Early Education and Care Assessment and Related Programs

Funding for the Early Education and Care Assessment will continue the work on a two year project aimed at improving the delivery of child care and early education services to families. The first year of the assessment was funded in 1599-0500. The assessment was conducted by a nonprofit organization with experience conducting reviews of state-subsidized child care programs.

Main goals of the Early Education and Care Assessment include:

• improving efficiency in the distribution of child care
• analyzing the needs of families in different parts of the state
• evaluating the balance between the child care needs of the child and the workforce needs of the parents

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) will report to the house and senate committees on ways and means about the selection process before hiring a nonprofit to conduct the assessment. The organization that is chosen will first lay out a research plan informed through interviews, focus groups, and a study of current practices. A progress report with preliminary findings is due on March 3, 2014. Funding for this project through the FY 2014 budget will be available until June 30, 2015. Funding was not provided in FY 2015, but was provided in the FY 2016 budget.