FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 13, 2019
Delaware State Senate Majority Caucus
Contact: Scott Goss (302) 744-4180, or
Dylan McDowell (302) 744-4282
Delaware State Senate Majority Caucus
Contact: Scott Goss (302) 744-4180, or
Dylan McDowell (302) 744-4282
Senate passes bill to simply oversight of early childhood education programs
DOVER – Legislation aimed at consolidating and simplifying state oversight of early childhood education programs in Delaware cleared the Senate on Thursday by a unanimous vote.
“Every study out there says our children have a vastly better chance of success the earlier we begin teaching them,” said House Majority Leader Nicole Poore, D-New Castle, the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 103.
“But right now, governance of early childhood programs in Delaware is fragmented across three state agencies,” she said. “I want to thank my partners at the Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families for joining me in this first, critical step towards making sure we are providing the best possible start in life for our youngest citizens.”
In Delaware, most early learning programs for children between birth and age 5 are offered by Head Start programs or private child care providers. Many of those programs are focused on helping children living in poverty close the gap with their peers before they reach kindergarten.
Those programs now are required to meet two sets of standards required by two separate state agencies: regulations from the Office of Child Care Licensing housed in the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families and quality standards set by the Delaware Stars for Early Success program, Delaware’s quality rating and improvement system managed by the University of Delaware on behalf of the state Department of Education.
Those parallel regulations require providers to adhere to two sets of standards, maintain two sets of student records and work with two compliance specialists, a system that produces two sets of data not currently shared across state agencies for consistent, informed decisions.
Introduced in May, Senate Bill 103 would move the Office of Child Care Licensing and its 23 positions into the Department of Education, creating a more unified system mirroring the governance of early childhood programs used in other states such as Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington.
The legislation also directs DOE to ensure that the Delaware Stars program standards are consistent with OCCL regulations once that process is complete. An amendment supported by both DOE and the Kids Department also clarifies how that transition will unfold and gives the agencies until July 1, 2020, to complete most of the changeover.
“Early childhood is one of the most important stages of life when it comes to development. That’s why we have to ensure that Delaware’s childcare facilities give our kids the best opportunity to succeed,” said Rep. Kim Williams, D-Newport. “These standards allow us to hold providers accountable in a uniform way to help all Delawareans.”
DOE Secretary Susan Bunting thanked Sen. Poore for running Senate Bill 103.
“This move has been requested by stakeholders for years, and this kind of streamlined governance is great for children, families, and providers,” she said.
“Every study out there says our children have a vastly better chance of success the earlier we begin teaching them,” said House Majority Leader Nicole Poore, D-New Castle, the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 103.
“But right now, governance of early childhood programs in Delaware is fragmented across three state agencies,” she said. “I want to thank my partners at the Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families for joining me in this first, critical step towards making sure we are providing the best possible start in life for our youngest citizens.”
In Delaware, most early learning programs for children between birth and age 5 are offered by Head Start programs or private child care providers. Many of those programs are focused on helping children living in poverty close the gap with their peers before they reach kindergarten.
Those programs now are required to meet two sets of standards required by two separate state agencies: regulations from the Office of Child Care Licensing housed in the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families and quality standards set by the Delaware Stars for Early Success program, Delaware’s quality rating and improvement system managed by the University of Delaware on behalf of the state Department of Education.
Those parallel regulations require providers to adhere to two sets of standards, maintain two sets of student records and work with two compliance specialists, a system that produces two sets of data not currently shared across state agencies for consistent, informed decisions.
Introduced in May, Senate Bill 103 would move the Office of Child Care Licensing and its 23 positions into the Department of Education, creating a more unified system mirroring the governance of early childhood programs used in other states such as Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington.
The legislation also directs DOE to ensure that the Delaware Stars program standards are consistent with OCCL regulations once that process is complete. An amendment supported by both DOE and the Kids Department also clarifies how that transition will unfold and gives the agencies until July 1, 2020, to complete most of the changeover.
“Early childhood is one of the most important stages of life when it comes to development. That’s why we have to ensure that Delaware’s childcare facilities give our kids the best opportunity to succeed,” said Rep. Kim Williams, D-Newport. “These standards allow us to hold providers accountable in a uniform way to help all Delawareans.”
DOE Secretary Susan Bunting thanked Sen. Poore for running Senate Bill 103.
“This move has been requested by stakeholders for years, and this kind of streamlined governance is great for children, families, and providers,” she said.
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Press Contacts
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
scott.goss@delaware.gov
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
dylan.mcdowell@delaware.gov
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
scott.goss@delaware.gov
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
dylan.mcdowell@delaware.gov