|
PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
INTERIM COMMITTEE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOL READINESS
| Date |
08/10/2021 |
| Attendance |
| Kipp |
X |
| Kirkmeyer |
* |
| Story |
E |
| Van Beber |
X |
| Sirota |
X |
| Buckner |
X |
|
| Time |
10:10:47 AM to 03:19:03 PM |
| Place |
SCR 357 |
| This Meeting was called to order by |
Buckner |
| This Report was prepared by |
Nina Forbes |
|
| Hearing Items |
Action Taken |
| hGeneral Updates and Overview of Early Childhood Efforts in Colorado |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hLunch Break |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hLandscape of Early Child Care in Colorado and the Impacts of COVID-19 |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hInterim Committee Early Childhood and School Readiness Public Testimony |
Committee Discussion Only |
|
|
General Updates and Overview of Early Childhood Efforts in Colorado - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
10:11:09 AM |
Susan Steele, President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Buell Foundation and Early Childhood
Leadership Commission (ECLC) Co-Chair, and Kristina Heyl, Director of the
ECLC, gave an overview of the ECLC's purpose and work and shared how the
ECLC is planning for the Universal Preschool Program and the new Department
for Early Childhood. The presentation is included as Attachment A.
|
|
10:28:56 AM |
Ms. Heyl and Ms.
Steele answered questions from the commission.
|
|
10:29:55 AM |
The commission took
a brief recess.
|
|
10:48:03 AM |
The commission came
back to order.
Mary Alice Cohen,
Director of the Colorado Department of Human Services Office of Early Childhood
(OEC), Grace Eckel, OEC Senior Policy Advisor, and Lisa Castiglia, OEC
Director of Operations, presented an overview of the OEC's recent and upcoming
work, particularly the transition to universal preschool, as well as an
overview of how federal stimulus funding is being used. The presentation
is included as Attachment B and additional materials are included as Attachments
C-F.
|
|
11:03:50 AM |
The panel answered
questions from the commission.
|
|
11:20:03 AM |
The panel answered
further questions from the commission.
|
|
11:51:29 AM |
The panel answered
additional questions from the commission.
|
|
12:02:58 PM |
The commission took
a recess for lunch.
|
Lunch Break - Committee Discussion Only
Landscape of Early Child Care in Colorado and the Impacts of COVID-19 - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
01:23:42 PM |
Chair Buckner called
the commission back to order.
|
|
01:25:28 PM |
Jennifer Stedron, Executive Director of
Early Milestones, and Nicole Riehl, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) presented on the
landscape of early child care in Colorado and the impacts of COVID-19.
|
|
01:37:16 PM |
Ms. Stedron presented
survey findings on Wave 2 of Early Milestone's COVID-19 survey on the early
childhood education sector and families. The presentation is included
as Attachment G. Ms. Stedron answered questions from the commission.
|
|
01:51:36 PM |
Ms. Riehl presented
on EPIC's mission and the impacts of COVID-19 on employers, the workforce,
and child care. Ms. Riehl answered questions from the commission.
|
|
02:09:14 PM |
Bill Jaeger, Vice President of Early Childhood and Policy Initiatives at the Colorado Childrenâs Campaign, Gina Nocera, Vice President of Community Impact at Mile High United Way, and Chris Brown, Vice President of Policy and Research at Common Sense Institute presented on the landscape of early child care in Colorado and the impacts of COVID-19.
|
|
02:11:08 PM |
Mr. Jaeger presented
data trends in child well-being both pre-pandemic and over the course of
the COVID-19 pandemic. The presentation is included as Attachment
H.
|
|
02:29:13 PM |
Ms. Nocera presented
on research findings on family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) care in Colorado
in 2020. The presentation is included as Attachment I. Ms.
Nocera answered questions from the commission.
|
|
02:54:55 PM |
Mr. Brown presented on the "she-cession,"
which is the reduction in female employment numbers in Colorado's workforce
as a result of COVID-19. He discussed the connection this job loss
has on mothers in particular The presentation is included as Attachment
J. Mr. Brown answered questions from the commission.
|
Interim Committee Early Childhood and School Readiness Public Testimony - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
03:16:25 PM |
There was no public testimony.
|
| 03:17:04 PM |
Chair Buckner and Vice-Chair Sirota gave closing remarks.
|
| 03:19:03 PM |
The committee adjourned. |
