Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge 2013 Competition
Governor Phil Bryant has announced Mississippi will be participating in Round 2 of the Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge and has named the State Early Childhood Advisory Council as the lead agency.
ACF explains, “This commitment by the White House, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education is focused on developing and sustaining strong, high quality early learning systems for our youngest citizens that will help to prepare them for school and life. $370 millions of the 2013 funds will support a competition for states to develop new approaches to increase high quality early learning opportunities and close the school readiness gap.” (Click here to download and review the application.)
“Successful State early learning and development systems are built on broad-based stakeholder participation and effective governance structures.”
To strengthen the State’s application to be submitted October 16, 2913, Dr. Laurie Smith, Executive Director of SECAC, is seeking letters of support from all licensed child care providers and has set forth the following goals:
Expand consistent use of early learning standards;
Develop and identify an improved voluntary measure of quality acceptable to providers;
Provide high-quality professional development opportunities;
Scale a high-quality kindergarten assessment to validate child outcomes;
Integrate family and community engagement and support (Parents As Teachers).
Dr. Smith feels the proposal builds upon Mississippi’s new and increasing investment in early learning and guides a more unified approach in the early stages and development of pre-kindergarten education.
“We are excited about the opportunity to apply for the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant. SECAC is committed to serve as the lead agency for the funds if awarded. Support from you is essential to the success of the application. I look forward to working with you as we develop a future system of care for all young children and families.” Dr. Laurie Smith
If you would like to provide a letter of support for the RTT-ELC application, you may follow one or more of the templates provided via Email and send no later than October 12, 2013 to: Laurie.Smith@governor.ms.gov
Open Meeting of the State Early Childhood Advisory Council of Mississippi
The Lead Agency for Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge
October 10, 2013
10:00am – 2:00pm
Woolfolk State Office Building 501 N. West St, Jackson, MS Room 145
Incentives for “Shouting ‘Program Fraud’ in a Crowded Theater”?
Like all private schools and private academies, the child care industry standard throughout the nation is to charge full-time fees for full-time slots- regardless of attendance – in order to cover fixed cost per-childincluding staffing, meals, instruction, accreditation standards, licensing standards, administration and maintenance of facilities, buildings and grounds.
Xerox. the tech systems giant, has created e-Childcare™ which defines child care assistance paid for actual attendance by the hour and possible six-minute increments as accurate payment.(This implies the current Mississippi policy of full-time reimbursement for full-time slots is “attendance related payment error”by the provider.)
I am convinced such a careful play of words is used by some to build public support of this adverse policy by inflaming racial bias, assigningdisparaging stereotypes and insinuating widespread fraud all the while absolving huge “savings” to states and large contracts to Xerox by affectively compensating compliant providers for less. (Click here to see XEROX “Proven Ideas for Tough Times September 2012.)
In its Economic Impact Statement proposing e-Childcare™, the state said it could save up to $18 million annuallyby reducing false attendance claimsby childcare providers.
“It has been tough economic times for the state.This will make more federal dollars available to increase the number of children served through the certificate program,”said Jill Dent, DECCD Director at DHS.
Providers maintain JillDent has spent like a “drunken sailor”during said tough economictimes for the state by awarding$8,000,000 more than federally requiredon quality initiatives to a university and non-profitsin 2012, more than doubling the spending in 2013 to administer a failed QRISand spending more on “quality” than any other DHS administration in this state’s history (with little success to show for it) all the while placing children of the working poor on a waiting list to be served –children who could have been served with that funding!Holding quality spending to the federally required amount of 4% should have been listed as a less stringent manner in which to serve more children in the Economic Impact Statement Dent provided. (Click here to review the 2012 quality spending listed in the current CCDF State Plan, page 7.)
It was not.
ProfessorMichele Estrin Gilmanof the University of Baltimore School of Law writes: “These for-profit entities have different incentives, and more political power, than the nonprofit entities typically engaged in social service delivery in the past.In many contracting schemes, where a set fee is paid to the contractor (Xerox), the more money the provider (DHS) saves, the more money the provider (DHS) gets to keep.This raises incentives for profit-seeking organizations to cut staffs andto implement other cost-savings measures that can impact the quality of service provided.” (Click here to view “Legal Accountability in an Era of Privatized Welfare“.)
The American Civil Liberties Union in Mississippi is researching the legality of the finger scans and the ACLU in Louisiana is also beginning to express concern for Louisiana providers.
And around the country, child care rights advocates watching Mississippi say the finger-scanning policy is troubling.
Under the DECCD leadership of Jill Dent, low-income working families qualifying for child care assistance – the very poorest of the working poor – have not been provided an increase in child care assistance fees since before three Minimum Wage increases.
In Mississippi, less than full-time 2007 market rate “hourly reimbursement fees” for actual attendance electronically submitted to e-Childcare™ for payment will not cover costs per-child or buy access to comparable programs for low-income children. It will likely create disparate impact on a protected group of small child care businesses that do accept and enroll large numbers of low-income children receiving Mississippi child care assistance.
Deloris Suel (child care providers) sued Richard Berry and MDHS for a failure to provide a proper Economic Impact Statement as specifically outlined in the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Act outlining the adverse affect of e-Childcare™ to a specific type of provider – licensed centers.
A Final Hearing will be held Wednesday, August 14, 2013, beginning at 9:00 AM, in Hinds County Chancery Court, 407 East Pascagoula Street, Jackson, MS, Judge Denise Owens presiding.
The plaintiff is represented by Attorney Lisa Ross of Jackson, MS.
Hearing sought to block finger-print scanning system
Written by Jimmie Gates
“An attorney for a Jackson child care center has filed petition in Hinds County Chancery Court seeking an emergency hearing in an attempt to block the Mississippi Department of Human Services from implementing a voluntary fingerprint-scanning system at childcare centers that receive federally subsidized vouchers to provide childcare to children of low-income workers.” (Click here to read more.)
DHS is ready to roll out child care finger scanners
By Courtney Ann Jackson
DHS held a Press Conference today, Wednesday, at 10:00 AM to announce mandatory participation for all providers accepting low-income Certificates of Payment. One Child Care Provider, Lynn Black of Little Leap Academy in Tupelo, and one of her parents spoke of the benefit of reduced absenteeism and finger scan security.
Jill Dent, again, stated the child care provider payment plan was not changing.
Providers feel if that were true, there would be no huge savings for DHS!
Jill Dent has still not met all the requirements of an Economic Impact Statement and has not filed the Proposed Child Care Development Fund State Plan with the Office of the Secretary of State.(Click here to view WLBT coverage.)
Join the conversation on WLBT’s Facebook Page!
Ban the Scan
PRESS CONFERENCE AND RALLY!
Friday 11:00 A.M
Capitol
Jackson, MS
Bring your signs of protest. Lunch will be provided!
TAKE YOUR CHILD CARE LEGAL FUND DONATIONS TO ANY REGIONS BANK
On July 11, 2013, Annjo Lemons, appointed liaison for the State Early Childhood Advisory Council to the Department of Education, reported to SECAC that the implementation of the PreK legislation was being followed “to the letter of the law”(?).
Another member of the Council added that the Q & A following the Department of Ed’s webinar was now posted. (Click here to review):
“Q20: Who was present at the May 23rd internal meeting to discuss the role of the State Early Childhood Advisory Council (SECAC) in PreK implementation and administration? Was SECAC present for the purpose of determining what role it could best provide?
A20: SECAC designated Ann Jo [SIC] Lemons to serve as the liaison. MDE staff and Ann Jo [SIC] Lemons meton this date. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the implementation timeline and the role of SECAC.”
Lines 173 – 175: Participating child care centers shall meet state child care facility licensure requirements as well as have a rating of at least a “3″on the Quality Rating and Improvement Scale.
Lines 158 – 162: Participating childcare centers shall meet state child care facility licensure requirements and each local childhood collaborative council applying for funding shall select a nationally recognized assessment tool designed to document child learning outcomes, which shall be the only additional measure of program quality allowable under the provisions of this act.
(LANGUAGE ALLOWING COLLABORATIVE COUNCILS TO SELECT QUALITY MEASURES WAS STRICKEN BY THE HOUSE.)
Lines 174 – 179: Participating child care centers shall: (a) meet state child care facility licensure requirements unless exempted under Section 43-20-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, and (b) select and utilize a nationally recognized assessment tool, approved by the State Department of Education, designed to document classroom quality, which must be in place not later than July 1, 2016, as certified by the State Department of Education.
(Adopted by Senate/House and Signed by Governor)
June 14, 2013, Email from Robin Lemonis of MDE in Response to this Blog:
“Debbie, I wanted to clarify that we have not sought input from any organization about the Quality Classroom Measure that will be used for the required participation criteria for the purpose of the Early Learning Collaborative RFP. We did meet with Representative Barker and Senator Wigginsto ensure that as the Mississippi Department of Education prepared to implement the Early Learning Collaborative Act, we fully understood the intent of the legislation.
“MDE will release an RFP to establish a list of measures.We will not be requiring the use of one specific measure. We will give the Collaborative the flexibilityto select a measure from a list that will be approved by MDE.”
The intent of the legislation provided by MDE is the language stricken in Conference and not the intent of the legislation passed by both Chambers which was signed into law!
Annjo Lemons is the former Executive Director of Excel by 5.
Brice Wiggins is a founding member of Excel by 5 and his Legislative BIO states he is Chairman of Pascagoula Excel by 5. (Click here.)
Excel by 5 certification for designated communities requires the local communities to have from thirty percent (30%) to sixty percent (60%) of licensed child care facilities participate in the voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement Scale. (Click here.).
According to a RAND Corporation long-term study, QRIS is costly, difficult to administer and does not improve learning or social development for children. (Click here to read.)
Mississippi Building Blocks no longer requires participation in Mississippi’s QRIS.
The Gilmore Foundation, also, dismissed required participation in Mississippi’s QRIS.
Dr. Cathy Grace, also of the Gilmore Foundation but acting as Past President of MsECA, in a Q & A to providers on Senate Bill 2395, posted an MsECA announcement that QRIS would continue through Child Care Development Fund quality grants from DHS. (Click here.)
QRIS is administered by the MSU Early Childhood Institute – Dr. Cathy Grace is the founding member.
CCDF funding to ECI more than doubled this year.
After more than six program years, there are only 65 “rated” facilities in the State.
On May 8, 2013, Robin Lemonis of MDE- using MDE equipment while on MDE time-distributed MsECA conference information announcing the authors of ITERS (QRIS) and ECERS (QRIS) as presenters. (Click here to review.)
The four SB 2395 child care providers, one from each Congressional District, to be appointed to SECAC effective July 1, 2013, have not yet been appointed and were not seated for the July 11, 2013, SECAC meeting.
Mark Your Calendars!
A Mississippi Child Care Coalition Press Conferenceis scheduled for Friday, July 26, 2013.
A Mississippi Child Care Coalition Meetingwith Congressman Bennie Thompson and State Legislators is scheduled for Sunday, August 4, 2013 at 3:00 PM in Holmes Hall on the campus of Tougaloo College.
Clarion-Ledger Today: “Child care providers raise concerns over state rating system.”
On May 24, 2013, Jill Dent sent an email to SECAC members announcing a June 17, 2013 public hearing for the 2014 & 2015 Child Care Development Fund State Plan. At that same time, she announced:
“The plan will be posted soon on the DECCD website at:
As of June 17, 2013, in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act, the plan had not been filed with the Secretary of State and although eventually posted on the MDHS web site, 25 days were not allowedfor public comment and certainly, the oral proceeding was held prematurely.
(1)For at least twenty-five (25) days after proper filing with the Secretary of Stateof the notice of proposed rule adoption, an agency shall afford persons the opportunity to submit, in writing, argument, data and views on the proposed rule.
(2) (a) An agency, in its discretion, may schedule an oral proceeding on any proposed rule. However, an agency shall schedule an oral proceeding on a proposed rule if, within twenty (20) days after the proper filing of the notice of proposed rule adoption, a written request for an oral proceeding is submitted by a political subdivision, an agency or ten (10) persons. At that proceeding, persons may present oral or written argument, data and views on the proposed rule. (b) An oral proceeding on a proposed rule, if required, may not be held earlier than twenty (20) days after notice of its location and time is properly filed with the Secretary of State for publication in the administrative bulletin.”
Although DECCD is in full swing of implementing XEROX e-Childcare™ finger scan equipment, there was no mention of the system or of the Tracking of Time & Attendance in the CCDF State Plan Draftprepared by Jill Dent and “presented” to members of SECAC.
Child Care Providers were greeted and “stood over” by an MDHS Program Integrity Officer wearing a badge and loaded service revolver.
Some providers in attendance chose not to speak.
DECCD Director Jill Dent did not attend.
DHS does not communicate additional detail to private citizens or answer questions during the fair rule making process of public hearings or period of written comment.
“Best Practices” from Jill Dent and DECCD should have included a timeline for adopting the New form of CCDF State Plan revised to provide reporting in a much more accountable and transparent way beginning August 1, 2013 – and SECAC members touting provider accountability for public dollars should have advised her in such a way.
All are culpable.
Once again, disregard for child care providers and private citizens has been demonstrated.
To follow is a letter issued to individual providers by DECCD on the same day of the Public Hearing and an invitation to Mississippi business owners from Congressman Bennie Thompson for a July 2nd event, RSVP required. Click here to confirm attendance via email: BGTACA02@gmail.com .
A Long Overdue Pay Raise for Teachers? Don’t Forget Increases in Child Care Assistance to Low-Income Parents!
In anticipation of the scheduled Monday vote on HB 781 PreK Collaboration opposed by the Mississippi Association of Licensed Child Care Providers, representatives of child care groups and organizations across the state were holed up in the gallery of the House of Representatives at the state Capitol late Monday afternoon when Representative Linda Whittington and Representative Steve Holland jumped into the fray and spoke of the need for teacher pay raises in discussion of HB 890 aimed at improving elementary students’ reading.
Suddenly, it was amended to add a $5,000 across-the-board pay raise for, starting July 1.
The pay-raise proposal is unlikely to survive the entire legislative process, but as a former underpaid reading teacher, it was exciting to watch…and film.
Low-income parents have also not received an increase in child care assistance since 2007 prior to three Minimum Wage increases which greatly drove tuition fees higher.
So, how about it, Legislators? Will you give these low-wage working mothers a helping hand up?
(Due to the tornado that struck Hattiesburg Sunday, Representative Barker and others were busy with recovery and clean up in their home district and unable to travel to the Capitol. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and the members of the Pine Belt Child Care Association. The vote on HB 781 has not yet been held. )
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