Preschool-For-All Workforce Development and Cost Study Legislation Passes California Legislature
On Friday, August 27th, the California Assembly and Senate passed AB 712 (Steinberg, Chan, Daucher, Liu), important preschool-for-all legislation creating a comprehensive workforce development plan and a study on the cost of a preschool-for-all program in California. One of the most critical components of planning for preschool for all will be the development of an infrastructure in California for educating a culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse instructional workforce that is adequately compensated to attract and retain quality professionals. We urge preschool-for-all advocates across the state to write the Governor to voice their support for preschool for all and urge him to sign AB 712 into law.
If it becomes law, AB 712 will:
1. Create a Workforce Development Blue Ribbon Committee and require the Committee by January 1, 2006, to create a workforce development plan that ?“develops an infrastructure for educating, preparing, and supporting a well-trained, culturally and linguistically diverse teaching and administrative staff to work in high-quality early care and education programs, Preschool for All programs, and kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive.?”
2. Require the First 5 California Children and Families Commission, subject to the Commission?’s approval, to undertake a study of the estimated cost of a voluntary preschool-for-all program in California by November 1, 2005.
Please find attached a copy of the text of AB 712 and click here for a link to California?’s legislative tracking website (enter 712 in search field) that contains a complete legislative history as well as the text and summaries of the bill.
Background
AB 712 was passed by a 61-to-19 vote in the Assembly and a 22-to-13 vote in the Senate during the final hours of the legislative session. The bill had bipartisan support with 13 of the 83 ?“aye?” votes cast by Republicans. The centerpiece of AB 712, the creation of a Workforce Development Blue Ribbon Committee, was originally part of comprehensive preschool-for-all framework legislation, AB 56 (Steinberg, Chan, Daucher, Liu), considered during this legislative session and most recently by the Master Plan for Education Conference Committee. When the legislative deadline for reporting AB 56 out of the conference committee was not met, AB 712 was identified as an alternative legislative vehicle for a more narrowly focused bill.
Workforce Development Blue Ribbon Committee
The Workforce Development Blue Ribbon Committee will include experts in early care and education, parents and representatives from key governmental agencies and all levels of higher education. Representatives from the early care and education field will include administrators, teachers, providers, and experts in early childhood development and research. The Blue Ribbon Committee, to be convened under the First 5 California Children and Families Commission, will be charged with the creation of a plan that shall include recommendations:
Identifying core competencies for teachers and administrators to achieve desired child outcomes;
Fostering continuity among all educational systems and aligning college instruction to provide curriculum in early care and education at all levels of the postsecondary educational system;
Establishing a framework for teacher certification in early care and education and developing ongoing professional development requirements;
Defining strategies to ensure professional development and educational opportunities and pathways for the involvement of the broad range of existing early care and education professionals, including family child care homes and center-based providers;
Developing strategies to recruit and retain teachers who reflect the ethnic, racial, linguistic and cultural diversity of California families;
Providing financial assistance and academic support for current and prospective preschool personnel to meet educational requirements with a focus on meeting the linguistic, cultural, and special needs of children; and
Providing compensation incentives to reward educational attainment.
A Call to Action
To show your support for AB 712, please write a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger at the address below. Please forward a copy of your correspondence to swiesbrock@preschoolcalifornia.org or fax to (510) 271-0707. Attached is a sample letter that you can use as a template in creating your own letter. Please personalize your correspondence and share with the Governor your unique perspective on why California needs preschool for all and the importance of signing AB 712.
Thank you for speaking on behalf of California children.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor?’s Office
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-2481 (phone)
(916) 445-4633 (fax)
SAMPLE LETTER: Please use this letter as a template and personalize according to your own experience and focus. We?’ve suggested a spot after the first paragraph where personal language would fit well.
[Date]
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor?’s Office
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
I?’m writing to urge your leadership on improving the lives of California children. On your desk sits AB 712 (Steinberg, Chan, Daucher and Liu), important preschool-for-all legislation creating a plan for the development of a well qualified and diverse teaching force for California?’s young children and a study of the cost of proving quality voluntary preschool for all. By signing this bill into law you will enable California to take key steps in developing the infrastructure necessary for the creation of a system to make quality, voluntary preschool available to all of California?’s children.
(HERE IS A GOOD PLACE TO INSERT A BRIEF PARAGRAPH PERSONALIZING YOUR SUPPORT FOR PRESCHOOL FOR ALL, i.e., ?“As a parent (or teacher), I can tell you how much California needs to begin the work of making preschool available to all California families?…?”)
AB 712 would accomplish the following important goals:
Convene a Workforce Development Blue Ribbon Committee to establish a plan for developing an infrastructure for educating and supporting a well-trained, culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse early care and education teaching and administrative staff for children from birth to age eight; and
Require the California Children and Families Commission to undertake a study of the estimated cost of a voluntary preschool-for-all program in California by November 1, 2005.
I applaud the work of Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg and the other authors of AB 712 for their leadership in building a foundation for preschool for all. One of the most critical planning components will be the development of a diverse teacher corps that is adequately compensated to attract and retain quality professionals. AB 712 will launch this process.
I look forward to your support of this bill and to your leadership on the critical effort to make preschool available to all California 4-year-olds whose parents want to enroll them. Creating a preschool-for-all system in California will mark a strategic investment in the children and families of California, bringing proven economic and social benefits that will strengthen the entire state. Please sign AB 712.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Phone Number]
[E-mail Address]