Early Childhood Development and Education in Texas: Where Weve Been, Where We Are, and Where We Need

1
Early Childhood Development and Education in
Texas Where Weve Been, Where We Are, and Where
We Need to Go

• Voices for Children San Antonio Congress on
  Children
• September 23, 2005

2
The Changing Face of Texas

• 1 in every 12 children born in the US is born in
  Texas
• By 2040, the number of families living in poverty
  in Texas is projected to increase by 274
• By 2040, school enrollment is projected to double
• By 2040, it is estimated that 30 of the labor
  force in Texas will not have a high school diploma

3
What is TECEC?

• A unique statewide collaboration dedicated to
  improving the early childhood education system in
  Texas
• A collective of 200 investors
• Authors of The Texas Plan
• A clearinghouse dedicated to disseminating vital
  information regarding
• Legislation at the federal, state and local
  levels
• Promising models based on sound research
• Funding opportunities
• Events and Conferences
• Cutting edge research findings

4
79th Legislative Session

• Public school finance, CPS reform, integrated
  eligibility, restoration of cuts
• Approximately 50 early care and education bills
  filed
• TECEC played key role in passage of 3 out of 4
  priorities including SB23, HB2808 and HB2048
• Defeated attempt to remove the graduated
  reimbursement rates for Texas Rising Star
  Providers

5
What is The Texas Plan?

• The Texas Plan provides a detailed proposal for
  a voluntary, integrated system of quality early
  childhood education and development called the
  Statewide Early Education System (Texas SEEDS),
  for ALL children aged birth to five in the state.
  
• The Plan is grounded in well developed research
  and promising preschool models and is tailored to
  address Texas unique demographic and economic
  challenges.

6
Challenges

• Budget cuts at federal and state levels
• Number of children growing up in poverty in Texas
  is increasing
• Role of government is fundamentally changing
• State agency consolidation and reorganization
• Federal reauthorization of Head Start, Child Care
  and TANF stalled

7
Opportunities

• National movement to expand preschool services is
  occurring
• Early care and education field is more unified
  than ever
• Early childhood education has emerged as one of
  few bipartisan issues in Texas
• 2006 Elections
• Election year brings opportunities to educate
  media

8
Next Steps

• YOU have a role to play!
• Your VOICES now will make the difference in 2007
• Build RELATIONSHIPS with legislators and staff
• Who represents ME? http//www.capitol.state.tx.us/
  fyi/fyi.htm

9
San Antonio Delegation

• Senator Madla
• Senator Zaffirini
• Senator Wentworth
• Senator Van De Putte
• Representative Casteel
• Representative Martinez Fischer
• Representative Leibowitz

• Representative Uresti
• Representative Puente
• Representative McClendon
• Representative Straus
• Representative Corte
• Representative Villarreal
• Representative Menendez
• Representative Castro

10
Economic analysis tells us that early childhood
education is a sound investment of limited
resources. Scientific research tells us that it
is an effective strategy to improve educational
outcomes. Common sense tells us that it is what
children need. --Mary Espinall, President
Genzyme Genetics
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Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition

• Kaitlin Guthrow, Executive Director
• kguthrow_at_tecec.org
• 316 West 12th, Suite 105
• Austin, Texas 78701
• Ph. 512.476.7939
• Fax [phone]
• www.tecec.org