE IMPLEMENTATION
MILESTONES AT LEAST BE
IDENTIFIED, DIED TO THE EXTENT
LIKE WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
ASSOCIATE A CERTAIN DOLLAR
AMOUNT OR SAY WITH SPECIFICITY
WHAT SYSTEM CHANGES WOULD BE
NEED AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGING A
SYSTEM CHANGE MAY BE NEEDED.
YEAH, AND IDENTIFYING IN WHICH
DEPARTMENTS OR FOR WHICH
PROGRAMS. OKAY. AND I SAW TWO
BRAVE INDIVIDUALS STEP UP, MAYBE
HAVE SOME MORE TO PROVIDE. TAMAR
WEBER, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. SO
THANK YOU TO THE LAO. IT'S
RIGHT. SO AS WE DISCUSSED IN A
PREVIOUS PANEL, JULY IS GOING TO
BE WHEN WE SUBMIT THE STATE PLAN
TO THE ACF, AND THEN THERE'S
GOING TO BE A PERIOD OF TIME
UNTIL WE GET APPROVAL, AS FAR
AS, LIKE SYSTEM CHANGES, LIKE
THE LAO DESCRIBED, WE WON'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT SYSTEM CHANGES NEED
TO HAPPEN UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THE
FINAL PLAN IS, BUT IN ADDITION,
I WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE PUT
OUT THERE THE DIFFERENT STEPS
THAT WE THINK IS WE NEED TO TAKE
OVER 24, 25 TO GET TO THAT, TO
FULL IMPLEMENTATION, AND YEAH,
DOCTOR WILHELM CAN TALK ABOUT
THOSE IN MORE DETAIL. YEAH. AND
ALSO LET YOU RESPOND TO MY, MY
QUESTION THEN WOULD BE THOUGH,
FROM A TIMELINE PERSPECTIVE, WE
WANT TO IMPLEMENT THIS AGAIN,
YOU KNOW, IN 2526. RIGHT. AND SO
THAT THAT IS THAT CORRECT? IS
THAT. OKAY. SO 2526 IS WHEN THE
RATE IS SUPPOSED TO BE
IMPLEMENTED. I THINK SHE SAID,
HOLD ON. JUST BECAUSE THEY SAID
YES, 000, OKAY. SO THE REASON
WHY YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOTICING A
BIT OF A PAUSE IS BECAUSE AS
THIS UPCOMING YEAR, WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE SOME CONCURRENT
CONVERSATIONS WHEN OF COURSE IS
RATE SETTING. RIGHT. SO WE HAVE,
RELEASED A REPORT THAT TALKS
ABOUT THE KEY ELEMENTS. AND I
THINK IT WAS REFERENCED EARLIER
PANEL ABOUT SOME OF THOSE
ELEMENTS STILL HAVING TBDS.
THAT'S RIGHT, I HEARD THAT. SO
DEFINITELY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THAT IS WITHIN THE
CONVERSATIONS, BOTH WITHIN
WHAT'S REPRESENTED, CPU AS WELL
AS THOSE THAT ARE NOT. BUT THE
SECOND PIECE IS ALSO
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
CONTRACTORS AS WELL AS THE
FIELDS IN REGARDS TO THE AREAS
THAT YOU'RE LIFTING UP, WHICH IS
AUTOMATION, TRAINING, GUIDANCE
AND THAT IS SO I DEFINITELY
UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IN JUST MY,
BRIEF EXPERIENCE HERE, NOTHING
HAPPENS VERY QUICKLY. AND SO,
THIS IS ALL SOUNDING TO ME LIKE
WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO
DO. AND THIS IS NOT LIKELY TO BE
IMPLEMENTED IN 25, 26. AND THAT
THEN MEANS WE'D HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT A ONE YEAR GAP AT THE
MINIMUM SOLUTION ON RATES. SO
THE ADMINISTRATION, I CAN SAY,
IS COMMITTED TO HAVING FURTHER
CONVERSATIONS ON WHAT THAT WILL
LOOK LIKE, BOTH KNOWING WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO GATHER FROM THE
FIELD, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING
THAT THERE HAS TO BE MORE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A START DATE
. YEAH, NO. AND AGAIN, I, YOU
KNOW, RESPECT. WE DON'T WANT TO
RUSH THIS AND GET IT WRONG
EITHER. I AGREE, BUT, I JUST TO
SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
BECAUSE IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT WE WERE DOING THIS
TRANSITION AND I THINK THIS
CONVERSATION HERE MAKES ME GET A
SENSE THAT WE MIGHT NOT DO THIS
TRANSITION. WHEN WE THOUGHT WE
WERE DOING THIS TRANSITION, WE
MIGHT, BUT WE MIGHT NOT SURE IF
I MAY CHAIR KIM JOHNSON,
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES A
COUPLE OF THINGS I JUST WANT TO
POINT OUT AND TO THE COMMITTEE'S
EARLIER QUESTIONS AROUND WHAT
WE'RE DOING IN THE INTERIM. I
JUST WANT TO AGAIN REFERENCE
THAT BOTH THE EXISTING MOU WITH
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS UNITED AND
THE PARITY PIECES, THE COST OF
PLUS PAYMENTS GO THROUGH JUNE OF
2025. THE IMPLEMENTATION
COMPONENTS THAT WERE DISCUSSING
THAT WE ARE KIND OF TB DETERMINE
HOW LONG WE NEED. I JUST I DON'T
WANT TO LOSE HOPE FOR 2526. IT'S
JUST TO BE DETERMINED AND WE'LL
BE ABLE TO ASSESS THAT. AND
WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE BACK WITH
THE LEGISLATURE PROGRESS ON
THAT. AS THAT BECOMES MORE CLEAR
. BUT I WOULD I WOULD NOT
NECESSARILY SAY THAT, WE HAVE
RULED OUT THAT POTENTIAL
IMPLEMENTATION OF WHAT IS PUT
FORWARD IN 25, 26. THAT'S STILL
A POSSIBILITY, I GUESS, WHERE
I'M I'M WHY I'M I DON'T WANT TO
USE THE WORD SKEPTICAL, BUT
WHERE I QUESTION IS, CAN WE
ACTUALLY DO THIS AS WE SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZING OR AT LEAST BE
DISCUSSING? CERTAINLY IN THE
CHAIRS COMMITTEE, SOME BUDGET
ALLOCATION TOWARDS THIS
TRANSITION? IF WE DO, WE'RE ALL
HOPEFUL THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN
AND WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING
THERE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. AND,
AS FAR AS I KNOW, I DON'T THINK
THERE'S ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET
ALLOCATED TOWARDS THIS PURPOSE.
FINANCE. YEAH, GABBY SANTORO,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, JUST FOR
CONTEXT, WHAT SORT OF,
REFERENCE, THE PAST TO,
AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE
NEGOTIATED WITH CPU AND PARITY
PACKAGES THAT WE PROVIDED FOR
THE NON REPRESENTATIVE FIELD, IN
TERMS OF ORDER OF OPERATIONS, WE
WOULD FIRST BE NEGOTIATING WITH
CCP WHILE CONCURRENTLY
CONSIDERING WHAT TO DO FOR THE
ENTIRE FIELD, MAKING SURE THAT
THEY'RE NOT LEFT BEHIND, BUT
IT'S TYPICAL THAT THAT WE DON'T
WANT TO PUT THE CART IN FRONT OF
THE HORSE. WE FIRST HAVE THESE
NEGOTIATIONS AND THEN FIGURE OUT
HOW TO IMPLEMENT THAT AND
PRESENT IT TO THE LEGISLATURE
FOR ENACTMENT. YEAH. BUT IF YOU
IF YOU'D HAVE TO, THEN WAIT TILL
NEXT YEAR TO PRESENT THE
LEGISLATURE WITH AN EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURE PLAN TO ENACT THAT,
THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. I THINK
THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION THEN
FOR EVERYBODY. IT'S NOT IN THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET. OKAY THE QUESTION
ON THE AGENDA, I THINK YOU MIGHT
HAVE SEEN ARE CHANGES ON THE RMR
, OR THE SRA ARE NECESSARY. ARE
ARE CHANGES NECESSARY TO EITHER
OF THESE UNTIL THE FULL FUNDING
FOR THE METHODOLOGY IS
IDENTIFIED, PARTICULARLY TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES OF
SYSTEMIC RACISM AND INEQUITIES
THAT EXIST, AS ONE EXAMPLE, THE
CAP ON THE LOCAL PARENT PAY
CAPACITY. I DON'T KNOW WHO MIGHT
FEEL COMFORTABLE ANSWERING THAT
QUESTION. OH, LET ME LET ME GIVE
IT A SHOT AND I'LL REFERENCE TO
DOCTOR MILAM AS WELL. SO AGAIN,
I WANT TO JUST APPRECIATE THE
UNDERSCORING OF URGENCY IN TERMS
OF BEING ABLE TO GET ADDITIONAL
SUPPLEMENTS AND RESOURCES OUT TO
THE WORKFORCE AND PROGRAMS,
HENCE THE COST OF CARE PAYMENTS
I REFERENCED. SO THE AGREEMENTS
THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED AND THE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THOSE
THAT AREN'T REPRESENTED IS
INTENDED. YES. THEY ARE. ONE
TIME TO THE POINTS MADE EARLIER
ON PANELS, BUT THEY ARE INTENDED
TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR CURRENT
RATE STRUCTURE AND METHODOLOGY
ISN'T FULLY RESOURCING IN THE
WAYS THAT AN ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY THAT'S LOOKING AT
THE COST OF CARE AS A COMPONENT
MAY DO SO. SO THAT IS HOW WE ARE
CURRENTLY ADDRESSING THE NEED
FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR
PROGRAMS IN THE WORKFORCE TO
BOTH RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS OF THE
WORKFORCE, AS WELL AS RETAIN
EXISTING PROGRAMS. OKAY. YEAH, I
THINK CERTAINLY AGAIN, QUESTIONS
REMAIN ON THIS THIS, TRANSITION.
THÀNH, WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
HELPING HEARING WHAT CURRENT
EXISTING RESOURCES IS, EXIST
JUST FOR THE SHIFTING OF THE
METHODOLOGY. AND AS IT RELATES
TO FOR EXAMPLE, IT COSTS THERE'S
THAT'S A VERY BASIC YOU KNOW,
YOU'VE GOT TO CREATE, SOFTWARE I
ASSUME, OR THERE ARE SOME PRETTY
BASIC THINGS THAT WE KNOW WILL
BE REQUIRED OR NOT. IT'S NOT IN
THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. SO I
ASSUME THEN OR MAYBE IT WILL BE
IN THE REVISED MAYBE NOW THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, I DON'T
KNOW, BUT BUT, I THINK THOSE ARE
THINGS WE, WE NEED TO BE MADE
AWARE OF. BUT I WILL STOP THERE
AND TURN IT OVER TO OUR CHAIR.
DOCTOR JACKSON. NOW, EVERYONE
KNOWS VÌ CHAIR ALVAREZ CHAIRS
THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE. I
CERTAINLY, AGAIN, I THINK THAT
AS WE BEGIN TO, TRANSITION TO A
MORE, ROBUST AND STABLE SYSTEM,
CHILD CARE SYSTEM, OBVIOUSLY,
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE
COMPONENTS IS SO IMPORTANT. AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE,
EMPOWERING CURRENT PROVIDERS TO
HAVE THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED TO
EVEN BE GREATER BENEFITS,
CERTAINLY YOUNG PEOPLE, THOSE
PROVIDERS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING,
TRANSITIONING TO INFANTS AND THE
TYPE OF RENOVATIONS THAT
REQUIRES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
THOSE SIGNIFICANT. I MEAN, THOSE
ARE LIKE. SUPER HOME IMPROVEMENT
PROJECTS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE ARE
BIG IN TERMS OF THE, HUGE
RENOVATION COSTS THAT THOSE TAKE
TO BE ABLE TO TRANSITION TO
INFANTS. CERTAINLY THE, FINDING
WAYS TO WE ARE AWARE OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING REQUESTS,
BY THE WAY, I, I'VE PERSONALLY,
HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON THAT AS
WELL, I THINK THE IDEA IS JUST
HOW CAN WE CREATE A MORE ROBUST
JUST, THE PROBLEM IS WE'RE WE
KIND OF HAVE POTS HERE, POTS
THERE, KIND OF THING, BUT NOT A
PART OF A WHOLE SYSTEM TO MAKING
SURE THEY'RE ALL CONNECTED. AND
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS
MAKING SURE THAT AS WE LOOK AT
THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS, LOOK
AT THE VARIOUS POTS WE HAVE FOR
VARIOUS THINGS, HOW DOES IT FIT
INTO A CONTINUOUS, PROCESS, THAT
MEETS THE VARIOUS NEEDS WE NEED
TO GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO,
BUT ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING A
LONG TERME COMMITMENT. AND THE
KEY PART IS, IS, NUMBER ONE,
THERE'S NO DOUBT THE GOVERNOR
HAS BEEN A GREAT CHAMPION. WHEN
IT COMES TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO IN TERMS OF THE CHILD CARE
SPACE, THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TIME LIMITS AS
WELL. AND HOW DO WE CREATE A
SYSTEM THAT WILL EVEN IF
CONTINUE ON IN TERMS OF THIS
PATH, NO MATTER WHO'S THE
GOVERNOR? RIGHT PART OF IT. I'M
SURE IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE
LONGEVITY OF THOSE OF US WHO ARE
IN CHARGE OF THESE, YOU KNOW,
COMMITTEES AT ANY PARTICULAR
TIME. AND WHETHER THE SPEAKER
KEEPS US HERE, YOU KNOW, BUT I
THINK THIS IS A LONG TERME
COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO
NEED LONG TERME FUNDING TOWARDS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I KNOW FOR,
FOR, FOR ME, I'M GOING TO BE
LOOKING AT WAYS TO PUT THINGS ON
THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN REALLY
SOLVE THIS. AND AGAIN, IT'S MY
PERSONAL PRIORITY K¾T TO CREATE
THIS MORE LONG TERME FUNDING
STREAMS THAT WILL NOT ONLY DEAL
WITH ISSUES OF RATE REFORM, BUT
THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, THE
DESERT NEEDS. IN TERMS OF SIPS.
RIGHT, I'M GOING TO BE AN
HONORARY SIPPER, I WOULD LIKE A
CERTIFICATE, PLEASE, JUST
LETTING YOU KNOW. AND A CUP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A SIPPY CUP
WITH MY NAME ON IT, PLEASE, BUT,
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR,
NUMBER ONE, THE WORK THAT YOU DO
, YOU HAVE BEEN HOLDING THIS
STATE DOWN EVEN WHEN, TIMES HAVE
BEEN ROUGH, WE HAVE A LONG WAYS
TO GO TO EVEN JUST GET TO WHERE
WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. AND
THEN, OF COURSE, GOING EVEN
FURTHER WITH THAT, I'M. I'M
THINKING OF HAVING A FURTHER
LISTENING SESSION OVER OUR
SUMMER BREAK, PARTICULARLY ON
CHILD CARE, SO THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY HAVE POSSIBLY A
LEGISLATIVE AND BUDGETARY
PACKAGE FOR NEXT YEAR TO
CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS BABY
FORWARD, AND USUALLY WHEN I DO
LISTENING SESSIONS LIKE THIS IS
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN A
PANEL, WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE,
YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE FOOD,
BUT THE IDEA IS GETTING OUT OF
THIS KIND OF FORMAL THING AND
KIND OF GOING TO BRAINSTORMING,
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE THESE
PROBLEMS, AND I MIGHT AS WELL
JUST SAY THIS. I'M ALSO
FRUSTRATED THAT THERE ARE SO
MANY PROBLEMS, BUT I ALSO, WHEN
I ASK FOR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, I
DON'T GET MANY OF THOSE. SEE
WHAT I'M SAYING? AND SO, SO, SO
I'M HOPING AS WE CAN TAKE THIS
INTO A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT, WE
CAN KIND OF HELP EACH OTHER
THINK THROUGH THESE ISSUES, SO
THAT WE CAN COME WITH TANGIBLE
SOLUTIONS THAT WILL REALLY MOVE,
MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD. BECAUSE
A LOT OF THESE THINGS IS NOT
ABOUT BUDGET, EITHER. THERE'S
SOME POLICY THINGS TO, YOU KNOW,
I HAVE IF YOU GO INTO MY OFFICE,
THERE'S SOMETHING ON MY OFFICE
CALLED THE FIRE MARSHAL FIX,
RIGHT WHERE THE FIRE MARSHAL IS
REQUIRING MORE THAN WHAT,
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING IS
REQUIRING. AND IN SOME CASES,
YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU
HAVE AN OUTDOOR SPACE, YOU HAVE
TO DO A WHOLE CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT TO HAVE THOSE COVERED,
COVERED THINGS, WHICH IS AN
ENORMOUS COST. BUT THEN I'M
WONDERING, WELL, CAN WE PROVIDE
A MORE COSTLY ALTERNATIVE THAT
PROVIDES THE SAME NEEDS? RIGHT.
SO THAT IF THE FIRE MARSHAL IS
REQUIRING IT, WE CAN SAY, WELL,
HOLD ON, I DON'T HAVE TO GET
THAT. I MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THIS
AND STILL REAP STILL, MEET THAT
SAME REQUIREMENT. RIGHT LIKE WE
REALLY GOT TO DIG INTO THESE
BARRIERS, I'M PROBABLY SAYING
THIS TOO SOON, BUT, YOU KNOW, I
WANT TO ELIMINATE PERMIT. PERMIT
FEES THAT CITIES CAN PUT ON
CHILD CARE CENTERS AND
FACILITIES. RIGHT. BECAUSE IT
DOES A PUBLIC GOOD. YOU KNOW, I
MEAN, ALL THOSE TYPE OF THINGS,
YOU KNOW, I CAN FEEL THE LETTERS
COMING NOW. WELL, IF, IF I, IF I
MAY CHAIR, AS YOU KNOW, THE, THE
AND I WONDER IF THIS IS AN
INSPIRATION THE LEGISLATURE DID
ELIMINATE CITY PERMITTING FEES
FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE, THROUGH
SB 234, AND IN FACT, AS AS A
FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I
WOULD SAY THAT I THINK THAT AT
LEAST LIMITING, LICENSING AND
PERMITTING FEES AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL FOR CHILD CARE IS
SOMETHING I THINK THE
LEGISLATURE COULD EXPLORE, AND I
THINK IT COULD BE AN ADD ON TO
EXISTING RULES AND REGULATIONS,
WHICH ALSO SOMEWHAT ADDRESS THE
FIRE MARSHAL CONCERNS, WHICH
WHICH, IF YOU TALK TO THE STATE
FIRE MARSHAL, WILL SAY YES, WE
GET THIS INFORMATION OUT. BUT
THEN THERE'S STILL THE SOME,
SOME SORT OF A DISCONNECT AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL. AND SO LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS, SOME ARE TAKING
IT ON AND SOME ARE NOT TAKING IT
ON. SO AND IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY,
WE'VE JUST DONE A SURVEY OF ALL
OF THE CITIES. AND TO UNDERSTAND
THEIR FEES RELATED TO CHILD CARE
CENTERS AND A FAMILY CHILD CARE,
AS WELL AS THEIR ZONING,
PERMITTING PROCESSES, WE'RE JUST
WAITING FOR APPROVAL FROM THE
COUNTY TO RELEASE ALL THE
FINDINGS, BUT WE'LL HAVE THEM,
AT LEAST FOR RIVERSIDE COUNTY,
AND LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING IN
CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT
WHAT OTHER SUPPORT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE COULD PROVIDE.
FANTASTIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THAT. SO ANYWAY, LOOK FORWARD TO
A Ã, INVITATION TO MANY OF YOU
OR ALL OF YOU TO, COME BACK UP
HERE TO SACRAMENTO TO KIND OF
DIVE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO
THIS AND SEE IF WE CAN ALL COME
UP WITH SOMETHING. WE CAN ALL
MOVE FORWARD WITH FOR NEXT YEAR.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. YEP NOW IT'S GOING TO BE
OUR TIME, WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
LET ME SAY THIS. I'M GOING TO
SAY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO
CAUSE Y'ALL TO JUMP UP. DON'T
JUMP UP, OKAY? BECAUSE I NEED
Y'ALL TO HEAR ME, WE'RE GOING TO
BEGIN A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
INFORMATION ITEMS AND BASICALLY,
THOUGH, WHAT'S GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT IS PLEASE ONLY LIMIT
YOUR, COMMENTS TO THE
INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN ON THE
AGENDA THUS FAR. ALL RIGHT.
DON'T BE TRYING TO ADD IN THE
OTHER ITEMS SO THAT WE'RE GOING
TO BE GOING INTO NEXT SO YOU CAN
GO HOME ALL RIGHT. YOU STUCK
WITH ME. ALL RIGHT. IF I GOT TO
BE HERE, YOU GOT TO BE HERE TO.
ALL RIGHT. SO JUST MAKE YOUR WAY
UP, TO THE MICROPHONE AGAIN.
THAT'S ONLY ON THE FIRST FIVE
ITEMS, THAT WE'RE GOING TOWARDS.
ALL RIGHT, JUST A MINUTE. I'M
GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO TAKE YOUR
CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE, PLEASE.
THIS IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SORRY AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME
AND AFFILIATION, PLEASE. AND
WE'RE DOING. HOW MUCH TIME, TWO
MINUTES. TWO MINUTES. AND THEN,
WE NEED YOU TO WRAP IT UP. OKAY.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, MY NAME
IS JEFF FROST. I'M HERE
REPRESENTING A NUMBER OF
ORGANIZATIONS, THE ORANGE COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE,
ASSOCIATION OF SUBURBAN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, THE MARIN COUNTY
OFFICE. AND I'VE BEEN ASKED TO
ALSO REPRESENT THE ASSOCIATION
OF CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS. I WANT TO SPEAK
SPECIFICALLY TO THE ISSUE THAT
BOTH MR. ALVAREZ AND MR.
MURATSUCHI COMMENTED ON
REGARDING THE, TKE PENALTIES IS,
THAT SOME DISTRICTS ARE
EXPERIENCING, WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT A FIX ON THIS ISSUE. WE
HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
WITH MISS GABEL AND OTHERS ABOUT
THE ISSUE, WE WANT TO MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT OUR REQUEST IS TO FIX
THE PROBLEM. ONLY FOR THE
EXISTING YEAR. OUR CLIENTS CAN
ADAPT, TO THE EXISTING, QUOTE
UNQUOTE, DEAL, OF THE, RATIO AT
10 TO 1, BUT WE'RE UNABLE TO DO
SO, AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, FOR
THE CURRENT YEAR. WE APPRECIATE
YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY AND, AND FOR
YOUR VERY GOOD QUESTIONS TODAY,
CELINE CRIMSON, I'M WITH,
VOICES, AND I'M ALSO FROM
EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT SYSTEM
CAME UP FROM SAN DIEGO. I'M HERE
REPRESENTING 200 EMPLOYEES AT
OUR 19 HIGH QUALITY SITES, I'M
HERE TO EXPRESS FIRST,
APPRECIATION FOR THE ONE TIME
NEEDED FUNDING THAT HAS KEPT OUR
DOORS OPEN, AS WELL AS MADE SOME
AMAZING FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS.
HOWEVER THIS IS A BUDGET
COMMITTEE, SO I'M, YOU KNOW, AND
I KNOW, I CANNOT THAT'S ALL
RIGHT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO YOU
DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THEM OUT.
THIS IS HIS. THIS IS HIS
HEARING. YOU'RE OKAY. WE CANNOT
MAKE A MATTER OF FACT. BRING HIM
UP TO THE MICROPHONE. HE GOT
SOMETHING TO SAY? AGREED. WE
CANNOT MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR
WAGES TO OUR STAFF WITH ONE TIME
FUNDING. AND WE VERY MUCH URGE
THE ONGOING NEEDED COST CARE
RATE. THANK YOU. NEXT NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. HI, I'M
BRIANNA BURKS. I'M WITH PARENT
VOICES CONTRA COSTA. I'VE BEEN A
CNA FOR ON AND OFF 12 YEARS AND
WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT CHILDCARE.
ONLY RECENTLY DID I GET
CHILDCARE FOR MY YOUNGEST CHILD
AT A SUBSIDIZED CENTER. THE
OTHER TWO HAVEN'T BEEN ENROLLED
YET. I WORK AT NIGHT, I WORK
NIGHTS, SOMETIMES DAYS, AND, AND
I NEED CHILDCARE FOR ALL MY
KIDS, I'M HERE FOR THE HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF KIDS ON THE
WAITING LIST WHO NEED CARE. NOW,
I'M HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF PER
FOR THOUSANDS OF PROVIDERS WHO
DESERVE BETTER WAGES AND WILL
HELP THEM SERVE MORE KIDS.
PLEASE FUND CHILDCARE WITH NO
DELAYS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
NAME AND AFFILIATION. PLEASE AND
EVERYONE ELSE, CAN YOU PLEASE
MOVE UP SO THAT YOU CAN CREATE
MORE SPACE FOR OTHER PEOPLE?
COME. MOVE ON UP. MY NAME IS
LASHAY AND I'M. I'M A PARENT
LEADER WITH PARENT VOICES. THIS
IS MY SON, MATTHEW. HE'S TAKING
A GOOD NAP AND MY DAUGHTER,
JUNE, SHE'S NOT WITH ME RIGHT
NOW, BUT RIGHT NOW MY KIDS STAY
WITH MY MOM DURING THE DAY. BUT
EVEN THOUGH I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY
MOM STEPPING UP AND TAKING CARE
OF THEM, THAT'S NOT THE OPTION I
WOULD CHOOSE. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
MY MOM, DOORDASH, IS WITH MY
KIDS IN THE CAR. SO IN A PERFECT
WORLD, THEY WOULD BE GETTING A
THEY WOULD BE IN A GOOD PLACE
WHERE THEY WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE
TRAINED TEACHERS WHO CAN TEACH
THEM THE BASICS SO THEY COULD
START KINDERGARTEN READY TO GO.
THEY WOULD BE IN A CLEAN, SAFE
ENVIRONMENT, GETTING THREE
NUTRITIONISTS AND HEALTHY MEALS
A DAY. AND THEY'D HAVE TEACHERS
WHO REALLY CARED FOR THEM AND
TOOK CARE OF THEIR WELL-BEING
AND MADE THEM FEEL SAFE. SO
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS DO
IMPORTANT WORK. THEY SHOULD NOT
BE PUNISHED FOR TAKING FAMILIES
WITH THE SUBSIDY AND ALSO, WHO
WANTS TO LEAVE THEIR KIDS WITH
SOMEONE WHO'S FINANCIALLY
STRESSED? IF MY SUBSIDY AMOUNT
WAS HIGHER, THEN IT WOULD ALLOW
ME TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE TYPE OF
CARE I WANT FOR MY KIDS. THE LOW
SUBSIDY. THIS LOW SUBSIDY AMOUNT
MAKES IT HARD FOR PROVIDERS TO
TAKE FOR PROVIDERS TO TAKE
SUBSIDIES, HARDER FOR THEM TO
SERVE FAMILIES LIKE MINE AND
HARDER TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN.
I AM NOT THE ONLY FAMILY IN
CALIFORNIA WITH THE SUBSIDY WHO
JUST CANNOT FIND A PROVIDER.
THERE ARE SO MANY MORE PEOPLE IN
MY EXACT SITUATION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NAME AFFILIATION.
PLEASE DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT HIS
TURN. HI, MY NAME IS HANI
BROOKS. I'M WITH VOIGTS. OH, I'M
SO SORRY. I'M A PARENT. VOICES
OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. I'VE
WORKED FOR THE POST OFFICE FOR
THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND WHEN I
WENT ON MATERNITY LEAVE WITH MY
YOUNGEST, I HAD TO, I WAS ON
MATERNITY LEAVE. I WANT TO GO
BACK TO WORK, BUT I CAN'T
WITHOUT CHILD CARE. I ALSO NEED
CHILDCARE DURING THE NIGHT
BECAUSE I WORK GRAVEYARD, I'M
HERE TO ASK THAT. YOU OKAY? I'M
HERE TO ASK THAT YOU DO NOT
DELAY CHILDCARE FOR THE
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WHO NEED
CHILD CARE, AND TO SUPPORT OUR
CHILD CARE WORKERS WHO CAN
SURVIVE ON POVERTY WAGES. PLEASE
INVEST IN CHILD CARE. THANK YOU.
I KNOW, I KNOW HIS NAME. HIS
NAME IS TROUBLE. HE'S DONE
REALLY GOOD. I'VE BEEN HERE ALL
DAY, I'M MARY IGNATIUS. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARENT
VOICES CALIFORNIA. WE'RE ASKING
THE COMMITTEE TO REJECT THE
PAUSE OF THE 20,000 SLOTS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES WHO ARE WAITING AND TO
SUPPORT CCPU AND THE EC
COALITION'S ASK AROUND THE TRUE
COST OF CARE, I REALLY BELIEVE
THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING BUDGET
HEARINGS ABOUT THE $70 BILLION
IN TAX BREAKS THAT OUR STATE
BUDGET AND TAXPAYERS PAY FOR
INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CHOOSE
WHICH OF THESE PROGRAMS WE
SHOULD PRIORITIZE, THERE ARE
PLENTY OF TAX BREAKS THAT WE
SHOULD BE CALLING ON TO FUND THE
PROGRAMS THAT CALIFORNIA REALLY
NEEDS. THANK YOU. YEAH. WHY
DON'T YOU GIVE ME A LIST OF
THOSE TAX BREAKS? I WILL, ALL
RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MONIQUE
RAMOS. ON BEHALF OF THE EC
COALITION, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO THANK THE CHAIRS, THE
COMMITTEE, THE LEGISLATIVE
WOMEN'S CAUCUS AND THE STAFF FOR
PUTTING ON A REALLY ROBUST
HEARING TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE
DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN
EC TODAY, BUT I ALSO REALLY WANT
TO UNDERSCORE THE POINTS OF
THOSE WHO TESTIFIED TODAY. WE
NEED A CLEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
FOR THE ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY,
AND WE CANNOT FORGET THAT WE
HAVE A FUNDING CLIFF COMING NEXT
YEAR FOR PROVIDERS. IF THEY DO
NOT HAVE SOME SORT OF
SUSTAINABLE RATE INCREASE. AND
THEN LASTLY, TO THE MOTHERS WHO
WERE JUST HERE MOMENTS AGO, WE
CLEARLY NEED THOSE ADDITIONAL
SPACES RELEASED. AND WE NEED A
PLAN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE
SPACES THAT IF WE DON'T GET ALL
THE 50,000 SUPPOSEDLY THAT ARE
OWED UNDER THE 200,000, PROMISE
US THAT WE KNOW WHEN THE
REMAINDER ARE COMING SO THAT
FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS CAN PLAN.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANDREA
FERNANDEZ MENDOZA WITH
CALIFORNIA CHILDREN'S ACADEMY,
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF EVERY
CHILD CALIFORNIA AND EC VOICES
IN MY PROGRAM IN LOS ANGELES
COUNTY. I SERVE OVER 700
INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND
PRESCHOOLERS ON A DAILY BASIS.
DURING COVID, YOU ARE OUR
HEROES. YOU PROVIDED US THE
ABILITY TO STAY OPEN AND PROVIDE
TRULY UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE FOR
ALL FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU. WE
ARE ASKING FOR THIS CONTINUED
SUPPORT AS IT IS TRULY A SOCIAL
JUSTICE ISSUE AS THE MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE IT AFFECTS ARE BLACK
INDIGENOUS PERSONS OF COLOR AND
THEIR CHILDREN. WE ARE ASKING
FOR THE IMMEDIATE ALLOCATION OF
ALL FUNDED SPACES BY JUNE 30TH.
WE REQUEST A TRANSPARENT
COLLABORATION COLLABORATIVE PLAN
WITH CENTERS TO DEVELOP A FAIR
ALTERNATIVE RATE SYSTEM. WE
SUPPORT THE CHILDCARE REVISION
AS PROGRAM DOES NEED THAT EXTRA
SUPPORT TO SURVIVE AND TO BE,
VIABLE IN THE ECONOMY THAT WE
HAVE TODAY IN CALIFORNIA. I
FULLY SUPPORT DONNA SANDRA'S
COMMENTS. JACQUELINE WEISS'S
COMMENTS, AND THE COALITION
STANCE AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR
ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR PROGRAMS
THIS PAST FEW YEARS. THANK YOU.
NAME AND AFFILIATION PLEASE.
HELLO GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
NINA BèC. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF EVERY CHILD
CALIFORNIA. HAPPY TO BE HERE
TODAY WITH EVERY CHILD
CALIFORNIA AND ALL OF OUR Â S¼
VOICES FOLKS. IT'S A COALITION
OF CENTER BASED PRACTITIONERS
HERE TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO
ALIGN MY COMMENTS WITH MY FELLOW
ADVOCATES ON ENSURING THAT WE DO
HAVE A COST OF CARE RATE, AS
WELL AS NOT PAUSING THE SPACES.
AS YOU CAN TELL, WE DESPERATELY
NEED THEM BOTH. OUR CENTER BASED
SPACES AND OUR FAMILY AND CHILD
CARE SPACES. I ALSO WANT TO
EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR
THE CREATION OF THE REVERSION
ACCOUNT FOR S¼ PROGRAMS. THERE
IS SO MUCH FUN, SO MUCH MONEY
THAT NEEDS TO BE RETAINED WITHIN
THE S SYSTEM. WE NEED TO USE
THOSE FUNDS TO SERVE CHILDREN,
ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT
THE WAIVER THAT MISS WEISS WAS
TALKING ABOUT IS SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT THAN THE WAIVER THAT
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES CURRENTLY OFFERS, SO I
AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF
AND TO GIVE SOME SPECIFIC
RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT WE CAN
DO TO HELP THAT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AND
AFFILIATION PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. SARA BACHUS. WITH
CHILDREN NOW IN A PROUD
COALITION PARTNER WITH THE S
COALITION, OUR CARMENS ARE GOING
BACK TO ENSURING THAT THERE IS A
STRONG TRANSITION PLAN AS WE
PHASE IN AN ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY THAT REALLY HONORS
THE TRUE COST OF CARE, LIFTING
UP ALL FAMILIES, CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS, AS WELL AS OUR
EDUCATORS WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO
MUCH. AND THEN ON COMMENT ON
ISSUE TWO ON PART TWO OF THE
AGENDA, WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
CREATION OF THE REVERSION
ACCOUNT. SO WE ARE VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF TODAY'S
DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION
PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. KARINA
ELIJAH WITH THE CHILD CARE LAW
CENTER, PROUD MEMBER OF THE
COALITION. WE URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO NOT ELIMINATE THE
PENALTY ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR
TK CLASSROOMS THAT DON'T MEET
THE RATIO IN CLASS SIZE
REQUIREMENTS, WAIVING THE
PENALTY WOULD REMOVE DISTRICT
INCENTIVE TO MEET THE BASE
MINIMUM OF SAFE ADULT TO CHILD
RATIO REQUIREMENT. THIS IN TURN,
REMOVES AN IMPORTANT SAFEGUARD
OF OUR YOUNG CHILDREN'S HEALTH
AND SAFETY, AND SHOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED. CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO PENALTIES IF
THEY DON'T MEET RATIO
REQUIREMENT S. WE RECOMMEND THE
LEGISLATURE FOCUS ON CREATING A
TRULY UNIVERSAL TC SYSTEM WHERE
WHERE PARENTS CAN CHOOSE A NO
COST OPTION WHEN ANY CHILD CARE
SETTING, INCLUDING COMMUNITY
BASED SETTING OR FAMILY CHILD
CARE, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS SPACE,
MEETS THE RATIO REQUIREMENTS AND
THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF YOUNG
CHILDREN. WE ALSO URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO IMPLEMENT AND
FUND THE ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY
TO ENSURE A FAIR WAGE FOR
PROVIDERS. THE PROMISE CHILDCARE
SPACES ALSO MUST BE RELEASED TO
MEET THE 200,000 SPACES PROMISED
BY 2526. THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES
ARE WAITING ON ON STATE CHILD
CARE AND THEY NEED IT NOW.
LASTLY, WE URGE THE LEGISLATURE
TO CREATE A RESERVE FUND TO FOR
MONEY THAT IS EARMARKED FOR
CHILD CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
STAYS IN CHILD CARE. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. YES. HI THERE. MY NAME
IS KEN HERREN, MYSELF, MY WIFE
AND MY SISTER IN LAW OPERATE
FOUR PRESCHOOLS IN SELMA, I'M
ALSO A MEMBER OF EC VOICES IN
EVERY CHILD CALIFORNIA, AND I
WANT TO AGREE WITH EVERYONE THAT
WE REALLY DO NEED TO KEEP THE
ROLLOUT OF THE K¾T R SPACES. THE
INFANT TODDLER SPACES, THE
PROMISED 200,000. WE NEED TO
CONTINUE THAT EVEN IN THE FACE
OF THIS BLEAK BUDGET SITUATION.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO BE,
COMPLIMENTARY OF THE LEGISLATURA
CENTER AND ALSO THE TWO CHAIRS
OF THESE COMMITTEES THAT I'VE
JUST SPENT SIX HOURS LISTENING
TO BECAUSE YOU GUYS GET IT AND
YOU CARE. AND I WE NEED YOUR
HELP ON THIS COST OF CARE THING,
BECAUSE IT DOES NEED TO GET
FIXED IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.
BEFORE THAT GETS SUBMITTED. WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ALL
THE, THE FORMULAS OR WHATEVER IS
IN THERE IS CORRECT. IT IS RIGHT
FOR ALL PLAYERS, FAMILY, HOME,
HOMES, ALL THE WAY TO CENTERS.
IT NEEDS TO BE FAIR FOR ALL OF
US. AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT
THAT YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN
THIS AND HAVE MORE HEARINGS
BECAUSE YOU REALIZE, AS I'VE
TOLD OTHER PEOPLE, YOU GUYS GAVE
US ONE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE
SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING
TO DO FOR PROBABLY DECADES, AT
LEAST THE LAST TEN YEARS. WE
HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. IT'LL
NEVER COME AGAIN IN MY LIFETIME.
SO I WANT WE NEED TO MAKE THE
MOST OF IT. SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NAME
AND AFFILIATION PLEASE. HI. GOOD
AFTERNOON. OFELIA MEDINA WITH
FIRST OF LA. WE ARE HERE TO
ALIGN OUR PATH AND THE EC
COALITION. WE KNOW THAT THE
FIRST FIVE YEARS ARE A CRITICAL
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY DURING A
YOUNG CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT THAT
CAN HAVE LONG TERME IMPLICATIONS
FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
DURING THOSE CRITICAL YEARS,
CHILDREN AND NEED A SUPPORT AND
SAFE AND STABLE NURTURING
RELATIONSHIP AND ENVIRONMENTS.
AND THESE ARE PROVIDERS AND
THESE ARE PROVIDED BY THE
PROVIDERS THAT MANY TIMES NOT
ONLY CARE FOR THE CHILDREN
THEMSELVES, BUT FOR THE WHOLE
FAMILY. THIS IS WHY WE ALIGN OUR
COMMENTS TO THOSE OF THE EC
COALITION, AND SPECIFICALLY
ASKED TO FUND AND STAY TRUE TO
THE COMMITMENT OF 200,000
SPACES, AND THAT WE ADEQUATELY,
ADEQUATELY ADDRESS PROVIDER
RATES BY DEVELOPING AN
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY THAT
COVERS THE TRUE COST OF CARE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. HELLO KATIE
DUBOURG, CALIFORNIA WORK AND
FAMILY COALITION. WE ARE A
STATEWIDE ALLIANCE OF
ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
UNITED IN THE BELIEF THAT ALL
PEOPLE DESERVE THE TIME AND
RESOURCES TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES
AND EACH OTHER. WE KNOW THAT
PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE
AND ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ARE
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. SUPPORTS
FOR WORKING FAMILIES IN
CALIFORNIA. I WANT TO ALIGN MY
COMMENTS WITH THOSE OF MEMBERS
OF THE COALITION. A BUDGET IS A
STATEMENT OF VALUES, AND WE
BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN, FAMILIES
AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR CHILDREN
SHOULD BE AMONG OUR HIGHEST
PRIORITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. NAME AND AFFILIATION, PLEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. LINDA SATO WITH
THE CALIFORNIA CHILD CARE
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL NETWORK
AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE EC
COALITION AND IN SUPPORT OF THE
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY AS WELL
AS THE RELEASE OF THE PROMISE
SLOTS. BUT I'M HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE LAST PANEL. ITEM FIVE,
THE ACCESS OR BARRIERS TO ACCESS
AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE. I JUST
WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE CHILD
CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL
AGENCIES ARE A PART OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE IN EVERY COUNTY AND HAVE
DEEP REACH IN COMMUNITIES. SERVE
AS EYES AND EARS FOR THE STATE,
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND
BACK INFORMATION TO THE STATE.
BUT BUT THE R&R SYSTEM IS VERY
SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED, I THINK,
AS NOTED IN THIS, THAT THEY
RECENTLY HAVE GOTTEN $10 MILLION
IN ADDITION AND THAT'S ON
AVERAGE OR I WOULD SAY THE
MEDIAN R&R CONTRACT IS ABOUT
$377,000, 71% OF THEM ARE GET
LESS THAN THE AVERAGE CONTRACT.
AND SO AND THAT REALLY ONLY
FUNDS A FEW PEOPLE PLUS THEIR
INFRASTRUCTURE. SO FOR ALL THE
THINGS THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
DO, REACH PARENTS, SUPPORT
PROVIDERS, IT'S NOT VERY MUCH
MONEY. AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF
GEOGRAPHY. THERE'S A LOT OF UN,
UNSEEN SUPPORT THAT THEY DO,
ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE
LANGUAGES THAT THEY PROVIDE
INFORMATION. SO I JUST WANTED TO
ADD THAT, THAT IT'S AN IMPORTANT
PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND,
AND COULD REALLY MAKE A BIG
DIFFERENCE IN EXPANDING, ACCESS
AND ELIMINATING SOME OF THE
BARRIERS. SO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AND
AFFILIATION PLEASE, MR. CHAIR
DARBY KERNAN, I'M REPRESENTING
GRACE IN CHILD POVERTY,
CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS THE FIRST
FIVE ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA,
WHICH REPRESENTS ALL 58
COUNTIES. FIRST FIVES WE WANT TO
ALIGN OUR COMMENTS WITH THOSE OF
THE CCPU PARENT VOICES AND THE
COALITION. WE UNDERSTAND THE
STATE'S FISCAL OUTLOOK ISN'T
GREAT, BUT THE PROMISE TO
FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS MUST BE
FULFILLED, OUR BUDGET AS
PREVIOUSLY STATED, IS A
STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES AND
CHILDREN'S AND FAMILIES AND
THOSE WHO CARE FOR CHILDREN
SHOULD BE AMONG OUR HIGHEST
PRIORITIES. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. HI, I'M DARREN OTTO FROM
CAMEO NETWORK, A NETWORK MADE UP
OF 400 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
DEDICATED TO HELPING SMALL
BUSINESSES WITH LOANS, CREDITS,
BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
AND OTHER BUSINESS SERVICES.
ANNUALLY, OUR MEMBERS SERVE
ABOUT 200 VERY SMALL BUSINESSES,
INCLUDING CHILD CARE BUSINESSES.
LAST YEAR, OUR WOMEN'S BUSINESS
CENTER MEMBERS ASSISTED ALMOST
450 CHILD CARE BUSINESSES,
RESULTING IN THE CREATION OF
3500 CHILDCARE SLOTS. READY
NATION'S NEW REPORT FINDS THAT
THE LACK OF RELIABLE CHILD CARE
FOR WORKING PARENTS OF YOUNG
CHILDREN UP TO THE AGE OF THREE
COSTS CALIFORNIA $17 BILLION IN
LOST EARNINGS, PRODUCTIVITY,
PRODUCTIVITY AND REVENUE EVERY
YEAR. THE REPORT OUTLINES HOW
MUCH THE LACK OF CHILDCARE COSTS
FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND
TAXPAYERS SO WE MUST STRENGTHEN
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. INVESTMENTS
IN CHILDCARE ARE INVESTMENTS IN
OUR ECONOMY. ON BEHALF OF READY
NATION CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS A
MEMBER OF THE COALITION IN
CAMEO, I ASK THE COMMITTEE TO
SUPPORT IMPLEMENTING A SINGLE
REIMBURSEMENT RATE STRUCTURE AND
DISTRIBUTING THE SUBSIDIZED
CHILD CARE SPACES APPROPRIATED
IN THE JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MONICA MAHAJAN WITH
THE CALIFORNIA CHILD CARE
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL NETWORK.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO
ALIGN MY COMMENTS AGAINST THE
MEMBERS OF THE COALITION,
INCLUDING THE Â SPACES AND THE
COST OF CARE BASED PROVIDER
RATES. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ECHO THE
COMMENTS BY LINDA ASATO.
PREVIOUSLY REGARDING THE
UNDERFUNDING OF THE RESOURCE AND
REFERRAL SYSTEM AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF THAT SYSTEM
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. AND
FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO ECHO PARENT
VOICES COMMENTS ABOUT PURSUING
LOST REVENUE FROM TAX BREAKS AS
A MEANS TO SUPPORT FAMILY
SUPPORTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NAME AND AFFILIATION.
PLEASE GOOD AFTERNOON, RAQUEL
MORALES, ON BEHALF OF THE
EDUCATION TRUST WEST, WE WANT TO
ALIGN OUR COMMENTS WITH THOSE OF
THE BUDGET COALITION ON ACCESS
TO PROGRAMS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPROVE A FAMILY'S ABILITY TO
WORK, ATTEND SCHOOL, AND IMPROVE
ITS OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. WE
UNDERSTAND THE FISCAL OUTLOOK,
BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THE STATE
MUST URGENTLY ADDRESS RATES IN
ORDER TO COVER THE TRUE COST OF
CARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. OH, YOU'RE THE LAST ONE.
OH, YEAH. ALL RIGHT. CLOSE US
OUT, BABY. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO
, LILY, START WITH THE
CALIFORNIA CHILD CARE RESOURCE.
AND REFERRAL NETWORK. I JUST
WANT TO ALIGN MY COMMENTS WITH
THOSE OF THE SEC, PARTICULARLY,
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE LIVE
EXPERIENCES OF THOSE WHO SPOKE
TODAY, ESPECIALLY SINCE CLOSE TO
2 MILLION CHILDREN ARE STILL
WAITING TO RECEIVE CARE, ACCESS
TO PROGRAMS DIRECTLY TIES TO
FAMILIES ABILITIES TO WORK,
ATTEND SCHOOL AND IMPROVE THE
OVERALL QUALITY OF THEIR LIFE.
SO I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO FIND,
TO FUND THE REMAINING 50,000
SPACES FROM THE 2021 AND 22
BUDGET, AS WELL AS THE CREATION
OF THE REVERSION ACCOUNT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE, VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION, HOPEFULLY YOU
UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS AND
IN WHICH WE ARE GOING ABOUT
DOING THIS TO MAKING SURE THAT
WE, DO, RIGHT BY, THE NEXT
GENERATION THROUGH OUR CHILD
CARE, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
PROGRAMS, BUT WE WILL ADJOURN
OUR, INFORMATIONAL HEARING, AND
THEN WE WILL GAVEL BACK IN
SHORTLY FOR OUR, BUDGET HEARING
.
FRONT YOUR HONOR. YEAH OKAY. WE
ARE BACK. WE ARE BACK. VACATION
IS OVER. FOR THE REMAINDER OF
TODAY'S BUSINESS ARE ACTION
ITEMS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S Þ.
THOSE OF YOU IN THE BACK GOT TO
STEP OUT OUR ACTION ITEMS FROM
THE GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ALL ITEMS WILL
BE AT THE END OF ALL THREE
PANELS. AND ASK FOLKS TO BE
PREPARED FOR ONE MINUTE IF YOU
HAVE ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN
PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE
INFORMATIONAL HEARING IN REGARDS
TO SLOTS. WE LET YOU KNOW NOW.
WE HEARD YOU. WE DON'T NEED TO
HEAR YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ONCE AGAIN, I AM PLEASED
TO HAVE OUR COMPREHENSIVE
PROPOSALS HEARD TODAY AS A JOINT
HEARING. THE ASSEMBLY CONTINUES
TO SUPPORT A BALANCED APPROACH
TO UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL
IMPLEMENTATION, IN LINE WITH THE
FULL CHILD CARE ECOSYSTEM. AND
IT'S AND IT'S CRUCIAL ROLE FOR
WORKING FAMILIES AND DEVELOPING
CHILDREN. AGAIN, WANT TO THANK
MY COLLEAGUE FOR HIS WILLINGNESS
TO HAVE THIS JOINT, HEARING, AND
I WILL THEN NOW PASS IT ON TO
HIM TO LEAD US OFF WITH ISSUE
NUMBER ONE. THANK YOU. CHAIR
DOCTOR JACKSON FOR, HELPING
CONVENE TODAY. AND, WE ARE GOING
TO BE TAKING THIS, FIRST PANEL
ON THE ISSUE OF TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN FACILITIES, AND IN
PARTICULAR, THE JANUARY BUDGET
PROPOSAL TO DELAY THE $550
MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR THESE
FACILITIES. AS WE DISCUSSED
EARLIER, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
TC REQUIRES THE FACILITIES
THEMSELVES. AND SO SOME OF THOSE
MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS I KNOW I
HAD, I'VE SAVED FOR THIS
PARTICULAR PANEL, THIS PROPOSAL
WAS ADOPTED IN THE LEGISLATURE
AS PART OF AB 106. IN THE EARLY
ACTION OF THIS YEAR, HOWEVER,
THE POLICY AND FISCAL
IMPLICATIONS OF THIS DELAY MERIT
A FULL DISCUSSION, WHICH WE
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HERE TODAY.
WE MAY NEED TO TAKE FURTHER
ACTION ON TC FACILITIES POLICY
THIS YEAR TO PREVENT FURTHER
ROADBLOCKS TO SUCCESSFUL UK
IMPLEMENTATION AT SCALE AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, I WOULD SAY, TO
WHAT EXTENT DOES THIS PERHAPS
CREATE A POTENTIAL CHALLENGE AND
PERHAPS A CONVERSATION ABOUT
DELAY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF TC,
IF THAT'S WHAT THIS REQUIRES. SO
WITH THAT, I'D WELCOME THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE,
OFFICE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
CONSTRUCTION, AND DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION. AND IF WE CAN GO IN
THAT ORDER, I THINK THAT MAKES
THE MOST SENSE. SO WELCOME. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHAIRS AND MEMBERS,
ALEX AND VELASQUEZ WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I WILL BE
PROVIDING AN INFORMATIONAL
OVERVIEW OF THE CALIFORNIA
PRESCHOOL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN AND FULL DAY
KINDERGARTEN FACILITIES GRANT
PROGRAM. AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE
GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDED FOR
CONSTRUCTION AND MODERNIZATION
OF CLASSROOMS, APPROPRIATED
490,000,001 TIME GENERAL FUND IN
THE 2021 BUDGET ACT AND THE 2023
BUDGET ACT, INTENDED TO
APPROPRIATE ANOTHER 650,000,001
TIME GENERAL FUND FOR THE
PROGRAM, OF WHICH 100 MILLION
WAS APPROPRIATED IN THE 20 2223
AND THE 2023 BUDGET ACT, DELAYED
550 MILLION TO BE APPROPRIATED
IN THE 20 2425 BUDGET YEAR.
GIVEN THE BUDGET AND REVENUE
OUTLOOK, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
NOW PROPOSES TO DELAY THE
550,000,001 TIME GENERAL FUND
INVESTMENT BY ONE ADDITIONAL
YEAR FROM 20 2425 TO THE 20 2526
FISCAL YEAR. AND AS YOU
MENTIONED, THIS PROPOSAL WAS
ADOPTED AS PART OF THE EARLY
ACTION BUDGET PACKAGE, WHICH IS
AB 106. THIS CONCLUDES MY
REMARKS, AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU. LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE SARAH CORTEZ LÀ
. SO THERE'S MANY USES FOR THIS
FUNDING, INCLUDING FULL DAY
KINDERGARTEN, TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN AND STATE PRESCHOOL
FACILITIES. BUT THE STATE
INTENDED FOR THESE FUNDS TO
SUPPORT TKE EXPANSION IN THE NEW
SCHEDULE OF THESE FUNDS, THAT
THESE FUNDS ARE PLANNED,
CONSIDERING EARLY ACTION TO BE
WILL BECOME AVAILABLE AFTER TKE
IS FULLY EXPANDED. THE INTENT
MISALIGNMENT COMBINED WITH THE
SIGNIFICANT OPERATING DEFICITS
FACING THE STATE IN THE OUT
YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE MAY WANT
TO FOREGO THE 550 MILLION FOR
EARLY EDUCATION FACILITIES
ENTIRELY. IF THE LEGISLATURE IS
INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING EARLY
EDUCATION FACILITIES, IT MAY
WANT TO EXPLORE INCLUDING IT IN
THE POTENTIAL BOND AS AN
ALLOWABLE USE. THAT CONCLUDES MY
REMARKS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
DO WE SEE K¾T RIGHT? YES. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR JACKSON, CHAIR
ALVAREZ AND MEMBERS STEPHEN
PROPHETER FROM CDE, ON BEHALF OF
THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, I'LL START
FIRST BY SHARING SOME DATA WE
HAVE FROM OUR 2223 UPK PROGRAM
IMPLEMENTATION REPORT, WHICH
DISTRICTS AND CHARTERS ARE
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AS A
CONDITION OF RECEIVING THE UPK
UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
GRANT FUNDS, WE'VE HEARD 82% OF
LEAS HAVE SAID IN THIS IN THIS
REPORT THAT THEY EXPECT TO HAVE
SUFFICIENT CLASSROOM SPACE TO
ACCOMMODATE THEIR PROJECTED
ENROLLMENT FOR UK UNIVERSAL
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN BY
2526. HOWEVER, 18 THE 18% OF
LEAS THAT STATED THEY DO NOT
HAVE ENOUGH ROOM, SAY THAT THEY
NEED, 947 MORE CLASSROOMS TO
MEET THEIR PROJECTED ENROLLMENT
NEEDS. FOR UTTC, 81% OF THE
CLASSROOM SPACE, OR CLASSROOM
SPACE. EXISTING MEETS. TITLE
FIVE REQUIRES CGRTS FOR
KINDERGARTEN FACILITIES AND THEN
FOR THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
CHARTER SCHOOLS AND COUNTY
OFFICES OF EDUCATION WITH STATE
PRESCHOOL CONTRACTS. SURVEY ALSO
ASKED FOR INFORMATION ON WHAT
EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO
PREVENT THE DISPLACEMENT OF ON
CAMPUS EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
WHILE MOST OF THE LEAS SHARED
THEY WERE NOT ANTICIPATING A
NEED AT THIS TIME FOR
DISPLACEMENT, OR THEY WERE
WORKING TO PRIORITIZE ADDING
ADDITIONAL SPACE, MANY LEAS
SHARED THAT THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL
NEEDS FOR RESOURCES TO AVOID
LOSING EXISTING CAPACITY FOR
THEIR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
PROGRAMS. AND WE'LL NOTE THAT
THIS IS WHAT DISTRICTS ARE
SAYING, THAT THEY EXPECT TO BE
THE CASE, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT
THEIR SITUATION IS. NOW, WE'VE
HEARD A LOT FROM, LEAS AND
COUNTY OFFICES OF EDUCATION
EXPRESSING AN EXTREME NEED FOR
FACILITIES AND FACILITIES
FUNDING, TO HAVE ENOUGH
CLASSROOM SPACE FOR ALL INCOMING
FOUR YEAR OLDS, FOR UK BY 2526
AND AT CDE, WE RECOGNIZE THERE
IS A CONTINUING NEED FOR
FACILITIES FUNDING TO ADDRESS
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN AND
FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN AS WELL,
LIMITED AVAILABLE FUNDING HAS
RESULTED IN KINDERGARTEN
STUDENTS BEING PLACED IN SOME
NON-COMPLIANT CLASSROOMS FOR
THAT GRADE LEVEL, SUCH AS THOSE
THAT ARE 960FT² VERSUS THE
1350FT² PROVIDED BY TITLE FIVE,
AS WELL AS WITHOUT RESTROOMS,
WHICH K¾T IS. WE'VE RECEIVED
CALLS FROM PARENTS AND FROM
TEACHERS ABOUT, AS I JUST
MENTIONED, CLASSROOMS WITH
YOUNGER LEARNERS HAVE FACILITY
DESIGN NEEDS NOT AS COMMON IN
OLDER GRADES, SUCH AS BATHROOMS
LOCATED IN OR WITHIN A
KINDERGARTEN COMPLEX, THIS YOU
KNOW, THE BATHROOMS IN THE
CLASSROOM, SUPPORTS SUPERVISION
AND REDUCES DISRUPTIONS IN THE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE. THESE
CLASSROOMS SHOULD ALSO BE
LOCATED CLOSE TO PARENT DROP OFF
AREAS, WHICH ISN'T ALWAYS
POSSIBLE ON EXISTING SCHOOL
SITES. AND AS UPK ROLLS OUT, WE
EXPECT THE NUMBER OF TC CHILDREN
TO INCREASE AND THE FACILITIES
NEEDS TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE
ACUTE. ADDITIONALLY, AS
INFLATION INCREASES AND AS
ANYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED HOME
IMPROVEMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC,
SO DOES THE COST TO CONSTRUCT,
CLASSROOMS, MAKING IT MORE
CHALLENGING FOR DISTRICTS
WITHOUT STATE SUPPORT AND
FUNDING. AND THIS CONCLUDES OUR
REMARKS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU. THE OFFICE OF
PUBLIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IS
NOT IN THE ROOM TODAY. I DON'T
SEE ANYBODY. OKAY SO, I'LL JUMP
IN FIRST. AND I THINK MY
QUESTION IS, WHAT WE HAVE HEARD
AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
MAYBE CAN VERIFY THIS, I
BELIEVE, FROM THE OFFICE OF
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS
WHY I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO SEE
IF SOMEONE WAS HERE. WAS IS THAT
THE NEED FOR FACILITIES IN FOR
TC TO FULLY BE ABLE TO GET
IMPLEMENTED IS AROUND $1
BILLION. IS THAT, ANYBODY COULD
WANT TO SAY WHETHER YOU THINK
THAT IS CORRECT, FACTUAL OR.
YEAH, I'LL HAVE TO CHECK ON THE
NUMBERS. BUT I WILL SAY THAT
THIS IS A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM.
THE NEED OR THE REQUEST THAT
HAVE COME IN HAVE ALWAYS
EXCEEDED THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE
SINCE ITS CREATION. OKAY. SO
WITH THE, EARLY ACTION OF THE
DELAY OF ROUGHLY HALF OF WHAT
THAT NEED WOULD HAVE BEEN IN,
NOW WE HAVE WE ARE DELAYING THAT
YET FULL IMPLEMENTATION. I'M
TRYING TO LINE UP HOW WE'RE
GOING TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THIS BY
25, 26, YET WE DON'T HAVE THE
CLASSROOMS TO DO THIS. AND WHAT
WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW WE'RE
GOING TO HANDLE THIS. I DON'T
WANT THERE TO BE CONFUSION,
CERTAINLY BY THE PUBLIC THAT,
THEY SHOULD BELIEVE THAT TC IS
AVAILABLE TO THEM IF THE REALITY
IS, WITHOUT THE CLASSROOM SPACE,
WE'RE NOT OPENING UP NEW
CLASSROOMS FOR TC. SO, AM I AM I
MISSING SOMETHING IN THAT, THAT
CONNECTION THAT I'M MAKING IN
TERMS OF NO FACILITIES MEANS WE
CAN'T EXPAND. ALL ANYBODY? SURE.
CHRIS FERGUSON WITH FINANCE, I
THINK IT'S A MIXED BAG BECAUSE
THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES WITH
WAIVERS WHERE YOU CAN USE
CLASSROOMS THAT MAY BE
SUBOPTIMAL. THERE ARE ALSO
ALTERNATIVES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
WHERE THEY MAY BE ABLE TO
UTILIZE LOCAL FINANCING, LOCAL
BONDS, TO CONSTRUCT FACILITIES
OR TO ADAPT THE FACILITIES THAT
THEY HAVE TODAY, SO IT'S AND
THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE,
ENROLLMENT SHIFTS BECAUSE OF
DEMOGRAPHICS AS WE HAVE THE
POPULATION SHIFTING AROUND
CALIFORNIA. THAT MAY ALSO HELP
CERTAIN DISTRICTS, SO IT'S A BIT
OF A MIXED BAG DEPENDING ON
WHERE YOU'RE AT. BUT THERE ARE
SOME OPTIONS TO UTILIZE, NON.
YOU KNOW, SUBOPTIMAL CLASSROOMS
TODAY IF NEEDED. AND WHAT IS A
SUBOPTIMAL CLASSROOM? LOOK LIKE.
YOU MENTIONED SIZE. NO ACCESS TO
THE APPROPRIATE, RESTROOM SPACES
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. NOT BEING
LOCATED. I THINK TITLE FIVE
REQUIRES BEING LOCATED NEAR A
SPECIFIC DROP OFF AND PICK UP
ZONE. THAT'S HOW I'VE SEEN NEWER
SCHOOLS BE BUILT. WITH THAT
SEPARATION, ARE THOSE THE THREE
MAJOR? THERE'S PROBABLY MORE. I
THOSE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
MAJOR ONES, AND AS WE'VE
CONSULTED WITH OUR SCHOOL
FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION
FOLKS, THEY'VE ALSO KIND OF
UPLIFTED, ENCROACHMENT ISSUES ON
OTHER, ON EXISTING SPACE, SO IF
YOU CAN IMAGINE A SCHOOL CAMPUS
THAT WASN'T DESIGNED TO SAY,
HAVE A KIND OF A TK CLASSROOM
ROOM THAT'S MAYBE, YOU KNOW, OR
MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE THE ROOM OR
DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT
CLASSROOM. THEY'VE GOT TO
CONSTRUCT A NEW SITE. THEY MAY
IT MAY KIND OF, MEAN THAT THEY
NEED TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW,
MAYBE GREEN SPACE THAT THEY,
THAT THEY'RE USING FOR PHYSICAL
EDUCATION OR TO MEET OTHER
REQUIREMENTS, MAYBE SOME
BLACKTOP SPACE, WHAT HAVE YOU,
AND SO I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S
THOSE OTHER, THERE'S THOSE OTHER
IMPLICATIONS AS WELL. WHEN YOU
SAY THAT I GET A LITTLE BIT OF A
LIKE TURNING IN MY STOMACH
COMING FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD IN A
DISTRICT WHERE AT LEAST IN SAN
DIEGO, THERE'S BEEN SOME,
AMAZING MODERNIZATION AND THE
VOTERS HAVE REWARDED IT WITH
TIME AFTER TIME OVER MULTIPLE
YEARS. SO THE SCHOOLS HAVE
DEFINITELY CHANGED. BUT I, YOU
KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE
OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE
THEY HAVEN'T SUCCESSFULLY
APPROVED BONDS AND THOSE
IMPROVEMENTS HAVEN'T BEEN MADE.
AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
REDUCING THE PLAYING SPACE, EVEN
MORE LIKE WITH THE BLACK TOPS, A
LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS DON'T EVEN
HAVE GREEN SPACES. IT'S
LITERALLY BLACK TOPS, AND THEN
YOU REDUCE THAT EVEN MORE. I GET
A LITTLE BIT OF A, AGAIN, THIS
NOT A FEELING NOTS IN MY STOMACH
OF, WELL, KIDS WHO REALLY
ALREADY WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO,
LIKE, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE TO
GET THEIR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ARE
GOING TO BE FURTHER CONSTRAINED
AS A RESULT OF POTENTIALLY NOT
HAVING THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE
FUNDS TO REBUILD IN A WAY THAT
WOULD BE MORE ADEQUATE FOR A
SCHOOL SITE. SO I HAVE GRAVE
CONCERNS, AGAIN, PRIMARILY WITH
THE SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THE,
THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO THEM
TO, TO REBUILD IN THAT WAY. SO,
I JUST RAISE THAT AS A, AS AN
ONGOING ISSUE, I GUESS. THEN THE
MESSAGE TO DISTRICTS WOULD BE,
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT DIRECTION
CDC IS GIVING IS WE'RE FULLY
IMPLEMENTING IN 25, 26. YOU
AIN'T GOING TO HAVE MONEY TO
BUILD NEW CLASSROOMS OR ADAPT,
GO AND SEEK WAIVERS. IS THAT THE
ADVICE THEN GIVEN TO DISTRICTS?
BECAUSE DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO
COME TO US THIS NEXT YEAR
SAYING, HEY, LEGISLATURE, YOU
TOLD US TO IMPLEMENT THIS. WE
DON'T HAVE CLASSROOMS FOR THIS.
I JUST I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I'M
GOING TO BE HEARING FROM MY
DISTRICTS WHO CAN'T DO THIS NEXT
YEAR, AND WHAT THE RESPONSE WILL
BE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO
IMPLEMENT THIS AND NOT FIND
THEMSELVES IN OTHER TROUBLE FOR
NOT IMPLEMENTING UNIVERSAL TK, I
THINK SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT
YOU'RE I THINK SOME OF THE
CONCERNS YOU'RE RAISING KIND OF
SPEAK TO THE NEED FOR FUNDING,
PIECES WHICH WE KNOW ARE
IMPORTANT. AND, I THINK WE, WE
SHARE THE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT AT CDC THAT YOU, YOU TK AND
UHPC IS KIND OF DELIVERING ON
THE PROMISE THAT IT, IT HAS OR
THE POTENTIAL THAT IT HAS. OKAY,
ANY ANY OTHER THOUGHTS FROM
FINANCE ON WHAT DO YOU EXPECT
DISTRICTS TO ALSO GET THE
RESPONSE OF JUST DO TEMPORARY OR
OR, NOT EMERGENCY. THERE WAS
ANOTHER WORD THAT WAS USED FOR
TEMPORARY SPACE. IS THAT IS THAT
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT
EXPECT OF THEM IN 25, 26? SINCE
THEY DON'T HAVE THEY WON'T HAVE
THE FACILITIES? YEAH, I THINK
AGAIN, IT'S A MIXED BAG BECAUSE
SOME WILL, SOME WON'T. BUT FOR
THOSE THAT DON'T, YOU'RE RIGHT,
THEY MAY SEEK TEMPORARY MEASURES
SUCH AS WAIVERS. THEY MAY SEEK
TEMPORARY WHAT WE CALL TEMPORARY
HOUSING, WHICH ARE EFFECTIVELY
PORTABLES THAT MAY BE DESIGNED
FOR THIS TYPE OF PURPOSE. IT
DEPENDS ON THE FISCAL SITUATION
OF THAT DISTRICT, IT DEPENDS ON
THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THEY
WOULD BE SERVING IN ANY GIVEN
YEAR, BECAUSE AND IT DEPENDS ON
THE PARTICULAR SCHOOL SITE. BUT
TO YOUR POINT, YES. YES, WE
WOULD EXPECT THEM TO SEEK OUT
THOSE ALTERNATIVE MEASURES AND
TO CONTINUE IMPLEMENTING
UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN. OKAY. SO I THINK
WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT THERE'S A
NEED TO HELP FINANCE, THE THESE
FACILITIES. SO I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THAT NOW, THERE'S A
CONVERSATION ABOUT A BOND ON
FACILITIES FOR SCHOOLS, WE KNOW
THAT THAT IS A POLICY DECISION
BASED ON, OTHER FACTORS AS WELL
OF WHY THAT'S NEEDED. BUT, AT A
MOMENT LIKE THIS, WHEN, WHEN WE
KNOW THAT TK FACILITIES AND I
ALSO WANT TO ASK ABOUT PRESCHOOL
FACILITIES, IS A NEED IS THERE
ANY WAY TO CONSIDER TK
FACILITIES AS PART OF THAT, BOND
, OFFERING AND SEE HOW WE CAN
PERHAPS HELP CHIP AWAY? MAYBE
IT'S NOT 500 MILLION. IT'S
DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE A
BILLION, I DON'T THINK, BUT SOME
AMOUNT TO HELP, DISTRICTS WHO
REALLY JUST DON'T HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO BOND. I SIT ON THE
ALLOCATION BOARD AND, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S A LOT OF NEED OUT THERE
THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN RURAL
AREAS AND, AND OTHER AREAS THAT,
THEY'RE UNABLE TO PASS ANY
BONDS. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE
ANY FUNDING TO BUILD THOSE
CLASSROOM SPACES. SO HOW CAN WE
SUPPORT THEM, DO YOU HAVE ANY
THOUGHTS FINANCE ON INCLUDING TK
FACILITIES AS PART OF A SCHOOL
BOND? YEAH, JUST TO ECHO THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DID PROPOSE A
MESSAGING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD
FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES BOND IN
NOVEMBER 2024, AS YOU MENTIONED.
ALTHOUGH AT THE TIME I AM NOT
ABLE TO SPEAK ON SPECIFICS
REGARDING WHAT WOULD BE INSIDE
THE WITHIN THE BOND. BUT THEN
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
MESSAGE OR COMMENTS ABOUT
INCLUDING ANY TK PRE-K
FACILITIES INTO THE SCHOOL, BOND
WITH OUR LEADERSHIP. OKAY, AND I
KNOW THAT IN PREVIOUS BOND
ISSUANCES, IN THE 2000, THERE
HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF
IT, WHERE WE ALLOWED DIFFERENT
FACILITIES TO BE FUNDED WITH
THOSE BONDS. AND SO I WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN HEARING FEEDBACK
AS THE BOND PROPOSAL MOVES
FORWARD ON HOW WE COULD MAYBE
TREAT TK FACILITIES, IN WHICH
WAYS, IN ORDER TO AGAIN SUPPORT
THEM. AND THE SAME QUESTION GOES
FOR THE PRESCHOOL FACILITIES.
AND I HAD I WAS UNABLE TO ASK
THIS QUESTION EARLIER BECAUSE I
HAD JUST FORGOTTEN. BUT I HAVE
THE SAN DIEGO BREAKDOWN, BUT
ALSO THE STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN. WE
HAVE A HUGE DEMAND, THAT IS
GOING UNMET WHEN IT COMES TO,
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
SPACES, IN THE IN, IN THE
PRESCHOOL, SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU
A CHANCE TO, TO TALK ABOUT ARE
YOU AT ALL INVOLVED IN
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS BEING
PART OF A BOND? AGAIN, MAYBE NOT
THE FULL NEED THAT YOU'VE
IDENTIFIED, BUT SOME SOME
COMPONENT TO ALLOW THIS TO
CONTINUE. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. AGAIN,
DOCTOR SHELLY MAZER WITH LOW
INCOME INVESTMENT FUND, YEAH, I
THINK WE'RE DEFINITELY OPEN TO
ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF
POSSIBILITIES FOR FINANCING
FACILITIES. AS I MENTIONED IN
THE PREVIOUS PANEL, I'M
INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THE CDF
PLAN MIGHT ALSO INCLUDE
FACILITIES BECAUSE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS, RAISED THE CAP
ON WHAT'S CONSIDERED A MINOR
REPAIR AND RENOVATION. SO THAT
ALLOWS FOR, UP TO 350,000 FOR
CENTER BASED CARE AND UP TO
50,000 FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE. SO
THERE'S POSSIBILITY THERE. I
THINK A BOND IS CERTAINLY
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
CONSIDERED. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY,
AS YOU VERY WELL KNOW, LOTS OF
DETAILS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE
WORKED OUT ABOUT HOW THAT, HOW
THAT MIGHT BE ALLOCATED AND HOW
THAT MIGHT WORK. I'M ALSO A
FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. SO
AS A AS I WOULD THINK IT WOULD
BE IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH THE
SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND
THE IMPACTS AND HOW THEY WOULD
BE THINKING ABOUT IT. BUT I ALSO
THINK THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES
AROUND, IN THE SAME WAY THAT
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT CONVERSION
OF SCHOOL CLASSROOMS TO SERVE
TK, THERE'S ALSO SOME
OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK, TO THINK
ABOUT CONVERSION OF SCHOOL
CLASSROOMS WHERE THERE IS SPACE,
FOR MAYBE TO BE OPERATED BY A
PRIVATE PRESCHOOL OR A PRIVATE
CHILD CARE PROVIDER. SO I THINK
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PIECES THAT COULD GO INTO THE
MIX. I DID WANT TO IF IT'S ALL
RIGHT WITH YOU, I WANTED TO ALSO
JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON
YOUR QUESTION AROUND SUBOPTIMAL
FACILITIES. AT LIFF. WE DO QUITE
A BIT OF WORK AROUND CHILDREN
AND CLIMATE AND THE IMPACTS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE ON YOUNG KIDS.
AND YOU REFERENCED THAT
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE TYPICALLY
HAVE BEEN SYSTEMICALLY
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, THAT HAVE
BEEN SYSTEMICALLY KEPT OUT OF
HAVING ACCESS TO DOLLARS TO CARE
FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO
TO CARE FOR ANY OF THE
FACILITIES WITHIN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ARE THE ONES THAT
ARE ALSO MOST SEVERELY IMPACTED
BY CLIMATE CHANGE. I THINK ABOUT
YOUR DISTRICT DOCTOR JACKSON,
WHERE WE TOOK A SITE VISIT DOWN
THERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WAS
106 DEGREES OUTSIDE THE PLAY
EQUIPMENT WAS SO HOT THE KIDS
COULD NOT GO OUT TO PLAY. AND SO
CERTAINLY THAT'S GOING TO BE THE
CASE FOR TK KIDS, FOR SCHOOL
AGED KIDS, AND SO WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT PUTTING KIDS IN CLASSROOMS
THAT ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED FOR THEM, THAT ARE NOT
DESIGNED TO ADDRESS HEAT OR
OTHER OR WILDFIRE SMOKE OR THE
OTHER THINGS THAT ARE BECOMING
MORE FREQUENT DUE TO CLIMATE
CHANGE, I, I, LIKE YOU, WORRY
QUITE A BIT ABOUT THAT. AND
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE YOUNG KIDS
WHO ARE BREATHING AT TWICE THE
RATE AS ADULTS WHO ARE TAKING
IN, WHO CAN'T CONTROL THEIR BODY
HEAT AS EFFECTIVELY. SO THAT
THEY BECOME OVERHEATED MORE
QUICKLY. SO I THINK I JUST I
FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
ALSO CONSIDER THAT. AND I
APPRECIATED YOU ASKING THAT
QUESTION. THANK YOU. AND I
ACTUALLY CAUGHT IN YOUR EARLIER
AND I WROTE IT DOWN HERE, YOU
MENTIONED GRF AS A POTENTIAL TO
THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, RIGHT?
WHERE WE, WE'VE SEEN GRF MONEY
REALLY EXPONENTIALLY. I MEAN,
NOT EXPONENTIALLY, BUT CERTAINLY
GROW IT IS SUBSTANTIAL. BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS AND UTILIZING SOME OF
THOSE DOLLARS FOR FACILITIES, I
THINK MAKES SOME SENSE. AND, THE
LAST POINT I WOULD MAKE IS, IS
ALLOWING THE BOND, WHETHER OR
NOT WE ADD TK OR PRESCHOOL
FACILITIES, AT THE MINIMUM, ON
THEIR OWN, AT THE MINIMUM. WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT MODERNIZATION,
FULL SITES, WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY
CONSIDER, EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION FACILITIES, WHETHER
IT'S TK OR, PRESCHOOL TO BE PART
OF THAT AND ELIGIBLE FOR THAT.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY FEEDBACK ON
ON THE BOND, AND WITH THAT, I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE.
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE
NEED FOR, DEPARTMENTS TO BREAK
OUT OF SILOS, BECAUSE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, OBVIOUSLY, IF
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CAPACITY AT A
SCHOOL FACILITY, WHY AREN'T WE
CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN, THE
POSSIBLE COMMUNITY CAPACITY THAT
COULD BE USED FOR THOSE WHO
CAN'T, PARTICIPATE? BUT GIVEN
THE FACT THAT WE STILL HAVE TK
PROGRAMS WHO ARE HALF DAY WHEN
IN MANY CASES FULL DAY SERVICES
ARE NEEDED AND IS THERE ANY PLAN
TO CLOSE THAT GAP? SO THAT
SCHOOLS ARE DOING A BETTER JOB
AT, AT, HAVING A HOLISTIC,
SERVICE MODEL, THAT BASICALLY
SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT HAVE
A SPACE FOR YOU, BUT THERE IS A
CERTAIN NUMBER OF SPACES IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT YOU CAN UTILIZE.
AND THESE ARE THE PROVIDERS THAT
THE SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY HELPING
AND ASSISTING, AS OPPOSED TO
JUST SAYING, SORRY, WE DON'T
HAVE ROOM FOR YOU. COME BACK
NEXT YEAR. I THINK THAT'S A
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL QUESTION.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE
WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT AND WE
ACTUALLY, WE THERE'S SO I CAN
SHARE WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, SO
AS PART OF BOTH THE UNIVERSAL
PRE-K PLANNING AND
IMPLEMENTATION, FUNDING AND THE
UNIVERSAL PRE-K LOCAL, I THINK
THEY'RE CALLED PRESCHOOL
PLANNING GRANTS. WE REFER TO
THEM AS THE LOCAL MIX DELIVERY,
PLANNING GRANTS, THERE ARE
EXPLICIT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITY
BASED PROGRAMS, TO YOUR POINT
AROUND THE NEED FOR FULL DAY
SERVICES, AND IN RECOGNITION
THAT A THAT A, A SCHOOL DAY
DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEET ALL
FAMILY'S NEEDS, THERE ARE THOSE
INTENTIONAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COUNTY OFFICES
OF EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY
BASED PROGRAMS THAT ARE
EMPHASIZED THROUGHOUT GUIDANCE
THROUGHOUT KIND OF, OUR
COMMUNICATION MEETINGS THAT WE
HOLD BETWEEN DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS, AND I'D ALSO
SHARE THAT IN ADDITION TO
UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN EXPANSION, THE
ADMINISTRATION OR THE BUDGET
FUNDED AND SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION
OF THE EXPANDED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM, WHICH,
MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS USE TO
KIND OF, PROVIDE. SO THE
REQUIREMENT AROUND THE EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
IS, OF COURSE, NINE HOURS OF
PROGRAMING, INCLUSIVE OF THE
SCHOOL DAY. IT'S FOR
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH SIXTH GRADE. I THINK MY
COLLEAGUE MICHAEL FUNK COULD
PROBABLY DO A FAR BETTER JOB.
YOU KNOW, ILLUMINATING ON THE
YELLOW PROGRAM, BUT THAT'S
ANOTHER, OPTION FOR TO MEET THE
FULL DAY NEEDS OF FAMILIES. AND
THERE ARE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
THAT HAPPEN IN THAT, IN THAT
PROGRAM AS WELL. IS THERE A NEED
TO POSSIBLY, CODIFY THAT
NECESSITY IN A BETTER WAY AS
OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES OR THINGS
LIKE THAT, WHICH I UNDERSTAND
YOU WANT TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES
AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF, RIGHT?
BUT DOES IT MAKE IT IT DOESN'T
MAKE IT SYSTEMIC, I THINK. IS IT
NECESSARY FOR, YOU KNOW, ME TO
BREAK OUT MY PEN AND, YOU KNOW,
DO MY WHOLE BILL WRITING PROCESS
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN A MORE
SYSTEMIC WAY? I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I MIGHT, Þ BACK UP.
YEP. WELL, SARAH'S GETTING SAID,
ONE OF THE THINGS I MIGHT POINT
TO IS A NEED FOR, EXPANSION
FUNDING FOR THE CALIFORNIA STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY
OF THE NON PROP 98 VARIETY THAT
CAN GO TO COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. AS MANY OF OUR
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
PROVIDE FULL DAY, STATE
PRESCHOOL SERVICES IN THE
COMMUNITY. THAT MIGHT BE THROUGH
A PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
, THÀNH, SUCH AS THAT AND NAME
THAT NAME THAT PROGRAM. AGAIN SO
IT'S THE CALIFORNIA STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. IT IS. IT'S
PART OF CALIFORNIA'S MIXED
DELIVERY SYSTEM. IT IS OPERATED
BY BOTH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
AND IT PROVIDES PART DAY OR FULL
DAY SERVICES TO THREE AND FOUR
YEAR OLD CHILDREN, THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA STATE,
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. WELL,
NO, NO, NO. WHAT'S THE FUNDING?
OH, THE FUNDING. SO IT'S A MIX
OF FUNDING AND IT REALLY DEPENDS
ON THE ORGANIZATION. IF YOU'RE
AN LÀ, IT'S PROP 98 FUNDED,
RIGHT. IF YOU'RE A COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATION IT'S NON PROP
98. SO IT'S A REGULAR KIND OF
GENERAL FUND. YEAH BUT THEN
BASICALLY SAY FOR INSTANCE, IN A
PERFECT WORLD. THERE'S NO SPACE
ON A SCHOOL CAMPUS, FAMILY
PROBABLY NEEDS FULL DAY ANYWAY.
SCHOOL CAN PARTNER WITH THE
PROVIDER TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING
AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THEY WOULD
BE FUNDED AS AS A SCHOOL. RIGHT
I KNOW THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S DONE,
BY THE WAY. I'M TELLING YOU WHAT
I WANT. SO LET ME BE CLEAR. I'M
NOT. I DON'T NEED YOU TO CORRECT
ME. I JUST I'M JUST SAYING THIS
IS WHAT I WANT TO DO. YEAH BUT
THE IDEA BEING THAT THERE IS A
WAY TO CREATE MORE OF A HOLISTIC
COMMUNITY SYSTEM, THAT. BUT
UNDERSTANDING THERE NEEDS TO BE
MORE ROBUST OPPORTUNITIES. AND
CERTAIN POTS TO ENSURE THAT NON
LEAS COULD STILL PARTICIPATE IN
THAT HOLISTIC APPROACH. THERE IS
A MODEL WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, WHERE
MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY BASED
PROGRAMS OPERATE OFF OF A SCHOOL
CAMPUS, OR MAY BE FUNDED
DIRECTLY THROUGH AN LÀ, LIKE THE
LA, MAY SUBCONTRACT WITH A
COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM TO
PROVIDE SERVICES. I THINK ONE
BARRIER I JUST FLAGGED TO THAT
IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE, IT IT'S
IT TAKES PEOPLE TO KIND OF
ADMINISTER A CONTRACT AND REPORT
TO THE STATE. DO THOSE TYPES OF
THINGS. AND SO SOMETIMES THAT
FUNDING IS KIND OF CARVED OFF
THE TOP OF WHAT GOES TO THE
COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM. AND SO
I THINK THERE'S A THERE'S A FIX
THAT, YOU KNOW, COULD BE HAD FOR
THAT. AND RIGHT. BUT SAME THING
AS SCHOOLS WHO I USED TO BE A
CONTRACT PROVIDER TO A SCHOOL
DISTRICT. I MEAN, I KNOW HOW HOW
TO GET THEM CHECKS. RIGHT. AND
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HOPEFULLY THEY
COME ON TIME BEFORE BEFORE MY
EMPLOYEES SAY WHERE MY PAYROLL
PAYCHECK IS. BUT BUT OBVIOUSLY
THAT SYSTEM ALREADY EXISTS. IT'S
JUST A MATTER OF HOW TO MAKE IT
RIGHT. AND HOW TO. AND THEN I
UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY'RE GOING
TO PROVIDE THAT SAME AMOUNT OF
FUNDING, YOU WOULD PROBABLY HAVE
TO HAVE A HIGHER AMOUNT, BECAUSE
WHEN YOU CARVE, TRIM THAT OFF
THE TOP, YOU STILL NEED TO HAVE
ENOUGH LEFT OVER TO PROVIDE THEM
THE DECENT, YOU KNOW, THE LEVEL
OF FUNDING NECESSARY TO PROVIDE
THE SAME QUALITY AS BEFORE.
OKAY, CORRECTION. NO. OR AN
ENHANCEMENT. OOH, THERE YOU GO.
THAT'S EVEN BETTER. SO JUST
BECAUSE IT GETS SO COMPLICATED
IN OUR UNIVERSAL PRE-K SPACE,
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN, LIKE
OTHER GRADES, CAN'T BE OPERATED
OFF SITE, SO WE CAN'T HAVE
SOMEBODY ELSE OPERATE THE TK. IT
HAS TO BE A SCHOOL. THE ONE
LOCATION IT CAN BE. YOU CAN HAVE
A SATELLITE FACILITY AT A
COMMUNITY COLLEGE BECAUSE THEY
ALSO MEET THE FIELD ACT. SO
MAKING SURE THEY MEET OTHER
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND ED
CODE. BUT WE WOULD AGREE THERE'S
A LOT IN THE SPACE OF FACILITIES
AND OUR COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WILL ALSO STAND UP
AND SAY THEY HAVE PRETTY DIRE,
FACILITY NEEDS AS WELL. SO AS WE
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT COMMUNITIES,
ARE WE ALLOWED TO DREAM THEN HOW
ARE WE HAVING COMMUNITIES SORT
OF REQUIRED AS PART OF THEIR
MASTER PLANS TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE LOOKING AT CHILD CARE
AND PRESCHOOL ACCESS AS THEY
CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD? SO, I
KNOW WES SAC DID SOME THINGS AS
I THINK OF HOW THEY LOOKED AT
BUSINESS GROWTH AND LOOKING AT
WHAT THEIR COMMUNITY ALSO
NEEDED. SO IT'S PART OF THEIR
MASTER ZONING PLANS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. THEY'RE ACTUALLY
INCORPORATING, LOOKING AT FAMILY
NEEDS AS PART OF IT. SO
POTENTIALS, AS WE CONTINUE TO
PARTNER AND LOOK AT WHOLE CHILD,
WHOLE COMMUNITY, YOU'RE PROBABLY
GOING TO TELL ME THEY I'M GOING
TO NAME THAT BILL AFTER YOU.
ACTUALLY, WHEN THEY COME TO ME,
WHAT ARE YOU MAKING US DO? AND
NOT AS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT,
ARE? I WAS GOING TO SAY NO.
YOU'RE RIGHT. THEY DON'T DO
THAT. BUT THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIES AND TO
INCLUDE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AS
A FOCUS IN THEIR GENERAL PLANS.
AND IN THEIR HOUSING ELEMENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GAVE ME A LOT
OF GOOD STUFF. THAT'S ALL I
HAVE, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL TO THE PANEL. I
THINK WE PROVIDED YOU SOME
FEEDBACK. WE GOT SOME FROM YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY, VERY,
GOOD CONVERSATION, ISSUE NUMBER
TWO IS CHILD CARE ACCESS,
EXPANSION OVERSIGHT AND
METHODOLOGY PROPOSALS. AND MR.
CHAIR JACKSON WILL LEAD US. NOW,
WE WILL ASK THE SECOND PANEL TO
COME UP. THIS PANEL WILL
CONSIDER THE CONSIDER THE
JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSALS TO
CHANGE DSW'S METHODOLOGY FOR
ESTIMATING THE ANNUAL
APPROPRIATION COSTS FOR NEW
CHILD CARE PROGRAM SLOTS IN
GENERAL, CHILD CARE AND THE
CALIFORNIA ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT
PROGRAM. THIS COMMITTEE ONLY
RECEIVED THE FULL EXPLANATION OF
THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL
LAST WEEK, SO I WOULD ASK THE
PANEL TO BE VERY CLEAR IF THERE
IS ANY DISAGREEMENT ABOUT HOW
THE PROPOSAL IS DESCRIBED IN THE
AGENDA, WHILE THE METHODOLOGY
CHANGES SUGGEST IT MAY NOT
REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY,
THE BUDGET AUTHORITY, SERVICE
STANDARDS AND STATE SYSTEM
STANDARDS IMPLY, 2222. SO WHAT
WE WILL DO IS, I BELIEVE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE WILL LEAD
US OFF. THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE HERE, DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. OKAY. SOCIAL SERVICES,
GO FOR IT. YEAH. SO, DOCTOR LUPE
MILAM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE
CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION AT CDSS. AND SO I'M
GOING TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A COUPLE
OF STATS THAT I MENTIONED THAT,
EARLIER, ONLY BECAUSE I THINK
THEY'RE WORTH STILL CALLING OUT
AND CONTINUING TO APPLAUD. THE
WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE
LEGISLATOR IN REGARDS TO THE
THIS WORK. SO IN THE LAST RECENT
YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE AND
GOVERNOR HAVE AGREED, TO
HISTORIC LEVELS OF EXPANSION OF
CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT
SUBSIDY SYSTEMS IN CALIFORNIA.
AND THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
INCLUDES 6.7 BILLION TOTAL IN
FUNDING OF CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
IN THE 24, 25 AND AS REFERENCED
EARLIER, IT IS ENORMOUS GROWTH
FROM THE 1.7 BILLION AROUND TEN
YEARS AGO. SO APPLAUSE IN
REGARDS TO THAT STATISTIC, A
SIGNIFICANT PART OF THIS GROWTH
HAVE STEMMED FROM THE GOVERNOR
AND LEGISLATOR COMMITMENT TO
EXPANDING ACCESS TO MORE
FAMILIES AND 2122 BUDGET
AGREEMENT INCLUDED AN AGREEMENT
TO FUND THE 200,000 NEW SUBSIDY
SLOTS OVER THE MULTI YEAR
PERIOD. AS A RESULT OF THIS
AGREEMENT, ENROLLMENT IN OUR
LARGELY SUBSIDIZED PROGRAM, THE
ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM,
WHICH OPERATES THROUGH A VOUCHER
BASED SYSTEM, HAS MORE THAN
DOUBLED FROM THE 50 56,300
CHILDREN IN 2001. 2021 TO THE
130,000 PLUS CHILDREN IN OCTOBER
OF 2023. SO HUGE JUMP IN REGARDS
TO THAT. TO AGAIN, A MOMENT TO
CELEBRATE. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN
GROWTH IN THE GENERAL CHILD CARE
, CONTRACT, WHICH IS REFERENCED
AS K¾T. OUR PROGRAM WHICH
OPERATES THROUGH THE CDSS,
THROUGH DIRECT CONTRACTS WITH
CHILD CARE PROGRAMS AND
CONTRACTORS. WE IMPLEMENTED THE
ADDITIONAL CAP SUBSIDIES THROUGH
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONTRACTS, WE
HOLD WITH THE ALTERNATE PAYMENT
CONTRACTOR AGENCIES, AND WE
IMPLEMENT THE CTR SUBSIDIES
INCREASE THROUGH A REQUEST FOR
APPLICATION RFA PROCESS, WHICH
IS MUCH LENGTHIER AND COMPLEX TO
ADMINISTRATE NEW DOLLARS GOING
OUT THE DOOR. SO TWO DIFFERENT
APPROACHES THEN IN PARTICULAR,
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND HAVE
REDUCED THE TIMELINE OF THE RFA
PROCESS TO AROUND 12 MONTHS TO
CREATE A POST THE APPLICATION
COLLECT APPLICATION.
INFORMATION, DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY, REASSESS
ELIGIBILITY AS NEEDED, AND THEN
EXECUTE CONTRACTS CGRTS IS
CONTINUALLY TO IMPROVE IN THAT
RFA PROCESS YEAR AFTER YEAR.
RECENT EXAMPLE IS THE
COMMUNICATION OF SHIFTING TO
ELECTRONICALLY AND VIRTUALLY AT
EVERY STATE OF THE APPLICATION,
SCORING AND APPEAL PROCESS, AND
VESTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
DEVELOPING ON PURCHASING
ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION
THAT COULD DECREASE THE NET
WORKLOAD AND PROCESSING TIME.
WE'RE UTILIZING FILLABLE FORMS
TO COVER LARGE VERIFICATIONS,
SUCH AS CERTIFICATIONS FOR
CONTRACTORS AND IMPROVING TIMELY
FIDELITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. PROCEDURAL
STEPS AND RESOURCES THROUGH
DOCUMENTING AND IMPLEMENTING OF
LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH
CONTINUOUS BASIS. AND SO, AS
OUTLINED IN THE AGENDA AND
REFERENCE EARLIER, THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSES TO
CHANGE THE TIMELINE OF FUNDING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NEW SLOTS
AND RECOGNITION OF THE TIMELINE
THAT IT TAKES US TO AWARD THE
FUNDING TO CONTRACTORS AND THE
FIELD TO ALSO RAMP UP FOR THIS
ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO
SERVE THE CHILDREN. AND THIS IS
SPECIFICALLY ALSO WITH THE K¾T
CONTRACT WITH RESPECT TO THE CAP
PROGRAM. PREVIOUSLY, FUNDS WERE
WILL WOULD BE ALLOCATED IN
OCTOBER AND TAKING PLANNING AND
RAMP UP TIME LATER IN PLANNING
AND RAMP UP TIME LATER IN THE
YEAR. GIVEN THE MULTI YEAR SLOT
EXPANSION COMMITMENT IDENTIFIED,
BUYING THE SLOTS AS AVAILABLE
JULY 1ST ENCOURAGES THE FIELD TO
NOW CONTINUOUSLY ENROLL RATHER
THAN IMPLY THAT THERE SHOULD BE
A PAUSE AND NEW ENROLLMENTS FROM
JULY TO OCTOBER. SO DEFINITELY
AN EFFICIENCY THERE. WITH
RESPECT TO CTR, WE HAVE SEEN A
DEMAND FOR AGENCIES TO OPEN
CLASSROOMS AS EARLY AS JULY
FIRST. AGENCIES OFTEN NEED TO
HIRE QUALIFIED STAFF, PURCHASE
EQUIPMENT FOR CLASSROOMS, AND
ENROLL FAMILIES WHICH ARE TIME
CONSUMING STEPS, BUT MUCH NEEDED
CDSS IS IN REGULAR COMMUNICATION
WITH AGENCIES AND PROVIDING
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AS IS OUR
GOAL. JUST LIKE THE AGENCY, THE
ADMINISTRATION, OF COURSE, WE AS
THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE
LEGISLATURE TO GET STARTED AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE AND RESPONSE TO
ANOTHER OF THE QUESTIONS IN THE
AGENDA, ANY CHANGES TO UTILIZE
CTR FUNDING THAT HAS NOT YET
BEEN AWARDED FOR CAPACITY
BUILDING WOULD REQUIRE,
STATUTORY CHANGES. AND SO
OVERALL SUBSIDIES THROUGH CDSS
SUPPORTED NEARLY 374,000 OF
CALIFORNIA'S CHILDREN AND 2324
ALONGSIDE THEIR FAMILIES,
COMMUNITIES AND THE STATE
ECONOMY. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO
CONTINUING TO INCREASE ACCESS AS
EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE, AND I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU.
TAMAR WEBER, DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, NOTHING TO ADD, BUT
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LEO. YES.
JACKIE BROZA WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE, WE
RELEASED OUR ANALYSIS OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET LAST WEEK,
WHICH, IS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA
. VÀ. I'LL FIRST START OFF WITH
KIND OF AN OVERARCHING POINT
THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE, AND
THERE'S A TABLE ON PAGE 14 OF
THE AGENDA THAT PROVIDES AN
OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL
ONE TIME GENERAL FUND SAVINGS,
THAT GOES BEYOND WHAT IS
INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET. MOST OF THESE POTENTIAL
SAVINGS ARE THE RESULT OF JUST
ACTUAL COST COMING IN LOWER THAN
BUDGETED LEVELS. A PART OF THAT
IS JUST DUE TO, SLOWER SLOT TAKE
UP RATE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. A
COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT I DID WANT
TO CALL OUT SPECIFIC TO THE
TABLE IS FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A
LINE ITEM HERE THAT TALKS ABOUT
PROPOSITION 64 CARRYOVER FUNDS,
PROPOSITION 64. THOSE FUNDS DO
SUPPORT SLOTS IN THE CAP AND K¾T
PROGRAM. HOWEVER, OVER THE
YEARS, NOT ALL OF THE BUDGETED
DOLLARS HAVE GONE SPENT, AND
THEN BASED OFF OF THE
ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATES,
POTENTIALLY 415, PROPOSITION 64
FUNDS WILL GO UNSPENT BY THE END
OF 2324. SO THESE DOLLARS ARE
CONTINUOUSLY APPROPRIATED,
MEANING THAT THEY ARE NOT
ALLOCATED THROUGH THE ANNUAL
BUDGET PROCESS. THE LEGISLATURE
WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION IN ORDER FOR
THESE FUNDS TO BE
ADMINISTRATIVELY ALLOCATED, TO
OFFSET ANY POTENTIAL GENERAL
FUND COSTS AND THEN CREATE
SAVINGS IN THAT WAY. THE SAVINGS
ALSO MENTIONS THE POTENTIAL USE
OF FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE GO UNSPENT AND REVERT
BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THAT TO
HAPPEN, WE COULD REPLACE, A
GENERAL FUND DOLLAR AND OFFSET
THOSE COSTS WITH THESE UNSPENT
FEDERAL FUNDS. ADDITIONALLY THE
TABLE INCLUDES SAVINGS THAT
COULD RESULT FROM REVERTING
GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT WOULD
NATURALLY GO UNSPENT BY THE END
OF 2324. EARLIER THAN THE
TRADITIONAL REVERSION TIMELINE,
I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT.
OVERALL, THESE ESTIMATES WERE
LARGELY BASED OFF OF JANUARY
EXPENDITURE DATA, AND WE HOPE TO
RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT ON UNSPENT FUNDS AND,
IF NEEDED, EXPENDITURE TRENDS,
AS A PART OF THE MAY REVISION.
SO WITH THAT OVERVIEW, I'LL NOW
PROVIDE A PROGRAM SPECIFIC WALK
THROUGH OF BOTH THE CAP AND THE
CTR CHANGES. OUR ANALYSIS, AS IT
RELATES TO THE CAP PROGRAM, I'LL
MOVE OVER TO TABLE FIVE JUST TO,
PROVIDE CONTEXT OF OVER THE LAST
TWO YEARS WITHIN THE CAP PROGRAM
AND UNDER THE MULTI-YEAR SLOT
EXPANSION PLAN, THE STATE HAS
ADDED ABOUT 95,000 NEW SLOTS, IN
THE ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM,
THESE SLOTS ARE ADMINISTRATIVELY
DISTRIBUTED ACROSS EXISTING
PROGRAM CONTRACTS. THERE'S NO
APPLICATION PROCESS. IT'S ALL
DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY. THIS TIME
LAST YEAR, MANY OF THESE SLOTS,
WERE NOT FILLED. AND BECAUSE OF
THAT, AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE TABLE
ON PAGE FIVE, AS A PART OF THE
BUDGET, WE DID DELAY ADDING ANY
ADDITIONAL SLOTS BY ONE YEAR IN
ORDER FOR AGENCIES TO CATCH UP
AND FILL ALL OF THE 95,000
PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED SLOTS, THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ASSUMES THAT
AGENCIES WILL FILL ALL OF THESE
SLOTS BY THE END OF 20. ALL THE
PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED SLOTS BY THE
END OF 2324, WHICH THEN THEY
VIEW AS THEN BEING READY, THEN
TO RECEIVE THEIR SCHEDULED
16,000 ADDITIONAL SLOTS. ON TOP
OF THAT, IN 2425, BRINGING THE
TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW ALTERNATIVE
PAYMENT SLOTS FROM 95,000 TO,
111,000 Þ. HOWEVER THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DOES ASSUME
THE 16,000 NEW SLOTS WOULD BE
IMPLEMENTED JULY ONE, WHICH IS
THREE MONTHS EARLIER THAN THE
TRADITIONAL OCTOBER 1ST
IMPLEMENTATION ASSUMPTION. THE
EARLIER IMPLEMENTATION DATE
WOULD ALSO APPLY TO FUTURE SLOT
INCREASES, AND AGAIN, SINCE THIS
IS AN EARLIER IMPLEMENTATION
DATE, WOULD RESULT IN $46
MILLION ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND
COSTS IN 2425. OUR UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT WHILE THE EARLIER
IMPLEMENTATION DATE MAY BRING
ABOUT SOME ADMINISTRATIVE
EFFICIENCIES, THE NEW SLOTS
LIKELY WOULD NOT TAKE EFFECT
JULY 1ST DUE TO IT JUST TAKES
TIME FOR AGENCIES TO RECEIVE
PAYMENTS FROM DSS AND THEN ALSO
AFTER THE FACT, RECRUIT FAMILIES
AND THOSE FAMILIES TO VÌ TO FIND
PROVIDERS. ALSO, IN ORDER TO
ACHIEVE THIS, JULY 1ST START
DATE, THE DEPARTMENT ESSENTIALLY
WOULD NEED TO START ALLOCATING
SLOTS AND THE ASSOCIATED FUNDING
TO AGENCIES PRIOR TO LEGISLATIVE
APPROVAL OF THESE NEW SLOTS AND
THE ASSOCIATED FUNDING THROUGH
THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO
ESSENTIALLY, THE DEPARTMENT
WOULD START IMPLEMENTING OR
START IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
FOR THESE SLOTS BEFORE THE
LEGISLATURE HAS EVEN APPROVED
THE SLOTS, WHICH WE VIEW AS
GETTING AHEAD OF THE
LEGISLATURE'S APPROPRIATION
POWER, SO BECAUSE OF THAT, OF
THOSE REASONS, ADDITIONALLY, THE
FACT THAT THIS WOULD THE EARLY
IMPLEMENTATION DATE WOULD CREATE
A NEW COST PRESSURE WITHIN THE
PROGRAM IN A TIME IN WHICH,
REVENUES ARE PROJECTED TO NOT
EVEN SUPPORT EXISTING
COMMITMENTS, WE RECOMMEND THAT
THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUE TO
ASSUME THE OCTOBER 1ST
IMPLEMENTATION DATE, AND THAT
WOULD RESULT IN $46 MILLION IN
GENERAL FUND SAVINGS RELATIVE TO
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. MOVING ON
TO K¾T ARE HERE. THE MOVING
PARTS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE
COMPLICATED. AS THE DEPARTMENT
MENTIONED. THEY ARE CHANGING THE
FUNDING TIMELINE FOR NEW CTR
SLOTS. I'LL BREAK DOWN THESE
CHANGES INTO, FOUR DIFFERENT
CHANGES. ONE OF THE CHANGES IS
CHANGING THEIR YEAR TO YEAR SLOT
RAMP UP SCHEDULE. WE'RE STILL
COMMITTED TO INCREASING THESE
SLOTS BY ABOUT 62,000. BY 2627.
IT'S JUST THE YEAR TO YEAR
NUMBER OF SLOTS THAT WE ADD IS
DIFFERENT RELATIVE TO PAST
BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS. THEY ALSO
ASSUME A LATER IMPLEMENTATION
DATE AT A FUTURE NEW SLOTS. THEY
ASSUME A HIGHER PER COST, A
HIGHER COST PER SLOT, AND THEN
ALSO THEY'RE PROPOSING
PROVISIONAL LANGUAGE THAT WOULD
ALLOW MIDYEAR ADJUSTMENT. S ALL
IN ALL, THESE FOUR CHANGES
RESULT IN ABOUT $570 MILLION IN
GENERAL FUND SAVINGS IN 23, 24
AND ABOUT 310 MILLION GENERAL
FUND SAVINGS IN 2425. SO NOW
I'LL JUST TAKE THE TIME TO WALK
THROUGH IN A BIT MORE DETAIL.
EACH OF THOSE FOUR CHANGES AND,
FLAG SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT WE
HAVE OF THEM AS IT RELATES TO
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY. FIRST IS
THE SLOT RAMP UP SCHEDULE. SO ON
PAGE TEN OF THE AGENDA. THERE IS
A FIGURE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER TO
TRY TO SUMMARIZE, THE CHANGES TO
THE SLOT RAMP UP SCHEDULE,
SPECIFICALLY, OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS, WE'VE ADDED ABOUT 50,000
NEW SLOTS TO THE GENERAL CHILD
CARE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. UNLIKE
THE ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM,
THESE SLOTS ARE ALLOCATED
THROUGH AN ANNUAL APPLICATION
PROCESS, WHICH, IT SEEMS LIKE
BASED OFF OF SLOT TAKE UP
TRENDS, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THOSE
SLOTS BEING FILLED AT A SLOWER
RATE, THIS TIME LAST YEAR, MORE
THAN HALF OF THESE SLOTS
REMAINED UNAWARDED. SO AS A
RESULT, AGAIN, WE DELAYED ADDING
ANY ADDITIONAL SLOTS BY ONE YEAR
SO THAT THE DEPARTMENT AND THE
FIELD COULD CATCH UP AND FILL
ALL OF THESE 50,000 PREVIOUSLY
PROVIDED ADDED SLOTS. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. HOWEVER, NOW,
AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE FIGURE,
RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO FUND
FIGURE NUMBER 5 OR 6 ON PAGE TEN
OF THE AGENDA, AS YOU'LL SEE IN
FIGURE NUMBER, 10 IN 2324,
RATHER THAN MAINTAINING FUNDING
FOR THE FULL 50,000 PREVIOUSLY
PROVIDED, PROVIDED SLOTS, THEY
WOULD RIGHTSIZE THE BUDGET TO
ONLY REFLECT AWARDED SLOTS THUS
FAR, WHICH IS 21,000, AND THEN
PUSH OUT THE IMPLEMENTATION AND
THE FUNDING OF THE REMAINING
28,000 SLOTS THAT CURRENTLY ARE
UNAWARDED TO FUTURE YEARS. SO
THIS ESSENTIALLY HAS HAS THE
EFFECT OF PUSHING OUT
IMPLEMENTATION COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE OVERALL SLOT EXPANSION
PLAN INTO FUTURE YEARS, BUT THEN
ALSO PUSHING OUT, SLOTS INTO
FUTURE YEARS. THIS CHANGE IN THE
BUDGETING PROCESS WOULD BE
PERMANENT AND ONGOING, MEANING
THAT MOVING FORWARD AS A PART OF
THE BUDGET CYCLE, THE
ADMINISTRATION, THEY'LL DO AN
ESTIMATE OF IN ANY GIVEN YEAR.
HOW MANY SLOTS DO THEY BELIEVE
COULD BE AWARDED. AND THE BUDGET
WILL REFLECT THAT NUMBER. SO
POTENTIALLY IN 24, 25 RIGHT NOW
THEY'RE ASSUMING 12,000 SLOTS
WILL BE AWARDED IN THE BUDGET
YEAR. BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT
THEY'RE SEEING TRENDS, ARE
HIGHER OR LOWER, THAT NUMBER
COULD CHANGE NEXT YEAR, WHERE
HISTORICALLY, THE LEGISLATURE
AND ADMINISTRATION HAVE ALWAYS
AGREED UPON A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
SLOTS THAT WAS FIXED, THAT THEN
THE DEPARTMENT WOULD COMMIT TO.
AND IT WOULD BE FIXED. IT
WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE A MOVING
TARGET. THE SECOND CHANGE I'LL
FOCUS ON IS THE LATER
IMPLEMENTATION DATE. SO IN
ADDITION, THE ADMINISTRATION IS
NOW ASSUMING FOR NEW SLOTS IN
ANY GIVEN FUTURE YEAR, THOSE
WILL BE IMPLEMENTED JULY 1ST AS
OPPOSED TO APRIL 1ST, WHILE THIS
DOES RESULT IN SAVINGS BECAUSE
IT IS A LATER IMPLEMENTATION
DATE, THE REASON WHY WE'VE
ALWAYS ASSUMED APRIL 1ST IS
BECAUSE THESE SLOTS ARE AWARDED
THROUGH APPLICATIONS, AND IN
ORDER TO HAVE THE FUNDING
AUTHORIZED AND GUARANTEED FOR
THOSE APPLICATIONS, THE
LEGISLATURE HAS ALWAYS PROVIDED
AT LEAST THREE MONTHS OF
FUNDING, THAT THEN IN THE FALL,
BEALL, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD
START SEEKING OUT APPLICATIONS
TO AWARD THOSE THREE MONTHS OF
FUNDING. BUT NOW THAT WITH THE
JULY 1ST IMPLEMENTATION DATE,
THERE'S NO LONGER A FUNDING FOOT
HOLE OR A FUNDING GUARANTEE OR
AUTHORIZATION FOR FUTURE RFAS,
THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ACTUALLY
SEEK APPLICATIONS, APPROVE
APPLICATIONS AND START
COMMITTING THOSE DOLLARS INTO
CONTRACTS ALL BEFORE THE
LEGISLATURE HAS APPROVED THE
ASSOCIATED FUNDING FOR IT, SO
BECAUSE OF THAT, WE JUST, RAISED
THAT THAT ALSO BRINGS INTO, IT
BRINGS INTO CONSIDERATION ISSUES
OF GETTING AHEAD OF THE
LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION POWER,
ANOTHER CHANGE THAT WE WOULD
FLAG IS THAT THERE'S ALSO AN
ASSUMPTION OF JUST ASSUMING
HIGHER COSTS PER SLOT OF NEW OF
NEW SLOTS. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS
THOSE ARE JUST BASED OFF OF MORE
RECENT ACTUAL PROGRAM DATA, SO
WE HAVE NO CONCERNS WITH THAT,
AND LASTLY, THERE IS A, A
PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE PROVISIONAL
LANGUAGE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR
MIDYEAR ADJUSTMENTS THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION COULD INCREASE,
FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH GENERAL
CHILD CARE SLOTS TO THE EXTENT
MAYBE, COST OR HIGHER THAN WE
INITIALLY BUDGETED OR MAYBE THEY
ARE ESTIMATING THAT THE FIELD IS
READY FOR A NEW SLOTS AHEAD OF,
THE ANNUAL APPLICATION PROCESS.
MAYBE THEY CAN DO ANOTHER ONE.
HOWEVER, WE WOULD FLAG THAT
THERE IS NO DETAIL ON HOW THEY
WOULD GO ABOUT DETERMINING
WHETHER MID-YEAR ALLOCATION IS
NEEDED, BUT THEN ALSO THAT
MID-YEAR ALLOCATION WOULDN'T BE
SUBJECT TO LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL.
THEY WOULD JUST HAVE TO NOTIFY
THE LEGISLATURE. AND AGAIN, IT
BRINGS INTO, CONSIDERATION THIS
TENSION OF LEGISLATIVE
APPROPRIATION POWER. SO OVERALL,
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE
LEGISLATURE, AGAIN, GIVEN THE
BUDGET CONDITION, YOU MAY WANT
TO APPROVE THE SAVINGS
ASSOCIATED WITH ALL THESE
CHANGES TO THE FUNDING TIMELINE.
HOWEVER WE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND
WE WOULD RECOMMEND REJECTING THE
WAY THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING
ABOUT ACHIEVING THOSE SAVINGS.
THE LEGISLATURE COULD INSTEAD
DEVELOP AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH
THAT MAINTAINS LEGISLATIVE
AUTHORITY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
LEGISLATURE COULD CODIFY THE
SLOT EXPANSION PLAN AND THE
APPLICATION TIMELINE SO THAT AT
LEAST THE DEPARTMENT HAS THE
STATUTORY AUTHORITY OF KNOWING
THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SLOTS TO
AWARD ON AN ON ANY GIVEN YEAR.
BUT THEN ALSO HAS THE AUTHORITY,
THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY, TO,
SEEK APPLICATIONS, APPROVE
APPLICATIONS ÓRDENES AND BEGIN
TO ALLOCATE DOLLARS BEFORE THE
LEGISLATURE FORMALLY AUTHORIZES
THOSE DOLLARS THROUGH THE BUDGET
PROCESS. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR JACKSON. MY
NAME IS ERIC SALCIDO, AND I'M A
SENIOR POLICY ANALYST AT THE
CALIFORNIA BUDGET AND POLICY
CENTER, WHICH IS A NONPARTISAN
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS NONPROFIT.
AND THINK THANK YOU. AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY ON
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EARLY
LEARNING AND CARE SYSTEM,
SPECIFICALLY ON THE ISSUE OF
NEED AND SPACES, ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE AND
PRESCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES IS
CRITICAL FOR CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES TO THRIVE, AND
THROUGHOUT THE MORNING, WE HEARD
A LOT ABOUT THIS, THAT IT IS
WELL DOCUMENTED THAT EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROMOTES
DEVELOPMENT AND PREPARES
CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL. YET THE
COST OF CHILDCARE REMAINS HIGHLY
UNAFFORDABLE IN CALIFORNIA. OUR
RECENT ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT A
SINGLE MOTHER WILL NEED TO USE
60% OF THEIR INCOME, ON AVERAGE,
TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE FOR AN
INFANT AND THEN ONE SCHOOL
CHILD, SCHOOL AGE CHILD AND ONLY
SOME FAMILIES WHO STRUGGLE TO
MAKE ENDS MEET ARE ABLE TO
DEPEND ON THE SUBSIDIZED SYSTEM
TO GET THE CARE THEIR CHILDREN
NEED. DESPITE THE CRITICAL ROLE
OF THE EARLY LEARNING AND CARE
SYSTEM, ACCESS REMAINS LIMITED
TO ONLY A FRACTION OF CHILDREN
FROM ELIGIBLE FAMILIES AND THERE
ARE SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH SUBSIDIZED
CHILD CARE SPACES FOR
CALIFORNIA'S CHILDREN. SO TODAY,
I'M GOING TO BE CENTERING MY
PRESENTATION ON WHAT THE NEED
FOR CHILDCARE AND STATE
PRESCHOOL LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT
THE STATE IS, AND HELPING
FAMILIES GET THE CARE THAT THEY
NEED. SO, AS YOU ALREADY KNOW,
THE STATE PROVIDES RESOURCES TO
SUBSIDIZE THE COST OF EARLY
LEARNING AND CARE FOR FAMILIES
WITH LOW INCOMES THROUGH
PROGRAMS THAT ARE ADMINISTERED
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES. SO FIRST, I'M
GOING TO GO OVER ELIGIBILITY AND
ENROLLMENT TRENDS FOR CHILDCARE,
AND THEN I'LL TOUCH BRIEFLY ON
STATE PRESCHOOL. SO IN 2022,
WHICH IS THE MOST RECENT
AVAILABLE DATA FOR OUR ESTIMATE,
ONLY 1 IN 9 OR ABOUT 11% OF
CALIFORNIA'S CHILDREN ELIGIBLE
FOR CARE ACTUALLY RECEIVE
SERVICES. AND WHILE THE NUMBER
OF NEW CHILDCARE SPACES HAS
INCREASED, AS WE'VE HEARD TODAY,
THE NUMBER OF NEW SLOTS HAS NOT
KEPT PACE WITH THE GROWING
DEMAND. THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN
ELIGIBLE FOR CHILDCARE HAS GROWN
FROM ABOUT 1.5 MILLION IN 2015
TO ABOUT 2.2 MILLION IN 2022.
AND AS THE DEMAND FOR CHILDCARE
CONTINUES TO FAR OUTPACE SUPPLY,
BLACK AND LATINX FAMILIES ARE
MOST IMPACTED BY THIS
INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY. OVERALL FOR
THE CHILD CARE PROGRAMS, 89% OF
CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR CHILDCARE
ARE NOT RECEIVING SERVICES,
MEANING THAT MANY OF THE
FAMILIES MAY BE SPENDING OVER
HALF OF THEIR INCOME ON
CHILDCARE ALONE, OR MAY BE
HAVING TO MAKE DIFFICULT
DECISIONS, SUCH AS LEAVING THEIR
JOB OR HAVING TO PAUSE THEIR
EDUCATIONAL TRAJECTORIES TO GET
THE CARE THAT THEY NEED. SO
SHIFT REALLY QUICKLY TO STATE
PRESCHOOL, SIMILARLY, OUR
ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT IN 2022,
THERE WERE ABOUT 560,003 AND
FOUR YEAR OLD CHILDREN THAT
WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FOR
THE CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM, BUT ONLY ABOUT 17% OR
ABOUT 96,000, ACTUALLY RECEIVED
THOSE SERVICES. AND I KNOW THIS
HAS BEEN TOUCHED ON BEFORE, AND
IT'S GOING TO BE TALKED ABOUT
PROBABLY IN THE NEXT PANEL. AND
I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE SLOW
RECOVERY IN STATE PRESCHOOL
PARTICIPATION SIGNALS THAT
ELIGIBLE FAMILIES ARE FACING
COMPLEX BARRIERS TO ENROLLMENT,
WHICH FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE,
PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
IMPROVE IMPROVE THE
FUNCTIONALITY OF THE EARLY
LEARNING SYSTEM. SO OVERALL,
RECENT EXPANSIONS IN THESE
TARGETED PROGRAMS, SUCH AS
REFORMING FAMILY FEES, WHICH WE
ALSO HEARD ABOUT EARLIER TODAY,
AND ADDING MORE SLOTS, HAVE
INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. BUT
THE GAP BETWEEN ENROLLMENT AND
ELIGIBILITY REMAINS QUITE LARGE.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF
SLOTS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND WE
HAVEN'T MADE PROGRESS RECENTLY
IN MORE EFFICIENTLY ROLLING OUT
NEW SLOTS. THE DIFFERENT PARTS
OF UNUSED RESOURCES THAT WE'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY PRESENT
AN OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THESE
EXISTING DOLLARS TO FURTHER
EXPAND PARTICIPATION AND ACCESS,
SO THAT THE LARGE NUMBER OF
ELIGIBLE CHILDREN ACTUALLY
RECEIVE THE SERVICES THAT THEY
NEED, MORE SPECIFICALLY,
POLICYMAKERS CAN SUPPORT
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO
SECURE ACCESS BY CONTINUING TO
MAKE PROGRESS ON EXPANDING THE
NUMBER OF SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE
SPACES TO CLOSE, I WANTED TO
REITERATE WHY CONTINUED
INVESTMENTS IN CHILDCARE AND
PRESCHOOL ARE SO IMPORTANT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, INCREASING
ACCESS TO EARLY LEARNING AND
CARE WOULD HELP NEARLY 2 MILLION
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
THRIVE. AND SECOND, INVESTMENTS
IN EARLY LEARNING, EARLY
LEARNING AND CARE BENEFIT
INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES AND THE
STATE AS A WHOLE. THESE
INVESTMENTS WOULD ENSURE PARENTS
AND CAREGIVERS WOULDN'T HAVE TO
MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS LIKE
LEAVING THEIR JOB OR DELAYING
THEIR EDUCATIONAL PLANS DUE TO
AN AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE COSTS.
AND DESPITE THE BUDGET SHORTFALL
, CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO GREAT
WEALTH AND POLICYMAKERS SHOULD
PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING OF
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO
SECURE A PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU AND HAPPY
TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE. THANK YOU, CHAIR JACKSON,
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
BUDGET AS WELL, SPECIFICALLY,
THE JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSAL. I
MY NAME IS ANDREA FERNANDEZ
MENDOZA, AND I'M THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION FOR
CALIFORNIA CHILDREN'S ACADEMY. I
SERVE AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR
EVERY CHILD CALIFORNIA, WHO I'M
SITTING HERE REPRESENTING TODAY,
MY COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION
BASED IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, HAS
15 SITES THAT SERVE OVER 134
INFANTS, 163 TODDLERS, AND 478
PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. EVERY DAY AS
WE CAME OUT OF THE COVID
PANDEMIC, WHERE WORKERS WERE
ESSENTIAL, THE FIELD WAS
RECOGNIZED FOR OUR UNIQUE
CONTRIBUTIONS AND OUR VALUABLE
SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. IN
THE 2425 BUDGET. WE CANNOT GO
BACKWARDS AND DISMANTLE MANY OF
THE LONG TERME COMMITMENTS THAT
THE ADMINISTRATION AND
LEGISLATURE HAVE MADE TO SUPPORT
AND CONTINUE TO UPLIFT AND
SUSTAIN THE FIELD ON BEHALF OF
THE 850 TITLE FIVE DIRECT
CONTRACTING CENTER IN CALIFORNIA
AND EVERY CHILD CALIFORNIA, I
WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE
FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS AND
ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
OUTLINED IN THE AGENDA.
RECOMMENDATIONS WE RECOMMEND NOT
SLOWING DOWN THE RELEASE OF THE
CTR EXPANSION FUNDS. THE SLOW
UPTAKE REFLECTS THE CUMBERSOME
RFA PROCESS AND CONTRACTING
PROCESS, NOT THE NEED WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY. THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL DEMONSTRATE THE BELIEF
THAT CENTERS CANNOT UTILIZE
THESE FUNDS. THE PAUSE ON THE
SLOT EXPANSION WILL RESULT IN
FEWER NEEDY INFANTS AND TODDLERS
GETTING THE QUALITY OF CARE THAT
THEY NEED RIGHT NOW. THESE
YOUNG, DEVELOPING BRAINS CANNOT
WAIT. WHILE STATE AGENCIES
PROCESS PAPERWORK AND SCORE RFA
APPLICATIONS, AGENCIES DEPEND ON
CONSISTENT Kò IN THEIR FUNDING
TO DO YEAR LONG PROJECTIONS.
ENSURE THEY ARE FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE, AND MEET OUR OWN
BUDGETS. BY PUTTING OUT FUNDING
AND THEN RETRACTING IT. IT
PROMOTES A SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY
IN THE FIELD BOARDS AND
SUPERINTENDENTS ARE THEN
HESITANT TO APPLY FOR EXPANSION
FUNDS WITH FEAR THAT THEY'LL BE
PULLED BACK AGAIN. AND THAT
ACTUALLY HAS HAPPENED TO OUR
PROGRAM EXPANSION. MY
ORGANIZATION, WHICH HAS SERVED
INFANTS AND TODDLERS THROUGH A
TITLE FIVE GENERAL CHILD CARE
CONTRACT SINCE 1971, HAS TO
APPLY FOR CTR EXPANSION FUNDS
EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS IF MY
PROGRAM NEVER HAD A CONTRACT OR
NEVER HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE STATE. THROUGH A CUMBERSOME
AND COMPETITIVE RFA PROCESS TO
FACILITATE THE EXPANSION OF
SPACES FOR EXISTING STATE
CONTRACTORS IN GOOD STANDING, WE
RECOMMEND A SIMPLIFIED PROCESS
TO AWARD AND RELEASE FUNDS
QUICKLY. AT THE CLOSE OF THE
FISCAL YEAR, CENTERS SUBMIT A
CONTINUED FUNDING APPLICATION TO
CDSS. WE RECOMMEND INCLUDING A
NEW BOX UNDER THE CONTRACT TYPE
SELECTION THAT ALLOWS AGENCIES
TO LIST THE NUMBER OF NEW INFANT
AND TODDLER SPACES THEY ARE
REQUESTING TO ADD TO THEIR
CONTRACT AND CAN USE IN THE
UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. THIS IS AN
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT THAT IS
CERTIFIED BY BOTH THE AGENCY
BOARD AND THE AGENCY'S
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE AND
EXIST, AND IT WILL EFFECTIVELY
AND EFFICIENTLY AWARD. IT'S A
NEW WAY TO AWARD THOSE SPACES TO
EXISTING CONTRACTORS THAT ARE IN
GOOD STANDING AND CAN QUICKLY
RAMP UP THOSE SERVICES QUICKLY
AND SEAMLESSLY. FOR NEW
CONTRACTORS, WE RECOMMEND THAT
THE RFA TIMELINE BE REVISED WITH
THE RFA RELEASED IN AUGUST AND
THE AWARD LETTER RELEASED IN
JANUARY, SO PROGRAMS CAN WRAP UP
AND BE ABLE TO SERVE CHILDREN ON
JULY 1ST. SO THERE WILL BE NO
DELAY IN SERVING CHILDREN THIS
WILL ALSO SAVE STAFF TIME AND
MONEY IN SCREENING ALL THE RFA
APPLICATIONS, JUST THE NEW ONES.
RATHER THAN EVERYONE, AND IT
WOULD STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AS
WELL. STAFFING. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO TALK ABOUT EXPANDING INFANT
TODDLER CENTER SPACES WITHOUT
NOTING THE INCREDIBLE STAFF
SHORTAGE WE ARE ALL
EXPERIENCING. AS MOST PROGRAMS,
WE ARE PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS SHORT
STAFFED AS OF TODAY, I'M SHORT
28 TEACHERS, WHICH MEANS THAT I
CANNOT SERVE 42 INFANTS, 40
TODDLERS, AND 32 PRESCHOOLERS.
AND THIS IS NOT INCLUDING THE
ONES THAT ARE OUT ON A PROTECTED
LEAVE OF ABSENCE. THAT ADDS ON
TO ALL OF THIS, I SEE TALENTED
INDIVIDUALS LEAVE THE FIELD TO
MOVE ON TO OTHER POSITIONS OR
LEAVE THE FIELD ENTIRELY DUE TO
INSUFFICIENT PAY. EACH YEAR, IT
IS HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND
QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT
TO WORK IN CHILD CARE PROGRAMS.
STAFF REQUIREMENTS FOR TITLE
FIVE CENTERS ARE EVEN MORE
RIGOROUS THAN OTHER PROGRAMS
REQUIRING A CHILD DEVELOPMENT
PERMIT. IN ADDITION TO EEK EEK
HOURS, IT IS ESPECIALLY
CHALLENGING TO FIND QUALIFIED
INFANT AND TODDLER STAFF AND
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK WITH OUR
LITTLEST AND MOST VULNERABLE
LEARNERS, AND THAT WOULD HAVE
THE QUALIFICATIONS TO DO SO. OUR
INFANT TEACHERS UNDER DSS NEED
TO HAVE THE INFANT CLASS, AND
IT'S A THREE UNITS. WITH THIS
YEAR BETTER, IT IS HARDER AND
HARDER TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE
WILLING TO TAKE THE CLASS AND
WILLING TO SERVE AND WORK WITH
INFANTS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS, WE
RECOMMEND ALLOWING A PERCENTAGE
OF THE AWARDED CTR FUNDING OR A
PORTION OF THE UNAWARDED FUNDS
TO BE UTILIZED FOR DIRECT
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. TO
SUPPORT NEW STAFF TO MEET THE
QUALIFICATIONS FOR INFANT
TODDLER CARE. AS THIS IS UNIQUE
AND A MAJORITY OF EC WORKERS, S
WORKFORCE HAS THE PRESCHOOL
QUALIFICATIONS AND THIS COULD BE
DONE WITHOUT A COST DIFFERENCE
BECAUSE IT'S ON ALREADY AWARDED
CONTRACT DOLLARS. TO INCREASE
CAPACITY AND TO BUILD THIS
IMPORTANT TEACHING SPECIALTY, WE
ALSO RECOMMEND THAT CURRENTLY
AWARDED CONTRACT K¾T CONTRACT
FUNDS OR A PORTION OF UNAWARDED
FUNDS BE ALLOWED TO BE UTILIZED
AS STIPENDS TO INCENTIVIZE THE
INFANT AND TODDLER TEACHER
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. THE
INFANT TODDLER PROFESSIONALS ARE
THE MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS IN A
CHILD'S LIFE, AND THERE IS NO
INCENTIVE FOR TEACHERS TO TAKE
THESE CLASSES OR TO TAKE CARE OF
OUR MOST YOUNG, YOUNGEST, AND
MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN. CHILD
CARE REVERSION ACCOUNT CURRENTLY
, AGENCIES CAN APPLY FOR A CTR
EXPANSION FUNDING, BUT ARE NOT
AWARDED THE FUNDS WITHOUT A
FACILITY LICENSE TO SERVE THE
CHILDREN. SO THEY DO GET A START
UP, BUT THE PROGRAMS ARE
RELUCTANT TO EVEN ENTER INTO
THESE AGREEMENTS, OR THE LEASE
AGREEMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO
A LICENSE THE SPACE WITHOUT THE
GUARANTEE OF CONTRACT FUNDS. WE
RECOMMEND AWARDING CTR SLOTS TO
THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE A PLAN
AND A REASONABLE TIMELINE IN
PLACE TO START SERVING CHILDREN,
ALLOWING THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO
GET LICENSED AND HIRE STAFF. WE
ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CREATING
THE CHILD CARE REVERSION ACCOUNT
CENTERS DO NOT THAT DO NOT HAVE
THE IMMEDIATE SPACE TO EXPAND
SERVICES AND NEED TO CHANGE
THEIR LICENSES OR SECURE A
FACILITY. HIRE STAFF WILL NEED
THOSE START UP COSTS. CHILD CARE
LICENSE CHANGES THROUGH CCL CAN
TAKE UP TO SIX MONTHS. AND ON A
PERSONAL NOTE, I HAVE A
CLASSROOM THAT I'VE BEEN WAITING
FOR OVER A YEAR TO GET THE
CHANGE TO THEIR LICENSE. SO THE
REVISION ACCOUNT, AGAIN, WE
RECOMMEND THAT THESE DIRECT
CONTRACTING AGENCIES RECEIVE
EXPEDITE CONTRACTS AND START UP
FUNDS AND THAT THEIR REMAINING
PROGRAM FUNDS BE TEMPORARILY
KEPT IN A CHILD CARE REVERSION
ACCOUNT SO THAT AS SOON AS THE
INFANT TODDLER CENTER IS READY,
IT CAN SERVE CHILDREN
IMMEDIATELY IN THE CURRENT
CONTRACTING SYSTEM. PENALIZES
INFANT AND TODDLER PROGRAMS IF
THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SERVE THOSE
CHILDREN QUICKLY. ANY PROGRAM
THAT EARNS UNDER EARNS ITS
CONTRACT, BECAUSE OF A LEASE
FALLING THROUGH LICENSING, FIRE
CLEARANCE CHALLENGES,
CONSTRUCTION DELAYS, OR STAFFING
ISSUES. WE'RE AT RISK FOR BEING
PUT ON CONDITIONAL STATUS AND
EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE LEGITIMATE
REASONS FOR US NOT BEING ABLE TO
OPEN THE DOORS TO SERVE THOSE
CHILDREN, I AGAIN, I'VE HAD A
CLASSROOM SITTING FOR OVER A
YEAR THAT REMAINS UNABLE TO
SERVE CHILDREN, AND IT'S
SOMETHING COMPLETELY OUT OF OUR
HANDS. BUT IF WE WERE NOT IN THE
HOLD, HARMLESS RIGHT NOW, WE
WOULD WE WOULD BE PENALIZED FOR
IT. WE RECOMMEND THAT EXPANSION
FUNDING BE PLACED IN THE CHILD
CARE REVERSION ACCOUNT DOES NOT
COUNT TOWARD TITLE FIVE CENTERS
PROGRAM EARNINGS, AND THE
PROGRAM WILL NOT GET PENALIZED
OR PLACED ON CONDITIONAL STATUS.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS
THE STATE IS LOOKING TO
ESTABLISH MORE INFANT TODDLER
CLASSROOMS. THERE IS A WAY TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS YOU TALKED
ABOUT EARLIER, THERE'S WAYS TO
ADJUST RATES AND RULE OUT THE
SLOTS THAT WOULD NOT HAVE AN
IMPACT ON BUDGETARY ISSUES, BUT
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT MORE
THAN MY FIVE MINUTES TO BE ABLE
TO GO OVER THAT. SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE THAT IS NOT
HAPPENING. EXACTLY. SO AGAIN, I
LOOK FORWARD AND I HOPE TO BE
ABLE TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE
THOUGHTS WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE,
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE CONTEXT
FROM MY 31 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
AS A CENTER BASED TITLE, FIVE
CONTRACTOR, AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT
HAVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
THINK, MY FIRST QUESTION IS IN
REGARD TO THE PROPOSED, SLOT
DELAYS ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE
THAT HAS BEEN OUTLINED, IT'S THE
SLOT DELAY. AND THIS IS FROM,
WHETHER IT'S, DSS OR DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE, IS THE SLOT DELAY A
BUDGET SOLUTION OR A PROCESS
SOLUTION? SO I CAN START AND
THEN ALSO, HAVE DODD ADD TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. ESTÁ,
DOCTOR JAMIE MILAM, DSS, IT IS A
RESEARCH DOCTORATE IN ITS
EDUCATION. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU. AND
ANDREA IS GOING TO BE OUR FUTURE
DOCTOR. I HAD TO DO A SHOUT OUT
FOR HER JUST BECAUSE I'M SO
PROUD OF HER. DOCTOR AND WHAT AN
EDUCATION AS WELL. OKAY ANY
OTHER ONE GOING FOR DOCTOR
AROUND HERE? RAISE YOUR HAND IF
YOU'RE GOING FOR A DOCTOR. OH,
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. BACK
TO THE AGENDA. SORRY. BACK TO
THE AGENDA. I'M JUST ALWAYS
CELEBRATING THAT, SO IN TERMS OF
THE QUESTION THAT YOU RAISE, SO
THE WE IT'S REALLY A SOLUTION IN
REGARDS TO JUST LOOKING AT THE
DATA OF THE PAST THREE YEARS AND
WHAT WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF
LEARNINGS AND ALSO LOOKING AT
THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE HAVE IN
INCORPORATED IN PLACE, BUT AS
WELL AS, WHAT WE CAN DO AS FAR
AS OUR CURRENT WORKLOAD AND
PAUSING TO SEE IF DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE WOULD LIKE TO ADD
ANYTHING ELSE. TAMAR WEBER,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE YEAH, I
WOULD SAY THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING
FOR K¾T ARE THESE SLOT DELAYS,
IS REALLY AN ADJUSTING OF THE
ORIGINAL 2021 SCHEDULE, THEN
MODIFIED IN 2023 TO MORE ALIGN
WITH WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING
IN THE FIELD, THANK YOU. SO
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, DSS, YOU'RE
BASICALLY SAYING BASICALLY TAKES
12 MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE
FUNDING OUT THE DOOR, WHY WHY SO
LONG? BECAUSE DOESN'T IT TAKE
OTHERS LESS THAN A 12 MONTHS TO
BE ABLE TO DO THAT? SO A COUPLE
REASONS WHY. ONE IS AS SOON AS
THEN THE BUDGET IS, IS
AUTHORIZED. THEN LET ME FIRST
TAKE ONE STEP BACK TO SAY THAT,
THERE IS ALSO CONCERNS IN
REGARDS TO WORKLOAD AND THE
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, WORKING ON
THIS TASK AT HAND, OUR
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ALSO
WORKING AT OTHER TASK AT HAND
ALSO. SO THAT'S WHAT'S ONE
THAT'S ONE PIECE OF IT TOO. THE
SECOND PIECE OF THIS IS EVERY
YEAR WE MODIFY THE RFA. IT IS
THE RFA ITSELF IS ONE THAT BASED
ON LEARNINGS, FEEDBACK FROM THE
FIELD AND ETC. IT'S NOT THE SAME
REQUEST FOR APPLICATION THAT WE
PUT OUT. WE LEARN A LOT. WE
INCORPORATE IT, WE HEAR WHAT IS
AREAS THAT WE CAN CUT AROUND OR
MAYBE FRAME THINGS DIFFERENTLY
AND ETC. AND THEN WE DO THAT,
THE OTHER PIECE, IN ADDITION TO
THE RFA PROCESS OF ONCE WE
RELEASE IT, IS ALSO MAKING SURE
THAT THERE IS TIME TO BE ABLE TO
SUBMIT THE RFA PROCESS, WHICH
DOES TAKE, YOU KNOW, SOME TIME
PEOPLE TO APPLY AND BE ABLE TO
RESPOND ENOUGH TIME FOR THEM TO.
YEAH, YEAH, WE WE'RE MINDFUL
ALSO IN REGARDS TO MAKING SURE
THAT AS WE ARE TARGETING ALL
CONTRAST ACROSS THE STATE, THE
OUTREACH IS ALSO TARGETING THOSE
THAT ARE IN NOT IN BUSINESS WITH
THE CSS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
ADDRESSING THE CHILDCARE DESERTS
SO THAT OUTREACH ALSO TAKES SOME
TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
INDIVIDUALS ARE AWARE. AND
BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE IS A STEP
IN BETWEEN THE RFA BEING, BEING
RELEASED, COLLECTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND ANSWERING
QUESTIONS SO THEN WE CAN HAVE
THE MOST SUCCESS, ETC. WE DON'T
KNOW THE NUMBER OF RFAS THAT
COME IN AS FAR AS APPLICANTS.
CORRECT? YOU KNOW, AND AT THIS
POINT WE ARE GETTING OUR RFAS,
QUITE A FEW ARE COMING IN THAT
WE ARE ALSO, REVIEWING AND ETC.
THE POINT SYSTEM THAT COMES TO
BE ABLE TO ASSIGN BASED ON A
RUBRIC AND, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT IT FROM A CHILD
CARE DESERT AS PRIORITIES,
INFANT AND TODDLERS AND ETC.
THAT TAKES SOME TIME TO ALSO, DO
YOU KNOW, I KNOW I'M GOING HIGH
LEVEL ON A LOT OF THESE STEPS,
BUT WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
UNFORTUNATELY, BEING ABLE TO GO
FROM A TO Z ON THIS PROCESS IS A
LOT MORE CUMBERSOME THAN WE
WOULD LIKE IT. WE ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT, BUT THERE IS REASONS WHY
BEHIND IT. IN EACH OF THESE
STEPS THAT TAKE TIME TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE THERE. AND THEN
I HAVE NOT SPOKEN ABOUT THE
APPEAL PROCESS. SO MAKING SURE
THAT, BEFORE WE ANNOUNCE AWARDS,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU
KNOW, THAT PEOPLE CAN APPEAL
THOSE THAT RECEIVE LETTERS FROM
US TO SAY YOUR SCORE WAS NOT
HIGH ENOUGH TO POTENTIALLY BE
FUNDED, THEN WE ARE ABLE TO THEN
CIRCLE BACK AND DO THOSE APPEAL
PROCESS, WHICH COULD BE EVERYONE
IN THE WORST SCENARIO. I WOULD
SAY BEST BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE GIVE EVERYONE THE FAIR
OPPORTUNITY TO RELOOK AT THOSE
SCORES, AND SOMETIMES IT DOES
HAPPEN THAT AND THAT MAY END UP
THEN READJUSTING, THEN THE
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AWARDED
THIS BECAUSE IT IS A COMPETITIVE
PROCESS, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF
THE DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
FUNDING THESE SLOTS. NÓ THANK
YOU FOR THE THOROUGHNESS OF YOUR
YOUR ANSWER HERE. I'M WONDERING
HOW COME, A PART OF THIS PROCESS
AND A PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS
, MEANING WE DIDN'T RECEIVE A
BCP TO BE ABLE TO, DEAL WITH
SOME EFFICIENCY ISSUES? THAT
SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE ARTICULATED.
HOW COME YOU HAVEN'T? YOU KNOW,
REQUESTED ADDITIONAL STAFF TO BE
ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HANDLE SOME
OF THOSE RFP ISSUES AND THINGS
LIKE THAT, MEANING DSS HAS DONE
OTHER BCP BEFORE TO HANDLE THE
ISSUE. I'M JUST WONDERING WHY
HAVEN'T WHY ISN'T THERE A PLAN
TO MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT?
YEAH. SO GREAT QUESTION. AND I
KNOW I REFERENCED IT AT ALSO AS
WORKLOAD TO, SO WHEN WE TRANSFER
WORKLOAD IS A FIXABLE PROBLEM.
YES. YES TECHNICALLY YEAH. AND
WHEN WE TRANSFERRED OVER THESE
PROGRAMS TO CDSS, I HAVE TO ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT WE WERE NOT FULLY
STAFFED. AND IT DID TAKE SOME
TIME FOR US TO BE RAMPED UP, IN
REGARDS TO MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE THE PERSONNEL IN PLACE TO
BE ABLE TO, PROCESS THE EVERYDAY
TYPE OF FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING THE
RFAS. NOW THAT WE HAVE NOW BEEN
FULLY RAMPED UP AS BEST AS WE
CAN. RIGHT. THERE'S ALWAYS
TURNOVER. WE ARE NOW STILL
CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THAT. NOW
OUR THIRD, WE'RE APPROACHING OUR
THIRD OR OUR THIRD YEAR IN AS A
NEW DIVISION TO REALLY THINK
ABOUT HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT
WORKLOADS ACROSS. SO MORE TO
COME IN THE CONVERSATION. BUT
DID NOT WANT TO START EARLY ON
WITH THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WE
ARE STILL, AS MENTIONED, A NEW
DIVISION THAT IS STILL, LOOKING
AT WORKLOAD ALL TOGETHER. WELL,
PLEASE KNOW WE WANT TO SEE YOU
SUCCESSFUL AND WE WANT TO BE AS
SUPPORTIVE AS POSSIBLE AND TO
ENSURE THAT EFFICIENCIES ARE,
OPTIMIZED TO BE ABLE TO GET
THESE FUNDS OUT THE DOOR. RIGHT.
BUT THEN ALSO AS PEOPLE ARE
PROVIDER, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY
RECEIVING ARE THEY HAVE, DO THEY
HAVE ACCESS OF TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND THE RFA
APPLICATION PROCESS. SAY THEY'RE
IN A DESERT, BUT THEY LOOK AT
THE RFA, RFA AND THEY START
GETTING DIZZY. RIGHT. CERTAINLY
I WOULD I REMEMBER FILLING OUT
THOSE THINGS. RIGHT, WHAT
ASSISTANCE ARE YOU PROVIDING TO,
APPLICANTS TO MAKING SURE THAT
THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE
ASKING THEM FOR IN THEIR
APPLICATIONS? YEAH. SO WE DO
PROVIDE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN
REGARDS TO BOTH THE RFA PROCESS
AND THEN AFTERWARDS WHEN WE ARE
AWARDED. THAT WAS ONE PIECE THAT
I DID NOT TOUCH ON, WHICH IS THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AFTER,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S CONTRACTORS
THAT HAVE NOT HAD BUSINESS WITH
THE STATE, THEY ARE SUCCESSFULLY
SCORING, BUT I KNOW THEY'RE
FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THERE IS SO
MUCH PAPERWORK THAT COMES WITH
WORKING WITH THE STATE. I HAVE
TO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO CALL
THAT OUT. IS ALL OF THAT
NECESSARY? IT IS IT IS AND IS IT
OUR FAULT? IT NO. OR IS IT YOUR
FAULT? IT IS THE IT IS DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN
PLACE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE. I'LL
ASK YOU THAT LATER ON OUTSIDE OF
THE MEETING, BUT I WANT TO KNOW
THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
YEAH, DEFINITELY THINK SO. I
WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT
QUESTION. I DO WANT TO CALL OUT
THAT THERE THERE IS NECESSARY
PAPERWORK. AND FOR SOMEONE THAT
HAS NEVER DONE BUSINESS WITH THE
STATE, IT DOES REQUIRE SOME
INTENSITY. A LOT OF TIMES THEY
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ASK. EXACTLY.
YEAH. AND SO WE ARE THEN
REACHING OUT BOTH FROM THE
CONSULTANT AND FROM THE FISCAL
ANALYST, TO SAY WE HAVEN'T
RECEIVED THIS FORM, WONDERING
WHY. AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE
UNDERSTAND THAT, OH, THEY DIDN'T
REALIZE IT WAS REQUIRED OR THEY
DIDN'T REALIZE THEY HAD TO GO TO
THIS PLACE TO REGISTER WITH THE
STATE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THAT
THAT HAPPENS THAT DELAYS ALSO
GETTING THE CONTRACT OUT A LOT
OF TIMES. SO WE'RE WE'RE STILL
CONTINUING TO COLLECT THAT DATA
AS WE'RE STARTING TO SEE TRENDS
OF WHAT TYPE OF QUESTIONS ARE
BEING ASKED. AND I KNOW THAT WE
CAN SAY THAT WE CAN DO IT ON A
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION. BUT I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT DOES
STILL JUSTICE. IT IS MAKING SURE
THAT OUR TEAM CONTINUES TO BE
PROACTIVE DURING THE OUTREACH
MEETINGS AND ETC. TO BE ABLE TO,
CONTINUE TO ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS UP FRONT. AND, AND
THEN THE ONE ON ONE VISITS THAT
ALSO, ONCE THEY'RE AWARDED THAT
THE TEAM IS DOING TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY'RE ANSWERING THEM IN
INTIMATE SETTINGS WITH THOSE NEW
POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS. SO A LOT
OF A LOT OF WORK TAKES IN IN
ORDER TO SUPPORT THEM. BUT I
KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK. ALSO ON
THE CONTRACTOR, ON THE NEW
CONTRACTORS, TOO, RIGHT. ANOTHER
QUESTION FOR, DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE OR DSS IS THERE IS THIS
ISSUE ABOUT THE CONTRACTING OF
FUNDS BEFORE IT'S ACTUALLY
APPROPRIATED THROUGH THE BUDGET
PROCESS? IS THAT A MISTAKE OR
WHAT IS IT? TAMAR WEBER,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SO, ALL
CONTRACTS AND AWARDS INCLUDE IN
THEIR LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THAT
IT'S CONTINGENT ON APPROPRIATION
IN THE BUDGET ACT. SO IT NÓ
AWARD FUNDING IS GOING OUT
BEFORE THE BUDGET ACT ACTUALLY
SECURES AN APPROPRIATION. BUT
I'M WONDERING, WHY DON'T THEY
HAVE TO, COMMIT TO THINGS AND,
AND POSSIBLY MAKE EXPENDITURES
IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETE THE CONTRACT WITHOUT
BEING DINGED OR WITHOUT DSS
SAYING, HOW COME YOU DIDN'T DO
THIS? WHY AREN'T YOU READY FOR
THAT, NOW I'M HAVING FLASHBACKS.
I MEAN, DOESN'T THAT CREATE A
PROBLEM TO THE PROVIDER, EVEN
THOUGH IT MAY BE IN THE BEST
INTEREST OR MAKE IT EFFICIENT
FOR THE AGENCY, SHOULDN'T WE BE
DOING THINGS THAT'S BEST FOR THE
PROVIDER TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE
SUCCESSFUL? SO I'M JUST
WONDERING, SO AS, I'LL TAKE
THIS. SO AS PART OF THE CONTRACT
, ALSO WE INCLUDE A 15% START UP
FUND THAT THAT THE CONTRACTORS
CAN UTILIZE ONCE THEY RELEASE
THAT CONTRACT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
THE EXPENDITURES THAT YOU ARE,
THAT YOU'RE THAT YOU'RE SHARING,
THAT'S A ONE TIME TYPE OF 15%
UNDERSTANDING THAT A LOT OF
TIMES, MANY OF THEM WILL NOT
OPEN THEIR DOORS ON DAY ONE OF
THAT CONTRACT, REACHING THEIR
HANDS. THEY DO NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY STILL HAVE STAFFING,
AND THEY HAVE THE DOLLARS TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT. RIGHT. AND SO
DOES THE, OBLIGATIONS OR THE
EXPECTATIONS IN WHICH THEY ARE
SIGN THIS CONTRACT IN AGREEMENT
WITH DOES THEIR START DATE, AS
WELL AS THOSE BENCHMARKS START
WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE FUNDS OR
WHEN THEY HAVE SIGNED THE
CONTRACT? IT'S WHEN THEY'VE
SIGNED THE CONTRACT. SO YOU SEE
THE DELAY THAT COULD POSSIBLY
HAVE. RIGHT. EVEN THOUGH THERE'S
THE START UP FUNDS, YOU DON'T
PEOPLE DON'T, YOU DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY HOW QUICK YOU CAN GET
THOSE START UP FUNDS TO THEM.
BUT YET IF THEY ARE A MONTH OR
TWO BEHIND AND THEY'RE STILL
EXPECTED TO HAVE THE SAME
OUTCOMES, EVEN THOUGH THEY
DIDN'T EVEN THOUGH THE AGENCY
DIDN'T FULFILL ITS OBLIGATION ON
TIME. SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE
FIRST YEAR OF A NEW CONTRACT IS
GOING TO BE ROCKY REGARDLESS OF,
OF EVERYTHING LINING UP BECAUSE
OF AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, UNDER
I REFERENCED IT RIGHT, IN
REGARDS TO STAFFING AND REGARDS
TO. YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF RAMP
UP TIME. YEAH. YEAH, DEFINITELY.
SO SO IN TERMS OF OUTCOMES AND,
WE ARE PROVIDING MORE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE IN THAT FIRST YEAR,
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO NOT
EXPECT THEM TO BE FULLY ENROLLED
BY THE END OF THAT FIRST YEAR,
WHICH HAPPENS A LOT OF TIMES
WHERE SOME CENTERS, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND I'LL USE MY EXAMPLE WHEN I
USED TO OPERATE A CENTER, IS
THAT WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE
GOING TO OPEN UP CLASSROOMS, YOU
KNOW, IN A ROLLING BASIS,
TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, WE
WERE FULLY OPENED, BUT IT TOOK
SOME TIME. AND SO THEREFORE I,
THERE WAS THE EXPECTATION THAT
THEY WOULD NOT BE ANY PENALTIES
FOR THAT FIRST YEAR TO LOOK AT
THAT DATA AND SAY THAT
CONTRACTOR IS NOT MEETING THOSE
OUTCOMES BECAUSE THAT THAT IS
PART OF DOING BUSINESS, THAT IT
DOES TAKE TIME. WOULD YOU
CONSIDER THIS PROCESS THAT'S
BEEN OUTLINED, ASSUMING THE
LEGISLATURE AGREES, DO YOU
CONSIDER THIS A, PROVIDER
FRIENDLY PROCESS? I THINK THAT
WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER, YOU
KNOW, AND I THINK AND ALSO, I
THINK THAT'S WHERE THE FEEDBACK
COMES IN FROM WHEN WE FIRST
RELEASED THAT RFA PROCESS, OUR
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS ON JULY 1ST OF
2021, WHEN THE TRANSITION
HAPPENED TO NOW, I CAN ASSURE
YOU IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER. IS IT
THE BEST? I DON'T THINK SO. I
THINK WE CAN STILL DO MORE, AND
I CONTINUE TO LEARN A LOT FROM
BOTH THE PANELISTS HERE IN
REGARDS TO EFFICIENCIES, BUT
ALSO WE DO DO WE DO HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO
RECEIVE FEEDBACK ALONG THE WAY.
AND THAT'S WHY OUR RFA DOES NOT
LOOK THE SAME YEAR AFTER YEAR,
BECAUSE THOSE TYPE ARE
INCORPORATED AND WE'RE WANTING
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THE
GOAL TO MAKE SURE IT'S AS
FRIENDLY AS AS POSSIBLE WITH THE
INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, AND
CERTAINLY I ALSO WANT TO
RECOMMEND AND, MAY HAVE SOME
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE THAT, YOU
MAY EXPECT FROM US IS CREATING A
PROCESS IN WHICH MEANING, JUST
TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF POSSIBLE.
THE ANSWER TO MY OTHER QUESTION,
IS THAT IF THERE'S THINGS THAT
THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO THAT WILL
HELP SIMPLIFY THE APPLICATION
PROCESS, I WOULD EXPECT OR I
WOULD LIKE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
DSS TO MAKE THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
LEGISLATURE. RIGHT, MEANING, I
KNOW WE COME UP WITH ALL THESE
HOOPS AND ALL THOSE THINGS. I'M,
I'M SURE THERE'S SOME FEDERAL
STUFF IN THERE, TOO. THERE IS.
IT'S FEDERALLY FUNDED. YOU KNOW,
BUT IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ON OUR
SIDE THAT WE CAN DO FROM A
LEGISLATIVE POINT OF VIEW, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN
SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS, COULD ONE
TIME SAVINGS FOR UNAWARDED K¾T
FUNDS BE USED TO ADDRESS ONE
TIME SYSTEM BARRIERS TO SERVICE
EXPANSION AND CHILD CARE DESERTS
? I'M GOING TO DEFER TO DOC FOR
THAT DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, SO
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY,
PROPOSALS TO TAKE THAT FUNDING
AND DO SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR
FOR CHILD CARE DESERTS FOR CTR.
BUT WE ARE OPEN TO RECEIVING,
ANY PROPOSALS FROM THE
LEGISLATURE AND HAVING FURTHER
CONVERSATIONS. OKAY. I WOULD
EXPECT SOME POSSIBLE, REQUEST,
FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW AS WELL.
LAO, COULD A CHILD CARE
REVERSION ACCOUNT, SIMILAR TO
PROP 98, CREATE A FUND FOR MORE
FLEXIBLE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY SIMILAR
TO JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSAL, BUT
WITH A SPECIFIC FUNDING SOURCE.
WE SOMEWHAT KIND OF DID A
REVERSION LIKE ACCOUNT LAST YEAR
WHERE WE DID A SIMILAR EXERCISE
WHERE, AGAIN, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
THE FIRST TWO YEARS THERE WAS A
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF SLOTS. AND OF COURSE,
IT WOULD JUST TAKE TIME TO FILL
THOSE SLOTS. BUT IN THE
MEANTIME, WE WERE THEN SITTING
ON A POTENTIAL BALANCE OF OVER
$1 BILLION OF UNSPENT OF UNSPENT
FUNDS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE
REVERTED BACK TO THE STATE
GOVERNMENT OR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IF THEY WERE
TEMPORARY COVID 19 RELIEF
DOLLARS. SO WHAT THE LEGISLATURE
DID, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION IS SET ASIDE
THOSE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE MOU
AGREEMENT, A SIMILAR EXERCISE
COULD BE DONE AND BE FORMALIZED
ON AN ONGOING BASIS THROUGH A
REVERSION ACCOUNT, THAT AS NOTED
IN YOUR AGENDA, THAT DOES EXIST
WITHIN THE PROP 98 WORLD, IF
THAT IF A REVERSION ACCOUNT WERE
TO EXIST TODAY, I THINK WHAT WE
WOULD SEE IS AS OPPOSED TO THESE
SAVINGS THAT ARE RESULTING FROM
CHANGES IN FUNDING TIMELINES
BEING BAKED INTO THE BASE AND
NOT NECESSARILY SEEING THOSE
DOLLARS, THEY WOULD JUST BE
FIRST DEPOSITED INTO THIS
REVERSION ACCOUNT. SO THEN THE
LEGISLATURE IS ABLE TO TRACK
WHAT IT SAVINGS IS. THE GOVERNOR
ASSUMING WITHIN THESE CHILD CARE
PROGRAMS THAT ARE BAKED INTO THE
BASELINE, THAT WE DON'T HAVE
TRANSPARENCY TO SEE AND THEN
MAKE A DECISION ON HOW THOSE
DOLLARS SHOULD BE UTILIZED,
SHOULD THEY JUST REVERT BACK TO
THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH THEY
WOULD ON THE NATURAL? OR SHOULD
THEY BE DIRECTED TO OTHER CHILD
CARE ACTIVITIES? THANK YOU FOR
THAT, LAST QUESTION. AND THEN
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CALL A QUICK
RECESS HERE, LEO, I'M GOING TO
REQUEST THAT, ACTUALLY, YOU WORK
WITH, THIS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE
STAFF, CERTAINLY TO, START
WORKING ON SOME BUDGET LANGUAGE
PERTAINING TO, THE AUTHORITY
ISSUES THAT YOU'VE OUTLINED AS
WELL, BUT ALSO FINDING
ADDITIONAL WAYS. TO, THERE'S NO
DOUBT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO
FIND WAYS TO CREATE SOME
SAVINGS. RIGHT. BUT NOT
NECESSARILY MEANS THAT IT HAS TO
BE DONE IN THE EXACT WAY, AS THE
GOVERNOR HAS OUTLINED. AND SO
CERTAINLY WANT TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS OFFLINE WITH YOU
AND COMMITTEE STAFF. SO THAT WE
CAN WORK ON THAT. AND OF COURSE,
SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU
HAVE RECOMMENDED ALSO, IS THAT,
AMENABLE TO YOU HAPPY TO WORK
WITH STAFF ON THAT. ALL RIGHT. I
WANT TO THANK THANK THIS PANEL
SO VERY MUCH FOR MY PEPPERING OF
QUESTIONS, AND WE WILL. REYES
MÁS FOR ABOUT 15, 20 MINUTES OR
UNTIL, UNTIL MR. ALVAREZ GETS
HERE, AND, WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO. I DON'T
THINK WE'VE MET. I'VE SEEN YOU
SEVERAL TIMES IN DIFFERENT
.
LAST PANEL. BY YOUR MOVIE
TICKETS NOW. YOU MAY NOT NEED
THAT DVR. YOU CAN WATCH YOUR
SHOWS.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
FOR YOUR. WELL, I WON'T SAY
FLEXIBILITY, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE
YOU HAD A CHOICE. BUT. I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR, FOR
YOUR PATIENCE, YOU KNOW, WE
REALLY THOUGHT IT'S IMPORTANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT'S WORK IS MORE
SEAMLESS BETWEEN THE TWO
SUBCOMMITTEE. SINCE THEY'VE BEEN
SEPARATED. AND SO EVEN THOUGH
THIS MAY LOOK A LITTLE BIT
HECTIC. WELL, BECAUSE IT IS, BUT
SECONDLY, ALSO IS THAT, WE JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, WE'RE
ALL HEARING THE SAME THINGS,
TOO, AS WE BEGIN THROUGH THIS
PROCESS. SO I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE, THIS IS OUR FINAL
ISSUE, OF THE HEARING, WHICH IS
PRESCHOOL JANUARY BUDGET
PROPOSAL, THIS PANEL WILL
CONSIDER THE JANUARY BUDGET
PROPOSAL TO SWEEP ONE TIME
SAVINGS IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, AND REVIEW
THE IMPACTS OF RECENT POLICY
CHANGES ON PRESCHOOL ATTENDANCE
AND ENROLLMENT RATES, SO WITH
THIS PANEL, WE'LL HAVE THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, LAO AND
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THÀNH,
MISS ADAMS. OH, YOU'RE MISS
ADAMS. YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE
READY. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, SABRINA ADAMS WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I
WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL TO
SWEEP ONE TIME SAVINGS FOR THE
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM. IN 2021. THE STATE
ENTERED NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS UNITED
UNION AND REACHED THE FIRST EVER
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT,
WHICH PROVIDED RESOURCES TO
REDUCE THE ECONOMIC, HEALTH AND
OTHER IMPACTS OF THE COVID 19
PANDEMIC ON CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
AND FAMILIES. IN 2023, A
SUCCESSOR AGREEMENT WAS REACHED
AND RATIFIED BY THE LEGISLATURE
TO EFFECTUATE THE TERMS OF THE
TWO YEAR NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT
AND FUND ANY ADJUSTMENTS RELATED
TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR PRESCHOOL
PROVIDERS. THE 2023 BUDGET ACT
SET ASIDE THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS
FROM THE 2022 TO 23 FISCAL YEAR
343.1 MILLION PROPOSITION 98
GENERAL FUND AND 20,000 NON
PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND FROM
THE 20 2324 FISCAL YEAR, 369.3
MILLION PROPOSITION, 98 GENERAL
FUND AND 126.1 MILLION NON
PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND. AND
FINALLY, FROM THE 20 2425 FISCAL
YEAR, 445.7 MILLION PROPOSITION,
98 GENERAL FUND AND 186.5
MILLION NON PROPOSITION 98
GENERAL FUND. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PROPOSAL REVISES THE
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS UNITED
NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT SET ASIDES
THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE 2023
BUDGET ACT AND IDENTIFIES ONE
TIME SAVINGS THAT ARE SPECIFIC
TO THE CCPU NEGOTIATED
AGREEMENT. THIS INCLUDES ONE
TIME SAVINGS OF 172.1 MILLION.
NON PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND
AND 446 MILLION PROPOSITION 98
GENERAL FUND. THESE SAVINGS
REPRESENT FUNDING THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE GO UNALLOCATED, AS
THESE DOLLARS WERE SPECIFICALLY
SET ASIDE TO FUND THE NEGOTIATED
AGREEMENT, THE REVISIONS WERE
DETERMINED BASED ON THE LATEST
NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT COST
ESTIMATES PROVIDED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE
TOTAL FUNDING SET ASIDE FROM THE
2022 23 TO 20 2425 FISCAL YEARS,
EXCEEDED THE COST ESTIMATES, TO
IMPLEMENT THE TWO YEAR
NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT, THE
ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION TO MONITOR NEGOTIATED
AGREEMENT COSTS AND WILL
REASSESS REASSESS IF ADJUSTMENTS
ARE NECESSARY AT THE MAY
REVISION. THE ADMINISTRATION
REMAINS COMMITTED TO FULLY
FUNDING THE STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM. THAT CONCLUDES MY
REMARKS, AND I CAN ANSWER
QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. SARAH CORTEZ LAO WE
APPROACHED THIS ANALYSIS OF
STATE PRESCHOOL ASKING A VERY
BASIC QUESTION OF UNDER THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, IS THERE
ENOUGH FUNDING TO MEET THE
ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURES AND
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO
RIGHTSIZE THOSE NUMBERS WITH THE
EXPECTATIONS IN TOTAL RELATIVE
TO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, WE
RECOMMEND REDUCING THE AMOUNT
FOR STATE PRESCHOOL BY
138,000,000 IN 2324, AND
60,000,000 IN 2425. MORE DETAILS
ABOUT THIS AUGMENTATION WAS
CALCULATED. HOW THIS
AUGMENTATION WAS CALCULATED IS
ON PAGE 22 OF YOUR AGENDA, BUT
AND BUT HAPPY TO WALK THROUGH IT
IN MORE DETAIL IF NEEDED OR IF,
IF REQUESTED, SECOND, WE
RECOMMEND REPEALING NEW
AUTHORITY GIVEN TO CDC TO ISSUE
ISSUE TEMPORARY RATE INCREASES
TO CONTRACTORS IF FUNDING WAS
AVAILABLE WITHIN THE STATE.
PRESCHOOL BUDGET APPROPRIATION
THÀNH. THIS AUTHORITY ALLOWED
CDC TO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY
INCREASE WITHOUT EXPLICIT
LEGISLATIVE INPUT OR APPROVAL.
THIS ACTION RESULTED IN 265
MILLION IN ADDITIONAL
PROPOSITION 98 SPENDING THAT
OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN
AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE
PROPOSITION 98 BUDGET SHORTFALL,
IN CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HAD
ABOUT PROVIDING THIS TEMPORARY
RATE INCREASE, WAS ABOUT
EXPENDING FULLY EXPENDING
FEDERAL ARPA DOLLARS THAT WERE
SET TO EXPIRE. SO THEY, THESE
THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE
TEMPORARY RATE INCREASE WERE NOT
ABOUT PROPOSITION 98 FUNDING
THAT WAS INTENDED FOR COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING. HI, EVERYONE, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS
VIRGINIA EARLEY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, ON BEHALF OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION, TONY THURMOND. SO
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM IS A KEY PART OF
CALIFORNIA'S UPK EXPANSION. AND
THE INCREASE IN TC ENROLLMENT
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
MEANS THERE'S MORE SYSTEM WIDE
CAPACITY FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND
FOUR YEAR OLDS ACROSS THE STATE,
INCLUDING THROUGH ABOUT 144,000
STATE PRESCHOOL SLOTS FUNDED IN
THE 2324 BUDGET. WE'RE REALLY
EXCITED TO SEE AN INCREASING
NUMBER OF THREE YEAR OLDS ENROLL
IN OCTOBER 2023, 36% OF CHILDREN
ENROLLED IN STATE PRESCHOOL ARE
THREE, AND THIS IS COMPARED TO
28% TWO YEARS BEFORE AND WE
ACTUALLY JUST GOT AN UPDATED
NUMBER COMPARED TO WHAT OUR
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT SHARED
THIS MORNING. THIS MORNING, SHE
SHARED THAT IN OCTOBER 2022,
11.5% OF ELIGIBLE THREE YEAR
OLDS WERE SERVED. AND WE JUST
GOT THE NUMBER WHILE WE WERE
HERE THAT IN OCTOBER 2023, STATE
PRESCHOOL IS SERVING ALMOST 13%
OF ELIGIBLE THREE YEAR OLDS. AND
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
TRAJECTORY OF THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS, GOING UP FROM 8.5% TWO
YEARS AGO TO 13, JUST THIS LAST
FALL, THAT'S A REALLY EXCITING
TRAJECTORY, OUR ENROLLMENT IN
THE CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE
RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC.
THAT SAME FALL, DATA FROM
OCTOBER LAST YEAR, SHOW THAT
WE'RE SERVING ABOUT 101,000
CHILDREN IN STATE PRESCHOOL. AND
TO SUPPORT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,
WE DID LAST FALL FOR CONTRACTORS
TO HELP THEM BOOST THEIR
ENROLLMENT. WE DID AN ANALYSIS
OF 2223 DATA AND FOUND THAT THE
MAJORITY OF CONTRACT WAS WITH
STATE PRESCHOOL, WERE FULLY
ENROLLED OR CLOSE TO FULLY
ENROLLED, BUT ABOUT 26% OF
CONTRACTORS LAG BEHIND, WITH
ENROLLMENT AT 65% OR LESS OF
THEIR FUNDED CAPACITY. WE
BELIEVE THE BIGGEST FACTOR
SLOWING ENROLLMENT GAINS IS
DIFFICULTY IN RECRUITING AND
RETAINING QUALIFIED STAFF DUE TO
OVERALL WORKFORCE SHORTAGES AND
LOW PAY IN STATE PRESCHOOL
COMPARED TO OTHER JOBS. EVEN
THOUGH ENROLLMENT HAS SLOWED AT
SOME CONTRACTORS. OUR UPK
PROGRAM REPORT SHOWS THAT 122
LEAS WANT TO OFFER STATE
PRESCHOOL, SO WE ARE
ANTICIPATING A HIGH NUMBER OF
APPLICATIONS TO THE STATE
PRESCHOOL EXPANSION RFA WE
RELEASED LAST MONTH FOR ABOUT 33
MILLION, OR ABOUT 2200 SLOTS.
THESE SLOTS ARE ESSENTIAL
SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING ACCESS FOR
THREE YEAR OLDS AND INCLUSIVE
CLASSROOMS, AND ALSO A SUPPORT
TOGETHER WITH TK FOR FULL DAY
OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES. WE ARE
SEEING SOME EXCITING CHANGES
WITH OUR STATE PRESCHOOL INCLUDE
THAT 9000 FAMILIES WHO WOULD
HAVE PAID FAMILY FEES UNDER THE
OLD FEE STRUCTURE NOW NO LONGER
PAY FEES AND 7300 FAMILIES HAVE
DRAMATICALLY REDUCED FEES,
SAVING THOSE FEE PAYING FAMILIES
ON AVERAGE ABOUT $600 A MONTH.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN INCREASES IN THE
NUMBER AND THE PERCENTAGE OF
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
SERVED IN INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS
AND STATE PRESCHOOL, TOGETHER
WITH NEW RULES PROHIBITING
SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS. SO
WHEN WE COMPARE 2022 TO 2023,
THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES INCREASED FROM 5.2%
OF CSAP ENROLLMENT TO NEARLY 8,
AND AS A REMINDER, CALIFORNIA IS
ON A TRAJECTORY TO GET TO 10% OF
ENROLLMENT IN CSAP BEING
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES BY
2627, AND THE CURRENT THRESHOLD
IS 5% THIS YEAR. AND IN THE
BUDGET YEAR. AND WE, THE STATE
LEVEL SYSTEMS FUNDS FOR
INCLUSIVE EARLY EDUCATION
EXPANSION GRANT, WHICH WE TALKED
ABOUT ON PREVIOUS PANELS, ARE
REALLY ESSENTIAL IN PROVIDING
SUPPORT TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.
BOTH LEAS AND COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS FOR THAT. ALSO,
FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HAVE GOOD
DATA ON THE NUMBER OF DUAL
LANGUAGE LEARNERS SERVED IN OUR
PROGRAMS, WITH NEARLY 67,000,
WHICH IS ABOUT 58% OF OUR
ENROLLMENT. AND MOST OF THOSE
ARE IN CLASSROOMS WHERE AT LEAST
ONE OF THE ADULTS USED THEIR
MOST USED LANGUAGE. WITH THE NEW
REQUIREMENTS FOR SERVING
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, DUAL
LANGUAGE LEARNERS AS WELL AS
PREVENTIONS ON SUSPENSION AND
EXPULSION. THE ADDITIONAL
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS
THAT THE PREVIOUS PANEL
MENTIONED AND COUNTING THOSE
TOWARDS A DAY OF OPERATION WOULD
BE VERY HELPFUL IN TERMS OF THE
ONE TIME SWEEP PROPOSALS FOR
STATE PRESCHOOL AND THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, WE HAVE
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ESTIMATES, WE
AGREE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION
AND THE LAO THAT THERE ARE SOME
ONE TIME FUNDS AVAILABLE TO BE
SWEPT OUT, ASSOCIATED WITH OVER
APPROPRIATIONS RELATED TO
VARIOUS INITIATIVES. HOWEVER,
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INDICATES
AVAILABLE AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF
WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE AVAILABLE.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY
CLOSELY WITH DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, AND WE'LL ALSO WORK
WITH LAO TO ALIGN OUR ESTIMATES
AND ADVANCE OF THE MAY REVISE TO
ENSURE THAT OUR FUNDING IS
SUFFICIENT TO MEET OUR
OBLIGATIONS. I ALSO WANTED TO
BRIEFLY ADDRESS THE LOUSE
COMMENT ABOUT CGRTS AUTHORITY TO
INCREASE RATES. BOTH DSS AND THE
CDC HAVE THE SAME AUTHORITY, AND
THE CDC OBTAINED THIS AUTHORITY
IN LAST YEAR'S EARLY BUDGET
ACTION, TO ENSURE THAT KIDS
STIPENDS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
RELEASE WERE EQUIVALENT TO
STIPENDS THAT DSS WAS RELEASING
TO HAVE PARITY ACROSS THE FIELD.
SO IN ORDER TO ALLOW CDC TO
CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR PROGRAMS
EQUITABLE WITH THOSE FOR DSS, WE
WOULD RECOMMEND THAT RATHER THAN
REPEALING THIS AUTHORITY, THAT
LANGUAGE BE ADDED TO REQUIRE
LEGISLATIVE INPUT OR APPROVAL IN
BOTH THE EDUCATION CODE FOR CSAP
AND THE WIT CODE FOR THE DSS
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME AND HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, JUST A FEW QUESTIONS, FOR
YOU ALL. K¾T. Â. HOW CAN THE
ENROLLMENT BASED FUNDING POLICY
BE ADJUSTED FOR ACTUAL PARITY
WITH VOUCHER BASED CHILD CARE
PROGRAMS? THANKS FOR THE
QUESTION. SO, RIGHT NOW,
PRE-PANDEMIC, WE HAD A POLICY
THAT COMPARED A CONTRACT AMOUNT
TO COSTS TO ATTENDANCE AND IT
WAS WHATEVER WAS THE LESS SINCE
ABOUT THE PANDEMIC STARTED,
WE'VE BEEN TAKING ATTENDANCE OUT
OF THE CALCULATION. SO IT'S JUST
COMPARING THEIR CONTRACT AMOUNT
TO THEIR COST. AND THAT'S WHAT
PEOPLE TYPICALLY REFER TO AS THE
HOLD HARMLESS. HUM, AND SO THE
SUPERINTENDENT IS ACTUALLY
SPONSORING A BILL, AB 2381,
WHICH WOULD SWITCH THE
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM TO A MODEL AFTER AFTER
THE HOLD. HARMLESS IS OVER AND
JUNE 30TH, 2025. THAT WOULD
INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THAT
ATTENDANCE BASED MODEL, FACTOR
IT ON ENROLLMENT INSTEAD, SO
THAT THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING
THAT, WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT
LANGUAGE, WITH YOUR STAFF.
FANTASTIC, OBVIOUSLY, AS WE LOOK
AT THE RATE CHANGES FOR THREE
YEAR OLDS, HOW ARE WE FACTORING
IN THE THAT IMPACT THAT IS
OBVIOUSLY THIS, ANY TIME FOR
THREE YEAR OLDS ARE GOING INTO,
TK OR PRESCHOOL. THEY ARE HAVING
EFFECT IN COMMUNITY SYSTEMS,
RIGHT. AND PROVIDERS, ARE YOU
ALL EVALUATING THE IMPACT THAT'S
GOING TO HAVE ON CHILDREN AND
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES?
YEAH. SO FIRST OF ALL, JUST TO
CLARIFY, TK IS FOR FOUR YEAR
OLDS THE YEAR BEFORE
KINDERGARTEN, NOT THREE YEAR
OLDS, ALTHOUGH TECHNICALLY
SOMEONE MIGHT BE THREE FOR A
COUPLE OF WEEKS IF THEY START
THE SCHOOL YEAR, YOU KNOW, UNTIL
THEY TURN FOUR, SO WE ARE
TRACKING THE IMPACT OF THE RATE
CHANGES FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT CLOSELY.
AS YOU CAN SEE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE
WE'RE CLOSELY MONITORING BOTH
THE NUMBER OF THREE YEAR OLDS IN
OUR PROGRAMS AND THE PERCENTAGE
OF ELIGIBLE THREE YEAR OLDS THAT
WE'RE SERVING, TO THE EXTENT
THAT WE'RE GIVING YOU AN UPDATED
NUMBER. SO HOURS AFTER WE GAVE
YOU THE FIRST ONE. SO IT'S
DEFINITELY A HIGH PRIORITY FOR
US THAT WE'RE PAYING CLOSE
ATTENTION TO, IN TERMS OF
CHILDREN. BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU
CARE REALLY. SO VERY MUCH, AND
THE, THE REAL OPPORTUNITY WE
HAVE WITH UPK IS THAT AS WE
EXPAND FOR ALL FOUR YEAR OLDS
OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME, WHAT
WE HAVE IS WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE INCREASED
CAPACITY FOR SERVING MORE THREE
YEAR OLDS. AND SO BY BY
EXPANDING THE PIE, WE'RE REALLY
CREATING CAPACITY ACROSS BOTH OF
THOSE. ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE AGE
COHORTS IN LINE WITH THE MASTER
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT
THIS WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS IN
TERMS OF PRACTICAL IMPACTS IS
THAT THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS
WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A HIGH
QUALITY, INCLUSIVE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM THAT CAN DIRECTLY IMPACT
BOTH HOW THEY DO IN KINDERGARTEN
AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH
SCHOOL AND BEYOND. SO IT HAS A
VERY TANGIBLE IMPACT. AND
RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT WHEN
CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO TWO
YEARS OF HIGH QUALITY PRE-K,
THEY DO BETTER THAN WHEN THEY
JUST HAVE ACCESS TO ONE, RIGHT?
I MEAN, IT'S GREAT FOR THE
SYSTEM, BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW
GREAT IT IS FOR COMMUNITY BASED
CAPACITY, SO BECAUSE COMMUNITIES
ARE LOSING OUT ON THOSE █3,
THEY'RE NOT LOSING OUT ON THREE
YEAR OLDS. SO THEY'RE SO WITH
THE EXPANSION OF TK, TK IS FOR
FOUR YEAR OLDS. SO THOSE ARE
THAT MEANS THAT FAMILIES CAN
CHOOSE BETWEEN IF THEY'RE
ELIGIBLE FOR A STATE PRESCHOOL,
THEY CAN CHOOSE STATE PRESCHOOL.
IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR HEAD
START, THEY CAN CHOOSE HEAD
START. IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR
TK, THEY CAN CHOOSE TK, WE ARE
SEEING THAT ONE OF THE ACTIONS
THE LEGISLATURE HAS TAKEN IN THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS TO
INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING
THAT PROGRAMS GET, WHETHER
THEY'RE A COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION OR A LOCAL
EDUCATION AGENCY TO SERVE THREE
YEAR OLDS. AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF
THE BARRIERS THAT K¾T DID A
NUMBER OF FOCUS GROUPS ON THIS
TOPIC. AND HOW CAN WE HELP
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
PIVOT TO SERVING MORE THREE YEAR
OLDS? AND A COUPLE OF THINGS
HAVE COME UP. ONE OF THEM WAS,
YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
AROUND THINGS LIKE TOILETING,
AND SO THAT'S WHERE THAT
ADJUSTMENT FACTOR HAS BEEN
HELPFUL. AND K¾T HAS ALSO
RELEASED A TOILETING TOOLKIT TO
PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT IN THAT
AREA, AND ANOTHER AND, AND THERE
WERE SOME OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE
BARRIERS THAT WERE MENTIONED AS
WELL THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED,
SUCH AS REMOVING, YOU KNOW,
PRIORITIZING THREE YEAR OLDS AND
FOUR YEAR OLDS THE SAME. THAT
WAS A BUDGET ACTION FROM LAST
YEAR. HUM. SHOULD THE STATE
CONSIDER AND THIS IS PROBABLY
NOT FOR CDE, BUT SHOULD THE
STATE CONSIDER CAPPING THE
INCLUSION REQUIREMENT AT THE
CURRENT 5% CONSIDERING THE
BUDGET DEFICIT? LÀ. OH, SURE.
SARAH CORTEZ. ELIO, SO THAT
WOULD BE ONE OF THE BUDGET
SOLUTIONS THAT YOU COULD
CONSIDER AS PART OF 2526. SO IT
IS IT IS THE 5% INCLUSION IS,
HELD FOR 2425 AND 2526. IT'S
SCHEDULED TO GO UP TO 7.5. SO
THAT'S THAT'S CERTAINLY A
CHOICE, THAT, THAT, THAT YOU CAN
MAKE AT AT THAT POINT, BUT
THERE'S NOT A BUDGET DECISION
FOR 24, 25, BUT IT WOULD BE IN
25, 26, AND IF WE DID CONSIDER
IT, WHAT WHAT COULD THE
POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT
BE. SO IT WOULD, IT WOULD, IT
WOULD BE THE REQUIREMENT. SO
THERE SO THERE'S THIS
REQUIREMENT AND THEN THERE'S,
THEN THERE'S SOME ACCOUNTABILITY
PIECES THAT COME INTO PLACE. SO
ALL OF THOSE WOULD, WOULD NEED
TO, AS A, AS AN OPTION WOULD
NEED TO BE DELAYED, THE, THE
THING WITH, WITH STATE PRESCHOOL
IS THEY HAVE THE OPTION, YOU
KNOW, THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF FUNDING WITHIN THEIR CONTRACT
AFTER WE MOVE AWAY FROM THIS
HOLD HARMLESS THIS HOLD HARMLESS
POLICY IN PLACE IN 25, 26, THAT
WOULD THAT THAT EXPIRES, SO THEY
HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUNDING
THEY CAN EARN THEIR CONTRACT SO
THEY COULD STILL SERVE THOSE
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, BUT
THEIR THEIR CONTRACT OR LIKE WHO
THEY CAN SERVE IN THE AMOUNT
THEY CAN SERVE WOULD, WOULD BE,
IF THEY HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS THAT
WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN
THAT CALCULUS. AND HOW MANY KIDS
THEY CAN SERVE. IF I COULD JUST
ADD ONE THING TO THAT. SO, JUST
ONE THING ON THIS, AND THEN I
WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING I
MEANT TO SAY AND DIDN'T FOR YOUR
PREVIOUS QUESTION, BUT SO
PROGRAMS ARE ALREADY, ON
AVERAGE, SERVING ABOUT 8% OF
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. SO
IF THE INCREASE TO THE 7.5%
DOESN'T HAPPEN IN, IN 25, 26,
WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE
STATE'S FUNDING, THAT'S SORT OF
SUPPORTING THOSE 144,000 SLOTS,
WITHOUT THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING
TO PAY FOR THE INCREASED COST
RELATED TO SERVE CHILDREN,
SERVING CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES, FEWER OVERALL
CHILDREN WOULD BE SERVED. SO
WHAT THIS WHAT THE WHAT THE
IMPACT ON ENROLLMENT. IT HAS A
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE AMOUNT OF
THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR
OKAY. RAIMES CAN ENROLL IF I CAN
JUST ADD TO THAT, BECAUSE SO WE
ARE IN THIS HOLD HARMLESS. AND
MR. LEE DISCUSSED THIS ABOUT HOW
IT WORKS. THERE IS A GAP RIGHT
NOW BETWEEN, WHERE PROVIDERS ARE
FUNDED AND THE ENROLLMENT. SO
THAT GAP IS ABOUT 43,000 KIDS.
SO THERE IS ROOM FOR WELL, LET
ME PHRASE IT THIS WAY. WE ARE
SERVING TODAY UNDER THE HOLD
HARMLESS POLICY. WE ARE SERVING
LESS CHILDREN THAN THERE IS
FUNDING FOR THOSE CHILDREN. SO
ONCE WE MOVE AWAY FROM THAT HOLD
HARMLESS POLICY, I WOULDN'T
NECESSARILY SAY THAT WE'RE GOING
TO SERVE LESS KIDS IF WE PAUSE
THIS POLICY, JUST BECAUSE OF
THAT INTERACTION. THERE'S ROOM
FOR PROVIDERS WITHIN THE WITHIN
THEIR CONTRACTS ONCE WE MOVE OUT
OF THIS HOLD HARMLESS FOR THEM
TO FOR THEM TO EARN THEIR
CONTRACT MORE. THEY THEY THEY
NEED TO EARN THEIR CONTRACT. AND
THAT COULD BE SHIFTING TO THREE
YEAR OLDS THAT ARE MORE
EXPENSIVE THAN FOUR YEAR OLDS
AND SHIFTING TO MORE STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES THAT ALSO EARN
THEIR CONTRACT, AT A HIGHER RATE
THAN THAN A FOUR YEAR OLD WOULD.
OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. ADD ONE
MORE THING, BECAUSE YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE SUPPORT
COMMUNITY BASED PROVIDERS THAT
WANT TO PROVIDE PRESCHOOL? AND
ONE THING THAT I MEANT TO
HIGHLIGHT IS THAT MANY COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS ALSO WANT TO
PROVIDE PRESCHOOL, HOWEVER, WHEN
THE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATES
PROPOSITION 98, FUNDS FOR, FOR
PRESCHOOL EXPANSION, LIKE THAT'S
THE RFA THAT WE'RE GETTING OUT
RIGHT NOW. HUM, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE
TO APPLY FOR IT. AND SO TO THE
EXTENT THAT AND, YOU KNOW, WE'D
REALLY LIKE TO SEE ADDITIONAL
EXPANSIONS ON THE COMMUNITY
BASED SIDE, WE WOULD NEED
NONPROFIT MISSION 90. YEAH, THAT
GOES BACK TO THAT OTHER FUND
THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
EARLIER TODAY. GOT IT. YEAH. THE
NON PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND.
YEAH. AWESOME TWO MORE QUESTIONS
. YAY. HAS THE RATE CHANGED FOR
THREE YEAR OLDS IMPACTED STATE
PRESCHOOL PROVIDER SERVICE
LEVELS FOR THIS AGE GROUP. SO,
WE DEFINITELY THINK, YOU KNOW,
IT'S HARD TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT IS
DRIVING THE INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF THREE YEAR OLDS, BUT
IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THE
ADJUSTMENT FACTOR AND THE RATE
CHANGE FOR THREE YEAR OLDS HAS
BEEN A KEY FACTOR BECAUSE WHAT
IT MEANS IS THAT PROGRAMS HAVE
MORE SUPPORT TO SERVE, SERVE
CHILDREN THAT ARE THREE YEARS
OLD SO THEY HAVE FEWER BARRIERS
TO GOING OUT TO TRYING TO
RECRUIT THEM. AND WE'VE SEEN,
LIKE I SAID, IN TWO YEARS, THE
NUMBER, THE PERCENTAGE OF
ELIGIBLE CHILDREN THAT ARE THREE
BEING SERVED GO FROM 8.5% TO
MOST RECENTLY, ABOUT 13. SO
WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING IN THE
DIRECTION OF HAVING MORE THREE
YEAR OLDS ENROLLED. IN LIGHT OF
THE IDEA, MANDATE THAT LEAS
PROVIDE PRESCHOOL FOR CHILDREN
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, HOW ARE LEAS
GOING TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY
PRESCHOOLS WITH MEETING PART B
REQUIREMENTS, AND SHOULD LEAS BE
REQUIRED TO SHARE IDEA WITH
COMMUNITY BASED STATE PRESCHOOL
PROVIDERS? THANKS. SO LEAS ARE
REQUIRED UNDER PART B OF IDEA TO
ENSURE THAT CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES HAVE ACCESS TO FREE
AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION
, AND SO TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY
PRESCHOOLS AND MEETING THESE
REQUIREMENTS, LÀ SHOULD BE
COLLABORATING WITH THOSE
PRESCHOOLS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY
SPECIAL EDUCATION AND RELATED
SERVICES. AND THIS CAN INCLUDE
THINGS LIKE STAFF TRAINING SUCH
AS USE OF INCLUSIVE INSTRUCTION
STRATEGIES SUCH AS UNIVERSAL
DESIGN FOR LEARNING AND EVEN
THINGS LIKE CURRICULUM
MODIFICATIONS, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND
RESOURCES, AND COLLABORATION AND
COORDINATION ACROSS INTEREST
HOLDERS AND PARTNERS TO
COORDINATE SERVICES AND CREATE A
CONTINUUM OF SUPPORT. AND I'LL
ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
WITH OUR, I MENTIONED THE
INCLUSIVE EARLY EDUCATION
EXPANSION PROGRAM THAT'S GOING
TO LEAS TO HELP THEM REALLY
INCREASE, CAPACITY FOR
INCLUSIVE, EARLY LEARNING, BUT
THERE'S ALSO MONEY FOR, A STATE
LEVEL SYSTEMS BUILDING AND
ALIGNING LOCAL PRACTICE. AND
WITH THE RESEARCH, ON WHAT'S
EFFECTIVE. SO WE'RE REALLY
LOOKING WE'RE REALLY THOSE THOSE
INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN REALLY
HELPFUL TO, HELP US MOVE THE
NEEDLE ON THIS QUESTION. THERE'S
A FEW ITEMS I WANT TO MAKE SURE
IS ON THE RECORD HERE. AND SOME
OF THEM ARE JUST PERTAINING TO,
FOR INSTANCE, FOR ISSUE NUMBER
TWO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE ON THE RECORD AS WELL,
WE'RE GOING TO, THIS COMMITTEE
IS DIRECTING STAFF AND LEO TO
WORK WITH ADMINISTRATION ON AN
ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL TO ONE
EXPEDITE CTR, RFA, AND CONTRACT
PROCESS AND TIMELINE, CREATE A
REVERSION ACCOUNT PROCESS FOR
UNALLOCATED CHILD CARE PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS, AND THREE
CLARIFY AUTHORITY FOR DSS TO
MAXIMIZE EXISTING APPROPRIATION
AUTHORITY. AND THEN ALSO, THIS
COMMITTEE IS DIRECTING STAFF TO
WORK WITH LAO ON ENROLLMENT
POLICY. ALTERNATIVE TO BETTER
ALIGN TO FAMILY CARE NEED
ESTIMATES AS WELL. CERTAINLY I
WANT TO THANK, THIS PANEL. THANK
YOU ALL VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE
YOU. AND, LET ME JUST SAY THIS
AS WELL, THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE
DAY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN
A PART OF THIS MARATHON DAY,
ALTHOUGH WE ARE SEEING A SHIFT
OF MANY THINGS BEING ASSUMED BY
LEAS, I ALSO WANT TO MAKE
SOMETHING CLEAR THAT THERE MAY
BECOME A TIME AGAIN WHERE
SCHOOLS HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN. AND
IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN COMMUNITY
CAPACITY, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A
HORRIFIC EFFECT. ACT SIMILAR TO
WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE IN
THIS PAST PANDEMIC. AND SO
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE GREAT PLANS TO
DO THIS, THIS OR THAT, WE ALSO
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE
DO IS ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
RESILIENCY AS WELL. SO IF ONE
SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN, ANOTHER
SYSTEM CAN TAKE OVER. AND SO IT
IS THIS COMMITTEE'S PURVIEW,
PERSPECTIVE, THAT WE ARE ALSO
PRIORITIZING COMMUNITY CAPACITY
BECAUSE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE MAY
BE NECESSARY. CURRENTLY IT IS
NECESSARY FOR FULL DAY SERVICES
AND OTHER THINGS. AND OF COURSE,
MORE, FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF
SCHEDULING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE
IN THE INLAND EMPIRE AND YOU'RE
DRIVING TO ORANGE COUNTY OR LA
EVERY DAY, YOU'RE NOT GETTING
HOME UNTIL SEVEN, 8:00 AT NIGHT,
RIGHT? BUT THEN ALSO FROM A,
PANDEMIC NATURAL DISASTER
PERSPECTIVE, IF WE DON'T HAVE
COMMUNITY CAPACITY TO TAKE CARE
OF OUR CHILDREN WHILE ADULTS ARE
TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT
COULD BE WORK RELATED, IT COULD
BE, YOU KNOW, CRISIS RELATED,
WE'RE GOING TO MISS THE MARK,
AND WE'RE SETTING OURSELVES UP
FOR A FAILURE, FOR THE FUTURE,
FOR ANY BIG OTHER CATASTROPHIC
THING THAT MAY HAPPEN. SO I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THAT
IN PERSPECTIVE AS WELL. THIS IS
NOT JUST ABOUT EDUCATION, THÀNH.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE
SETTING FOR A CHILD? IT'S ALSO
ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT CAN
RESPOND TO WHATEVER REALITIES WE
MAY FIND OURSELVES IN IN THE
FUTURE. SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE
THAT POINT. I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW
WE HAVE SOME MORE PUBLIC COMMENT
TIME. AGAIN, IF YOU ALREADY
TALKED ABOUT SLOTS, LAST TIME I
HEARD YOU. OKAY, BUT IF THERE'S
ANYTHING ELSE ONLY ON THESE
THREE ITEMS NOW, SOME OF YOU ARE
SAYING, I KNOW WHAT HE SAID, BUT
I'M GOING TO SAY WHAT I GOT TO
SAY ANYWAY, ALL RIGHT? JUST KNOW
I SEE YOU. OKAY THIS IS ONE
MINUTE. ONE MINUTE PUBLIC
COMMENT. YOUR NAME AND
AFFILIATION. AND IF YOU'RE A
CHILD, IF YOU'RE A CHILD, WHAT
JOB DO YOU HAVE? OKAY, HIT ME.
WHO'S NEXT? WHO'S FIRST? GO FOR
IT. HI I AM JOHNNY MCKINLEY, AND
MY JOB IS SCHOOL. ALL RIGHT.
OKAY YOU DIDN'T FALL FOR MY
TRAP. OKAY EVOLUCIONA SAN
FRANCISCO MM.HMM A BUDGET IS A
STATEMENT OF VALUES AND WE
BELIEVE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND
THOSE WHO CARE FOR CHILDREN
SHOULD BE AMONG OUR HIGHEST
PRIORITIES. YOU GOT IT. THANK
YOU FOR CARING FOR OUR CHILD
CARE. THANK YOU. I CARE ABOUT
YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MY
NAME IS RJ LIANG. AND I AM FROM
PARENT VOICE OF SAN FRANCISCO.
CHILD CARE FOR ALL. THANK YOU.
HELLO. MY NAME IS ZACHARY SHEPP.
I AM EIGHT YEARS OLD. I AM HERE
TO SUPPORT MY MOM. WE NEED
CHILDCARE SO MY MOM CAN GO TO
WORK. AND SHE CAN SUPPORT.
SUPPORT MY FAMILY. CHILD CARE
KEEPS FAMILY WORK. CALIFORNIA
WORKING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS
ABIGAIL, AND, I'M SIX YEARS OLD
AND I GO TO SCHOOL. AND PLEASE
DON'T CUT COVERS. YES, MA'AM.
OKAY, I WANT TO. I WANT TO ALIGN
MY COMMENTS WITH. YOU CAN MOVE
THEM. YOU CAN MOVE THE MIC UP
THERE. OKAY? OKAY. YEAH. OKAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD LIKE TO
ALIGN MY COMMENTS WITH THOSE OF
THE MEMBERS OF THE S¼ COALITION.
MY NAME IS ELVIA MCKINLEY. I AM
A PARENT VOICES PARENT LEADER IN
SAN FRANCISCO. CHILDCARE IS
VITAL TO MY FAMILY'S SURVIVAL IN
ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES
IN THE NATION. I GET UP AT 3:00
IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK TO
PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY. CHILDCARE
IS KEY TO OUR SURVIVAL. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. NAME AND
AFFILIATION. PLEASE HI, MY NAME
IS APRIL LIANG. I'M FROM PARENT
VOICES SAN FRANCISCO, AND I'M
STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY
TO SHED LIGHT ON A CRUCIAL ISSUE
THAT AFFECTS NOT ONLY ME, BUT
COUNTLESS FAMILIES IN
CALIFORNIA. THE CHALLENGE OF
ACCESSING AFFORDABLE, QUALITY
CHILDCARE. AS A PARENT, I
UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND AND THE
IMMENSE IMPORTANCE OF RELIABLE
CHILDCARE. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
HAVING SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER OUR
CHILDREN, IT'S ABOUT PROVIDING
THEM WITH A SAFE, NURTURING
ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN
LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE. MY
DAUGHTER NEEDED CHILDCARE. I
PLACED HER ON A WAITING LIST
ALONG WITH 2 MILLION OTHER
CHILDREN IN CALIFORNIA. I HOPED,
AND I PRAYED FOR HER TO BE
CALLED, BUT THAT CALL NEVER
CAME. THIS LEFT ME WITH A
HEARTBREAKING CHOICE TO PUT MY
EDUCATION ON HOLD OR STRUGGLE TO
FIND ALTERNATIVE CARE, WHICH
OFTEN MEANT COMPROMISING ON
QUALITY AND SAFETY. AND I WANT
TO ALIGN TO I WANT TO ALIGN MY
COMMENTS WITH THOSE OF MEMBERS
OF THE COALITION. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. HI, MY NAME IS JASON. I
AM FROM SAN FRANCISCO. I HAVE
TWO CHILDREN, SIX AND EIGHT
YEARS OLD. I WANT TO ALIGN MY
COMMENTS WITH THOSE WHO MEMBERS
OF ECA COALITION. THE REASON WHY
I'M HERE IS I NEED A CHILD CARE,
ESPECIALLY BEFORE AND AFTER CARE
. I'M A CERTIFIED NURSE. BEFORE
I HAVE A KID, I USED TO WORK IN
A FULL TIME JOB. UNFORTUNATELY,
RIGHT NOW I'M ONLY WORKING A
PART TIME JOB. WHENEVER I HAVE
FAMILY MEMBERS LOOKING AFTER MY
CHILDREN, I'M REALLY WANT TO
WORK FULL TIME JOB AND I. I NEED
A STABLE CHILDCARE. WE
UNDERSTAND THE FISCAL OUTLOOK. A
BUDGET IS A STATEMENT OF VALUES
AND WE BELIEVE CHILDREN,
FAMILIES AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR
CHILDREN SHOULD BE AMONG OUR
HIGHEST PRIORITIES. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND
UNDERSTANDING. THANK YOU FOR
MAKING YOUR TIME HERE. MY NAME
IS DIEGO AND TIÂU QUÊ AND
PRESCHOOL ARE IMPORTANT. YES, IT
IS. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
EDUARDO. WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN?
MY NAME IS EDUARDO. EDUARDO,
OKAY. AND I SUPPORT CHILD CARE.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD JOB. YES. GOOD
AFTERNOON. EDUARDO IS MY SON. MY
NAME IS MARIA ANDRES. I AM WITH
PARENT VOICES. I'VE BEEN A
LEADER WITH PARENT VOICES SINCE
MY SON WAS IN MY BELLY. BECAUSE
I KNOW, CHILD CARE WAS VERY
DIFFICULT TO ACCESS IN SAN
FRANCISCO. ONE OF THE MOST OR
MAYBE THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITY IN
THE IN, IN, IN, IN THE UNITED
STATES, THINGS TO CHILD CARE. I
WAS ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL,
GRADUATE. NOW I HAVE A
BACHELOR'S I'M ABLE TO HAVE A
BUSINESS AND ABLE TO GIVE BACK
TO MY COMMUNITY. SO THE EASY,
ASKING, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR
US BECAUSE WE WANT TO SUPPORT
THE REST OF THE CHILDREN AND THE
FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA. THANK
YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. NAME
AND AFFILIATION, PLEASE, HI. MY
NAME IS YVONNE JUAREZ, I'M A
SINGLE MOM. I HAVE TWO KIDS, ONE
KID WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND ONE
GIRL ALMOST, ALMOST STARTED
PRESCHOOL. SO IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT FOR MY FAMILY, I WAS,
WAITING FOR CHILD CARE FOR EIGHT
MONTHS. AND WHERE I REPRESENTED
REPRESENTATIVE, MY FAMILY AND MY
COMMUNITY. AND IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT FOR WORKS, OUR
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THERE'S SOME MORE TROUBLE. YEAH.
HI. MY NAME IS MARIA LUSTER. I'M
AN ORGANIZER OF PARENT VOICES.
AND, WE'RE LATE TODAY BECAUSE WE
CAME FROM ANOTHER CHILDCARE
RALLY, I WENT THROUGH ALL THE
THINGS THAT PARENTS STRUGGLED
WITH AND THAT IS ACCESSING
CHILDCARE. I HAD TWO COLLEGE
DEGREES, BUT WITHOUT CHILDCARE,
ENTERING THE WORKFORCE WAS A
STRUGGLE. WHEN I FIRST STARTED
WORKING, MY FIRST PAYCHECK JUST
WENT TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE, SO MY
PARENTS OFFERED TO TAKE MY
CHILDREN TO THE PHILIPPINES, AND
THAT WAS LIKE FOR SIX MONTHS.
THEN I GOT CHILDCARE AND I
SCREAMED AND SAVED AND BORROWED
TO BRING MY CHILDREN BACK. SO MY
MOTHER CAME BACK AND, MY MOTHER
WAS ALSO MY PART TIME PH¢N CARE,
BUT THEY ALSO GOT CENTER CARE.
AS SOON AS I FOUND OUT THAT I
HAD, OUR CHILDREN CANNOT WAIT.
WE CANNOT KEEP WASTING THE
LEARNING AND BONDING
OPPORTUNITIES THE CHILDREN NEED
WHILE WE GROWN UPS FIGURE OUT
WHAT TO DO. EARLY CARE AND
EDUCATION MATTERS. IT DISRUPTS
POVERTY. IF YOU ARE GOING TO
ADDRESS EQUITY AND RAISING ALL
BOATS, WE CANNOT DELAY ACCESS TO
CHILD CARE. WE MUST REIMBURSE
THE ACTUAL COST OF CARE TO OUR
PROVIDERS. THANK YOU FOR THE
ATTENTION, FOR YOUR ATTENTION
AND THE WORK YOU'RE DOING ON
THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION.
PLEASE HI, DOCTOR. LAWANDA
WESLEY, DIRECTOR OF CHILD CARE
RESOURCE CENTER. AND I WANT TO
ALIGN MY COMMENT WITH THE EC
COALITION. BUT I ALSO WANT TO
QUICKLY JUST SHARE MY STORY. I
WAS A WELFARE TO WORK MOM WHO
UTILIZED CHILDCARE AS A SINGLE
MOM, AND THAT ALLOWED ME TO
PURSUE MY EDUCATION. BUT I ALSO
WAS A FORMER PRESCHOOL EDUCATOR
AND ADMINISTRATOR. SO JUST WANT
TO JUST REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS THAT WE GO TO COLLEGE. WE
GET OUR EDUCATION, BUT WE DON'T
REALLY GET A RETURN OF OUR
INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF THE
WAGES. AND SO AT ONE POINT, I
WAS AT $19 AN HOUR, EVEN WITH
ADVANCED DEGREES. SO I REALLY
WANT TO URGE THAT WE, WE
INCREASE RATES AND WE SEE THAT
RATES ARE CLOSELY TIED TO,
SALARY INCREASES. AND SO I
CONCLUDE MY COMMENT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. NAME AND
AFFILIATION PLEASE. HI. MY NAME
IS CHRISTINA MOORE. AND I'M HERE
TODAY WITH EVERY CHILD
CALIFORNIA AND EC VOICES. I WANT
TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MY
STAFF AND THE CHILDREN'S AND
FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE. DOCTOR
JACKSON I WORK FOR MARYVILLE, A
SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY SERVING
THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. WE SERVE
MORE THAN 300 CHILDREN DAILY IN
A COMMUNITY BASED CENTER PROGRAM
THAT PROVIDES FULL DAY, FULL
YEAR CTR AND CSAP. I AM ASKING
TODAY THAT YOU STREAMLINE THE
RFA PROCESS FOR EXISTING
CONTRACTORS IN GOOD STANDING. AS
WELL AS NEW CONTRACTORS, SO THAT
THE CHILDREN OF CALIFORNIA CAN
BENEFIT FROM HIGH QUALITY EARLY
LEARNING PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HELLO. GOOD EVENING,
NINA BèC. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF EVERY CHILD
CALIFORNIA, I JUST WANT TO ECHO
MY COMMENTS ALSO WITH THE
COALITION AS WELL AS TO SAY WE
ARE VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF A
SIMPLIFIED RFA PROCESS. THERE'S
ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THAT THIS
PROCESS SHOULD TAKE 12 MONTHS. I
ALSO WANTED TO NOTE ON ONE OF
YOUR POINTS AROUND BUILDING
COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH
LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO STATEWIDE
CONSISTENCY. THERE IS NO
MANDATORY Kò ELEMENT IN THERE
FOR LEAS TO HAVE TO WORK WITH
CBOS. SO IT IS REALLY DONE ON
THE DISCRETION OF THE LEA. AND
SO WE KNOW THIS IS BEST
PRACTICE. WE KNOW THAT WE NEED
THE SUPPORTS FROM EACH OTHER. SO
IF THAT IS ALSO THE
LEGISLATURE'S INTENT IT DOES
NEED TO BE MANDATED. THANK YOU.
IT IS ON MY LIST. HELLO. MY NAME
IS JESSICA DAWSON BROWN AND I'M
HERE ON BEHALF OF EVERY CHILD
CALIFORNIA AND S¼ VOICES. I'M A
FORMER SUBSIDY PARENT, AND I
EVEN TOOK OUT STUDENT LOANS TO
PAY FOR CHILDCARE. AND THAT
CHILD IS NOW 19. I'M STILL
PAYING THOSE LOANS. I OAN RIVER
CITY EARLY LEARNING CENTER IN
ELK GROVE AND WILL SOON BE
OPENING A SECOND CENTER AT THE
NEW MAY LEE STATE BUILDING
COMPLEX. OUR CURRENT CENTER
SERVES 88 CHILDREN, 0 TO 12, AND
I HAVE 19 OUT OF 24 OPEN SLOTS.
65% OF MY CENTER IS SUBSIDIZED,
BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR
FAMILY, STAFF, AND CHILDREN. FOR
PERSPECTIVE, SACRAMENTO COUNTY
WEEKLY REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR A
PRESCHOOLER ONLY INCREASED $0.14
FROM 2018 RATES. MY RATES SINCE
THAT TIME HAVE INCREASED ABOUT
$100 A WEEK. WE HAVE VACANCIES
DUE TO FAMILIES BEING UNABLE TO
PAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
SUBSIDY PROGRAMS THAT, THAT THEY
HAVE TO PAY. THE DIFFERENCE
VACANCIES ARE ALSO DUE TO THE
CURRENT HIRING PROCESS. CRISIS
TURNOVER RATES HAVE NOT CHANGED
MUCH IN 20 YEARS, AND 58% OF EC
EDUCATORS WORRY ABOUT MEETING
THEIR FINANCIAL NEEDS. PLEASE
ALLOW PAYMENTS TO BE MADE IN
ADVANCE AND BASED ON ACTUAL COST
OF CARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NAME AND AFFILIATION PLEASE. HÌ.
HOW ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU DOING
BACK? I HAVE OTHER POINTS. I
SMEAL SO CBOS ARE NOT CURRENTLY
ABLE TO MEET THEIR CCVB
CONTRACTS BECAUSE THERE IS AN
EXODUS OF THREE AND FOUR YEAR
OLDS TO TK. IT'S THE REALITY.
CENTER BASED ORGANIZATIONS ARE
HAVING A HARD TIME.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE ALSO NOT
ABLE TO MEET THE SET ASIDE FOR
THE EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS CHILDREN
BECAUSE ONCE WE GET THEM THE
IEP, WE SUPPORT THEM THROUGH
THAT PROCESS. THEY LEAVE TO THE
UNIFIED BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL SO
SHORT STAFFED AND THEY CAN'T.
THEY USED TO BE ABLE TO SEND THE
THERAPISTS TO OUR SITES, AND
THEY CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE. SO
THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL I HAVE A
RECOMMENDATION. THÀNH I KNOW YOU
DO IT. IF WE COULD, WE WOULD
RECOMMEND THAT THE SET ASIDE BE
CHANGED TO UNDUPLICATED SLOTS
RATHER THAN BASED ON ENROLLMENT
AND ATTENDANCE DAYS, AND THAT
WAY IT WOULD BE ONE AND DONE. SO
WE APPRECIATE YOUR
INTENTIONALITY AND SUPPORTING
AND SUSTAINING ALL OF OUR
PROGRAMS, AND YOUR FIGHT TO
DISMANTLE THE EDUCATIONAL
INEQUITIES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
ISSUES THAT OUR SYSTEMS FACE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY
PLEASURE. THANK YOU. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. ROSANNA
CARVACHO ELLIOTT HERE ON BEHALF
OF THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
CONSORTIUM, WHICH IS AN
ASSOCIATION OF MULTI-STATE,
MULTI-SITE, HIGH QUALITY CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS. THEY OPERATE 480
CENTERS IN CALIFORNIA WITH THE
CAPACITY TO SERVE NEARLY 68,000
CHILDREN. ON THE TOPIC OF CSP, I
KNOW FOR ALL OF OUR MEMBERS, WE
WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
CSP PROGRAM AND IT'S JUST VERY
HARD TO GET INTO. SO WE'D LIKE
TO WORK WITH YOU, MR. CHAIR, ON
HOW WE CAN PROVIDE PROVIDERS
WITH ACCESS TO THAT PROGRAM
THEY'RE ALREADY TAKING. YOU
KNOW, THE ÁP VOUCHERS. SO HOW DO
WE GET THEM INTO THAT AND MAKE
SURE THAT THE CHILDREN CAN BE
SERVED? THAT'S THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING, I THINK, AND I
APOLOGIZE THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO
BE HERE IN THE FIRST PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. I HAD TO RUN TO
EDUCATION COMMITTEE, BUT I JUST
WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR
YOUR CO-CHAIR, WHO'S NOT HERE
RIGHT NOW FOR HOLDING THIS VERY
IMPORTANT HEARING AND ASKING
THESE QUESTIONS. I KNOW THERE
WAS TOP, DISCUSSION THIS MORNING
ABOUT QUALITY TK PROGRAMS, WHICH
INCLUDES AGE APPROPRIATE
FACILITIES, CURRICULUM AND
STUDENT TO ADULT RATIOS. THERE
WAS A BILL IN EDUCATION THIS
AFTERNOON. I'M NOT QUITE SURE
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO IT,
BECAUSE I CAME BACK OVER HERE,
BUT WE THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE
RATIOS STAY WHAT THE LEGISLATURE
INTENDED, WHICH IS 1 TO 10. AND
I HOPE THAT YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES WILL ENSURE THAT THAT
HAPPENS. AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST
WANT TO ALIGN MY COMMENTS WITH
THE COALITION REGARDING RATE
REFORM AND GETTING THAT DONE
QUICKLY WITH ALL PROVIDERS AT
THE TABLE AND THEN GETTING THE
SLOTS OUT THE DOOR. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I HAVE NO
CLUE WHAT HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY
BILLS EITHER. SO YOU KNOW, THANK
YOU, CHAIR JACKSON AND CHAIR
ALVAREZ, EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT
HERE RIGHT NOW. MY NAME IS
ALLISON OSORIO, AND I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF PUBLIC ADVOCATES TO
DISCUSS THE TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN FACILITIES
PROPOSAL. PUBLIC ADVOCATES
AGREES WITH THE LAW AND THE
PROPOSALS ON AB TWO, FOUR SEVEN
AND SB 228 TO INCLUDE EARLY
EDUCATION FACILITIES IN THE
POTENTIAL BOND AND MOVING
FORWARD WITH A TC INCLUSION.
HOWEVER IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION FIRST FIX THE
REGRESSIVE AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL
STRUCTURE OF CALIFORNIA'S
CAPITAL FINANCE SYSTEM. OUR
STATE SUPREME COURT HAS
PROHIBITED PROVIDING DIFFERENT
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BASED
ON DIFFERENCES IN LOCAL PROPERTY
WEALTH. BUT THAT IS PRECISELY
WHAT THE STATE CAPITAL FINANCE
SYSTEM HAS BEEN DOING SINCE
1998. ON FEBRUARY 21ST, ON
BEHALF OF LOW WEALTH COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE STATE, PUBLIC
ADVOCATES SENT STATE OFFICIALS A
LETTER DEMANDING THE END OF THE
GROSS INEQUITIES BUILT INTO THE
ALLOCATION OF STATE BOND FUNDS,
IN PARTICULAR MODERNIZATION. THE
CURRENT SYSTEM ALLOCATES
MODERNIZATION FUNDS THROUGH A
UNIVERSAL 60% STATE MATCH AND
40% LOCAL CONTRIBUTION. THIS
RULE HAS SENT MORE THAN $10,000
IN STATE BOND FUNDS PER PUPIL TO
THE 20% HIGHEST WEALTH
DISTRICTS, AND LESS THAN HALF TO
THAT OF THE 20% LOWEST WEALTH
DISTRICTS. DESPITE THOSE HIGH
WEALTH DISTRICTS HAVING AN
AVERAGE 16 TIMES MORE LOCAL BOND
CAPACITY TO DRAW FROM FROM TO
MEET THEIR NEEDS. THE MINOR
TWEAKS PROPOSED IN AB TWO, FOUR,
SEVEN AND SB 28 DON'T FIX THE
INEQUITY. TO AVOID LITIGATION
AND ADVANCE A BOND, INCLUDING TC
FACILITIES. THIS YEAR, WE URGE
THE ADOPTION OF A PROGRESSIVE
ALLOCATION SYSTEM THAT REDRESSES
LOCAL WEALTH DISPARITIES RATHER
THAN REPLICATING THEM. WE HAVE
SHARED A BOND ALERT WITH YOU
TODAY VIA EMAIL WHERE YOU CAN
FIND MORE DETAILS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I CERTAINLY
WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM
SAN DIEGO, CHAIRMAN ALVAREZ OF
CHAIRMAN OF THE BUDGET SUB
THREE, AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO BE
ABLE TO BE COLLABORATIVE ON THE
AC, WORK, I WANT TO THANK
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR SOMEHOW FOR
MAKING SURE WE ALL SHOWED UP AND
KEPT THIS BABY GOING ALL DAY, I
ALSO WANT TO THANK, OUR
SERGEANTS AND WANT TO THANK BOTH
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, LAO
DSS, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION. THIS CONCLUDES OUR
SEVEN HOURS OF SEC ISSUES