MAISA Early Childhood Education & Care Committee
August 25, 2005
Notes

Attendance: Sally Vaughn, William Mayes, Sue Javid, Bernie Stankewicz, Wayne Buletza, Joan Firestone, Elaine Smiley, Carol Ill, Mike Dewey, Michelle Nicholson, Lena Montgomery, Jackie Wood, Rich Van Tol and, via remote sites: Whitney Pavlov, Johanna Oswald, Jill Iskow, Martha Navarro

Guest: Bob Parks

Born Learning Update – Bob Parks

• PSAs have started in most media markets.
• A steering committee has been formed to better coordinate and facilitate the campaign across the state. The first meeting will be held September 15, 2005.
• Monthly teleconference calls hosted by MAUW and Bob Parks will continue in order to update the field on the project as it develops.

ECIC & Great Start Collaboratives Update – Sally Vaughn

• Governor Granholm has announced her appointment for the ECIC Executive Committee. Sally distributed the list. A national search is being conducted to recruit a Director.
• Based on the CAN retreat, Great Start Collaboratives (GSC) will have to comply with a variety of performance standards and demonstrate “readiness” in order to become a GSC. There are concerns about whether or not the performance standards will be realistic given the modest amount of funding available.
• Presently, due to funding issues, rather than 7 pilot GSCs, it’s looking more like there will only be 5 pilot sites (Branch ISD will probably be one of the pilot sites).

Early On Redesign Update – Joan Firestone

• Michigan was a birth mandate state for sp. ed. before the federal Early On legislation.
• Individual states have the authority to broaden the eligibility definition for Early On. Michigan, traditionally more progressive in recognizing the need for early intervention and prevention, has been more liberal in defining eligibility for Early On, i.e., any child under the norm could be considered at-risk of developmentally delayed, hence, nearly 49% of state’s 0-3 population could potentially be eligible.
• Under the current system, the state does not have the financial resources to serve the entire potential population. In fact, the state is already identifying far more children than it can serve with any degree of quality. Moreover, because of the scope of the unfunded mandate, it puts the state at-risk in terms of lawsuits and liability.
• There needs to be a balance between Early On resources/funding and the number of children the system can serve.
• Under Part C of IDEA, the feds. have been pushing the state to make changes.
• Early On Redesign is a statewide attempt at becoming more compliant with the federal law.
• Joan Firestone and Elaine Smiley will work on a draft position paper (i.e., White Paper) addressing some of these concerns, including some recommendations. In mid to late September, the MAISA ECE & C committee will review the paper, make any necessary edits, and will formally present it to the State Interagency Coordinating Council, via Johanna Oswald as a SICC member. This will be accomplished in partnership with Don Spence and the Programs/Services Committee.

Goals for 2005-2006 – Whole Committee

• The committee reviewed last year’s goals and started the process of developing its goals for 2005-2006.
• Our goals this year will incorporate partnerships with the work being done relative to the Born Learning Campaign (i.e., Social marketing) and the ECIC.
• The committee will spend more time in September on crafting the language for our goals, while also determining how each will be measured.

Roles/Responsibilities of Committee Members – Sally Vaughn

• Sally reminded the committee that we each represent a region, including our constituent ISDs and LEAs. We need to make sure we are all sharing our work and pertinent information with colleagues in our respective regions.

For the good of the order:
Sue Javid distributed order forms for free brochures from the Children’s Home Society of California.


Future Meetings Dates/Time

All meetings at the MASA Conference Room
September 22 from 10 a.m. to noon
October 27 from 10 a.m. to noon
November 29 from 12:30 to 2:30 (CHANGED FROM NOV 28 from 10 to noon)
February 1 from 1:30 to 3:30 (CHANGED FROM JAN 26 from 10 to noon)
March 23 from 10 a.m. to noon
May 18 from 10 a.m. to noon