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EDDE1D285611A7CD87258791006E9BFB Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For PRESENTATION BY THE TRANSITION WORKING GROUP ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TRANSITION PLAN REPORT

INTERIM COMMITTEE  EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOL READINESS
Date Nov 18, 2021      
Location SCR 357



Presentation by the Transition Working Group on the Department of Early Childhood Transition Plan Report - Committee Discussion Only

01:08:11 PM  
Tom Massey, Deputy
Executive Director of Healthcare Policy and Financing and Early Childhood
Leadership Commission (ECLC) Co-Chair; Dr. Pamela Harris, President &
CEO of Mile High Early Learning and ECLC Co-Chair; and Ben Henderson, Director
of Operations and Cabinet Affairs at the Office of the Governor, introduced
themselves and began their presentation on the Transition Working Group's
(TWG) work on the creation and transition of the Department of Early Childhood
(DEC). Their presentation is included as Attachment A and the Transition
Plan Report is included as Attachment B.

01:11:20 PM  
Mr. Henderson gave
an overview of House Bill 21-1304, which created the DEC, and spoke about
the transition planning and stakeholder engagement process.
 
01:14:27 PM  
Dr. Harris gave an
overview of the TWG's recommendations for the DEC transition process. The
first recommendation focuses on the proposed Mission, Vision, Values, and
Guiding Principles of the new department.

01:20:12 PM  
Dr. Harris presented
on additional TWG recommendations from the report, including: maintaining
the advisory role of the ECLC and establishing a Rules and Regulations
Advisory Council to advise the Executive Director on rules and regulations.
 Mr. Henderson and Mr. Massey answered questions from the committee.
 
01:32:11 PM  
Dr. Harris continued
to present on the recommendations, including: building a diverse, equity-driven,
expert leadership team and and overview of the programs and services recommended
for transfer to DEC. Mary Alice Cohen, Director of the Office of Early
Childhood, and Mr. Henderson answered questions from the committee on program
and service transfers.
02:11:14 PM  
Mr. Massey continued
to present on the recommendations, including: providing DEC with fiscal
authority and regulatory power; re-evaluating program movement to DEC by
2025; addressing feedback on preschool special education; establishing
close collaborations to strengthen coordination and promote alignment;
addressing the five identified funding challenges; utilizing technology
and data to make informed decisions; and addressing workforce challenges.
02:24:22 PM  
Mr. Massey presented on what is next for the DEC transition and the stakeholder engagement process.
02:26:43 PM  
Mr. Massey, Dr. Harris, and Mr. Henderson answered questions from the committee.






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