Budget Amendment ID: FY2014-S3-162

GOV 162

Preschool Initiative

Messrs. McGee and Downing and Ms. Candaras, Ms. Donoghue and Ms. Chang-Diaz and Messrs. Knapik and Brownsberger and Ms. Clark and Mr. Finegold moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 3000-4070, Mr. McGee moved that the bill be amended, in section 2, in item 3000-4070, by inserting after the words “may be transferred to item 3000-4060”, the following words: “; provided further, that funds may be used for quality improvements intended to improve the educational quality and outcomes for the students so funded; provided, that services shall be provided through vouchers or contracts within a publicly funded, mixed delivery system; provided further, that a key goal of that system shall be contributing to third grade reading proficiency; provided further, that the department shall collaborate with the department of elementary and secondary education in establishing standards that ensure such proficiency by third grade; provided further, that the department shall collaborate with the executive office of health and human services in establishing standards that ensure children provided services under this item meet age-appropriate developmental intellectual, emotional, social and psychological goals; provided further, that the department shall promote high quality education and care by setting voucher and contract rates and other requirements under this program using the QRIS; provided further, that funds may also be expended for quality improvement initiatives to ensure the highest educational quality among providers of early education and care and to assist early educators and providers in attaining higher levels of proficiency, skill and quality as measured by the QRIS; provided further, that funds may be expended on early educator scholarships, intentional professional development, classroom based grants to enhance the quality of education and care provided to recipients of voucher and contract care and such additional measures as the department deems necessary to achieving kindergarten readiness and third grade reading proficiency for every child served; provided further, that funds may be expended for a K1 pilot grant program, which shall assist districts in gateway cities or which have achievement gaps, and level three and four schools, in offering education on a voluntary basis to all four year olds served by the school or district; provided further, the funds may be expended to provide birth to grade three services in the commonwealth which will sustain and build upon improved early learning outcomes throughout the early elementary school years; provided further, that the department shall work with the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of higher education to prepare children for school success by reviewing approaches for a birth to grade three system that include resources for cross-sector work, administrator quality and capacity, teacher and teaching quality, instructional tools, learning environment, data-driven improvement, engaged families and access, transitions and pathways; provided further, that the department and the department of elementary and secondary education shall work together to align and clearly define the expectations of learning for children and to develop common standards and an assessment system to monitor and report student progress; provided further, that the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of higher education shall review instructional tools and practices, including curriculum content, alignment of standards and curricula, and pedagogical methods to foster teacher/early educator collaboration and develop shared and intentional professional development and instructional competencies; provided further, that the department shall provide monthly updates not later than the first day of every month to the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education, the chairs of the house and senate ways and means committees and the secretary of education on the number of children provided services by this appropriation, the quality ratings of the placements provided, the number of children found ineligible for services and removed from the wait list during the validation process, the number of children of pre-school age added to the wait list during the previous month and the net change to the wait list over that month; and provided further, that the department shall work jointly with the department of elementary and secondary education and the chief information officer of the secretariat of education to ensure longitudinal analysis of the educational efficacy of the education and care provided through this account and the success of children so served at attaining reading proficiency by third grade” ; and in said item, by striking out the figure “$15,000,000" and inserting in place thereof the figure “17,500,000".