In The News
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| Press Releases | | 06/11/2009 - | Business Leaders Gather in Houston for Early Education Summit | | | Austin, Texas—June 11, 2009— On June 16, 2009, 7:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. business, education, and community leaders from across Texas will attend the Texas Leadership Summit on Early Education at the United Way of Greater Houston.
Keynote speaker, Robert H. Dugger Ph.D., Chairman of the Partnership for America’s Economic Success will address the audience with the key message that investing in children is investing in Texas’ economic success. His presentation will be followed by a panel of state and national speakers, including:
• Robert G. Lynch Ph.D., Author of Exceptional Returns: Economic, Fiscal, and Social Benefits of Investment in Early Childhood Development
• Marcia Page, President and CEO, Foundation for Community Empowerment
• Ken Zornes, Executive Director, Texas Business and Education Coalition
• Ken Wilson, President, Bank of America, Central and South Texas Market
“The best way we can ask for support from the business community is to provide these leaders with great examples of what works, and how to lead on this issue,” said Kara Johnson Executive Director of the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition (TECEC). “These speakers know what is needed and what can be done to help,” she continued.
The Texas Leadership Summit on Early Education is sponsored by ExxonMobil and is an initiative of TECEC, United Ways of Texas, and United Way of Greater Houston’s Bright Beginnings. The purpose of the event is to build a bridge between business and early education policymakers in Texas. Policymakers and early education experts are attending the event to serve as a resource to business leaders on this important topic.
The summit comes at a particularly interesting time in Texas early education politics, as early education supporters throughout the state are anxiously awaiting that Governor Rick Perry’s HB 130, the popular full-day high-quality pre-k bill that recently passed the Texas Legislature with overwhelming majorities in both the House and the Senate. The Governor has until June 21, 2009 to sign bills into law. After that deadline, pending bills will become law, unless the Governor elects to exercise his veto power.
“HB 130 and the upcoming Leadership Summit reflect the strong bi-partisan support behind early childhood education in Texas,” said Dr. Donald Smith, TECEC Director of Research and Public Policy. “This is an exceptional opportunity for Governor Perry to affirm bi-partisan politics in Texas, while supporting the education of thousands of our youngest Texans. We are hoping we can announce the signing of HB 130 to all of our important guest on June 16,” he continued.
### | | 04/13/2009 - | Catch Dr. Bruce Perry On LivingSmart on Houston PBS/Channel 8-May 10th at 3:00pm and May 15th at 10:00pm | | | Catch Dr. Bruce Perry On LivingSmart on Houston PBS/Channel 8-May 10th at 3:00pm and May 15th at 10:00pm
Living Smart is a weekly, half-hour interview and news magazine program focusing on personal well-being. Living Smart covers spiritual, financial, personal, mental, physical, emotional, and educational aspects of well-being. Living Smart provides a wealth of information to improve your quality of life.
The program features Dr. Bruce Perry, who, for the last 20 years, has been an active teacher, clinician, and researcher in children’s mental health and the neurosciences. He has been the Federal Government’s consultant for incidents involving traumatized children such as Branch Davidian siege, the Columbine school shootings, the September 11th terrorist attack, Katrina and Rita hurricanes, among many others.
Read more about Dr. Bruce Perry here.
Read more about LivingSmart here. | | 04/17/2008 - | House Subcommittee Meeting on Early Childhood Education on April 21 | | | The House Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education, chaired by Rep. Diane Patrick, will meet Monday, April 21, 2008 at 1:00 PM in Room E2.036 at the Texas Capitol. The subcommittee will meet to consider Interim Charge # 3 that will “evaluate early childhood education programs and funding models on students’ school readiness and schools’ operational efficiency.”
| | 01/8/2008 - | Mark Your Calendar: February 1-2 CNBE Early Childhood Seminar | | | | | 08/3/2007 - | Mark Your Calendar: January 11-12 Infant Mental Health Advocacy Conference | | | Mark Your Calendar: January 11-12 Infant Mental Health Advocacy Conference | | 07/26/2007 - | Save the Date for Two Satellite Broadcasts | | | Be sure to mark your calendars now for the TECEC Parent Engagement Satellite Broadcast on August 23, 2007 and the Annual Pre-K Now Satellite Broadcast on October 17, 2007. | | 05/7/2007 - | Bluebonnet School of Cedar Park selected as NACCP 2007 National Child Care Center of the Year | | | Congratulations to the Bluebonnet School of Cedar Park, Texas for being selected as the National Association of Child Care Professionals (NACCP) 2007 National Child Care Center of the Year!
| | 10/8/2003 - | The National Governor's Association (NGA) Presents A Governor's Forum on Quality Preschool | | | The National Governor's Association (NGA) Presents A Governor's Forum on Quality Preschool. The Governor's Forum on Quality Preschool is an event presented by the NGA's Center for Best Practices and hosted by Governor Jeb Bush in Orlando, Florida on December 15-16, 2003. | | 10/8/2003 - | Ten Texas Communities are designated for SB76 Demonstration Sites | | | Dr. Susan Landry, Director of the State Center for Early Childhood Development (SCECD), housed at the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston announced the ten Texas communities who will participate in the Texas Early Education Model: (TEEM): Achieving Higher Levels of School Readiness in Cost Effective Ways. This education model was a part of Senate Bill 76 passed during the last regular session. | | 10/8/2003 - | Check out TECEC's Strategic Plan | | | The mission of the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition is to build a system of quality early care and education that prepares children in Texas for success in their education and life. | | | | Announcements - Coming Events | | 01/21/2004 - | NEW! The Texas Plan | | | The Texas Plan: Enhancing Early Childhood Education and Development The Texas Plan includes preliminary recommendations for a statewide early care and education system that is widely available, sets standards for quality, and advocates for the participation of parents and community. | | 06/11/2003 - | IBM Helps Spark TECEC’s Commitment to Early Care and Education | | | IBM donates computer hardware to TECEC | | | | In The News | | 06/24/2009 - | Gov. Perry Vetoes HB 130: A Message From Kara Johnson | | | As the Executive Director of the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition (TECEC), I wanted to personally thank you for all of your work during the 81st Legislative Session to build a high quality early education system in the state of Texas. As you may already know, TECEC’s priority bill, House Bill 130, was vetoed by Governor Rick Perry at 4:30pm on Friday. House Bill 130 would have ensured access to proven high quality, full day pre-k programs for thousands of military, foster care, homeless, and other at risk children.
Despite politics getting in the way, the Coalition has much to celebrate:
$25 MILLION. In spite of the veto, Texas will still see an additional investment of $25 million to its current pre-k program. This is the largest increase in the country. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will receive the $25 million originally budgeted for HB 130 to spend on other pre-k initiatives. This would not have happened without the tireless work of Coalition advocates.
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT. Despite the veto, House Bill 130 still passed the Texas Legislature with more co-authors than any other bill at the Capitol, and was voted favorably out of both the House and Senate with a two-thirds majority vote. You made this happen! More than 20,000 emails, letters, and faxes were sent to policymakers in support of this legislation. Stay strong, we will need this support as we head back to the Texas Capitol in 2011.
QUALITY MATTTERS. Thanks to HB 130, legislators are committed to quality and understand it can make the difference. House Bill 130 passed the House and Senate with research-based, enhanced quality components such as smaller class sizes, highly trained teachers, lower child to staff ratios, and approved quality curricula.
MEDIA ATTENTION. Throughout the session, every major newspaper in the state of Texas covered the story of HB 130 and the importance of high quality pre-k. Scores of articles were written, including opinion pieces in support of this important piece of legislation. Our advocacy day at the Capitol was covered by radio, television, and video blogs.
This is an important moment in the Texas early education movement. As a Coalition, we are more determined than ever to the development of a high quality early education system for children and families in Texas. Do not let the veto of HB 130 overshadow our other early education wins this session, including: 1) an investment of $25 million to the current Texas pre-k program; 2) the passage of Jacob’s Law to ensure additional training hours for child care providers; 3) additional legislative oversight and contracting transparency for the State Center for Early Childhood Development; 4) parent notification of prekindergarten eligibility; 5) the passage of legislation that ensures Head Start programs in Texas qualify for federal grant funding, such as the "E-Rate Program;" 6) the establishment of a Council on Children and Families; 7) additional funding for Early Childhood School Readiness Programs (TEEM and the School Readiness Certification System); and more.
After six years of success, the early education movement in Texas has grown to be so strong that its only critics are those who opposed any public investment, no matter how solid the research. This resistance is an unfortunate reality. However, with your commitment and passion, I know that Texas, ultimately, will have a high-quality early childhood education system.
This veto will not deter our efforts in the future, in fact it strengthens our resolve. TECEC is already in the process of working with legislators on interim charges related to pre-k and child care, which will ensure solid legislation as we head into 2011. Thank you again for all that you do and congratulations on a successful session.
Sincerely,
Kara Johnson | | 06/22/2009 - | Child Care Minimum Standards Under Review: Please Participate | | | The Department of Family and Protective Services is conducting an evaluation and review of the current minimum standards for child care licensing, and they want your input and feedback. This is a great opportunity to participate in a very important aspect of early education policy creation.
To participate please follow the instructions below
INSTRUCTIONS:
The survey requests that feedback be specific and include the standard number and suggested language for revisions so that we will be able to fully understand how to respond to your input. For example, rather than stating that the child-to-caregiver ratios need to be changed, please state what you think the child-to-caregiver ratios should be.
For the most accurate results, it is important that, once you start the survey, you complete it in full because you cannot restart the survey later from where you left off. Therefore, we highly recommend that you:
1.Think about what changes you recommend for the standards (if any) before going to the survey link, and
2. Have a copy of the standards available as you complete the survey.
HOW TO ACCESS THE SURVEY:
Beginning June 15th, you can access the survey by clicking on this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=pRoQwvC3UuVSbJ7I4MuGxw_3d_3d
You can also access the link to the survey on the DFPS website on or after June 15th. To access the link:
•go to www.dfps.state.tx.us,
•click on “Child Care Licensing,”
•go to the heading "Providers",
•continue down the page to the heading "CCL Surveys", and
•click on "Evaluation/Survey of Day Care Minimum Standards"
If you have problems accessing the survey online, please call your local Licensing office to have a copy of the survey mailed to you.
| | 06/1/2009 - | HB 130 off to the Governor's Desk | | | Austin, Texas, May 28, 2009——Yesterday at 11:50 PM, a bi-partisan effort to support high-quality full-day pre-k in many Texas school districts passed the Senate, 26-5. House Bill 130 ensures an enhanced quality full-day prekindergarten program provided by public school districts in conjunction with community providers and is authored by Representative Diane Patrick (R-Arlington) with Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) sponsoring the bill in the Senate. Many Capitol insiders in Austin are calling HB 130 the most popular bill of the 81st Texas Legislature. The bill set a record in the House with 100 joint authors and co-authors and recently passed the lower chamber by a vote of 106-31.
The next step for the popular pre-k bill is to clear the Governor’s desk. “Our coalition is extremely optimistic that Governor Perry will sign HB 130 into law,” said Kara Johnson, Executive Director of the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition. “A $25 million dollar pre-k investment is an economic development vehicle that will ultimately save taxpayers $87,500,000,” she added.
Supporters of HB 130 cite Texas specific research conducted by the Texas A&M School of Government and Public Service, which found that for every $1.00 invested in high-quality pre-k, at least $3.50 is returned to Texas communities. Savings for taxpayers are realized long-term because children who experience high-quality pre-k have higher rates of high-school graduation, higher earning power as adults, fewer referrals to special education, and significantly less involvement with the criminal justice system.
The new pre-k program is a voluntary pilot project that will benefit currently eligible four year olds in Texas.
HB 130 aims to sustain many school districts’ pre-k programs that are in jeopardy of losing funding for full-day classes. Under HB 130, high quality programs negatively impacted by the changes to Pre-kindergarten Early Start Grant will receive priority in the new funding stream created by the bill. Programs that receive funding under HB 130 must maintain certain new quality
enhancements, including specialized training in early childhood development for pre-k teachers, class size limits of 22 children, and a child to staff ratio of 11 to 1. “HB 130 will protect school districts at risk of losing their full-day pre-k programs,” said Jason Sabo, Vice President of Public Policy for United Ways of Texas. “This bill ensures that these districts are rewarded for providing excellent pre-k programs with valuable state dollars,” he added.
Strong majorities of both Democrats and Republicans have thrown their support behind high-quality full-day pre-k. In signing HB 130 into law, Governor Perry would affirm this bi-partisan effort to strengthen the reach of Texas tax dollars while enhancing the education of our youngest learners.
| | 04/28/2009 - | Register Now for the Texas Child Care Health Consultant Training | | | Healthy Child Care Texas presents Texas Child Care Health Consultant: Training Course Summer 2009 Series.
The training course will be held at 6505 Airport Blvd., Suite 101, Austin, TX 78752 on June 25-26, 2009. Application deadline is May 8, 2009 and more information is listed on the flyer.
Texas Child Care Health Consultant Training Course | | 04/15/2009 - | Participate in the Title V Needs Assessment Study in Texas! | | | The Public Policy Research Institute (PPRI) at Texas A& M University is working with the Texas Department of State Health Services to conduct an assessment of the mental and physical healthcare needs of the families in Texas. Currently, in order to engage the communities in the process of needs assessment, PPRI is conducting community listening sessions in different Texas counties.
To read more about this project click here.
What is Title V?
Listening Sessions Schedule | | 04/9/2009 - | You may be eligible for up to $2,100 on your federal taxes for fiscal year 2008 under the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit | | | You may be eligible for up to $2,100 on your federal taxes for fiscal year 2008 under the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is available to families who paid for child care for dependents under 13 or certain persons who are unable to physically or mentally care for themselves. Depending on your income, the credit can be up to 35 percent of qualifying expenses.
Quick facts about the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=106189,00.html
More information on eligibility
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc602.html
File your federal taxes for free online
http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html | | 04/6/2009 - | 105 legislators have signed on to support HB 130 and SB 21! | | | 93 Representatives have signed on to support HB 130, which was heard in committee on March 24th and we hope to be voted out of committee in the coming week!
12 Senators have signed on to support SB 21, which was heard in committee on March 12th.
For more and information and regular updates on important legislation check out the TECEC Bill Tracking Blog. | | 03/23/2009 - | Director of Head Start Collaboration Office Position Open | | | Director of Texas Head Start State Collaboration office position is currently open for candidates to apply.
Please see the job posting here.
For more information on this postion please contact John W. Gasko, Ph.D. at John.W.Gasko@uth.tmc.edu | | 03/4/2009 - | TECEC provides testimony to the Texas House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education | | | Kara Johnson, TECEC Executive Director, provided testimony on House Bill 130 to the Texas House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.
House Bill 130 supports TECEC's #1 legislative priortity: full-day high-quality pre-k programs with an emphasis on community based partnerships.
You can read Kara's testimony here. | | 01/31/2009 - | Pre-k Day at the Capitol February 17, 2009 | | | Join TECEC and hundreds of advocates from all across the state, for the largest early care and education advocacy event in Texas.
As we have in the past, TECEC will set up a model pre-k classroom in the Capitol Ground Floor Rotunda. This year's pre-k class is from the University of Texas Elementary School, and we couldn't be more excited to have them join us!
We will also conduct a press conference with Texas Legislators on the South Capitol Steps at 11:00 am.
The stronger our voice at the Capitol this year, the greater our chances of making huge gains for young learners in Texas. Please join us for Pre-k Day at the Capitol.
Please feel welcomed to bring your children a long as well. Thanks to a partnership with Texas PBS, our advocates and supporters will have the opportunity to meet famous cartoon characters, Super Why, Maya and Miguel, and Clifford.
To read more about Pre-k Day at the Capitol, please visit our webpage for the event.
See you at the Capitol!
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