Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today signed Executive Order 08-14, creating the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care (“Early Childhood Advisory Council”). Federal law authorizes creation and assigns responsibilities to the advisory council. The 2008 legislature enacted a law to include legislators as members of the council, adding responsibilities and appropriating funds to support the council. The Governor’s executive order was needed to formally create the advisory council and define the administrative parameters for the advisory council.

The following is the text of the Governor’s order:

EXECUTIVE ORDER 08-14

CREATING THE STATE ADVISORY
COUNCIL ON EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION AND CARE

WHEREAS, kindergarten readiness is important to overall success in school and improving the school readiness of our youngest children continues to be a priority of my administration; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota’s young children and their families will benefit from an early childhood education and care system that supports school readiness, ensures access for eligible children and families seeking services, maximizes existing resources and aligns resources with outcomes; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, Public Law 110-134, the Governor is authorized to establish a state advisory council on early childhood education and care; and

WHEREAS, the Minnesota State Legislature enacted a new statute, Minnesota Statutes 2008, Section 124D.141 as part of the 2008 Omnibus Supplemental Budget Act which adds legislators to the state early childhood education and care advisory council, appropriates funds and provides other directives in relation to the advisory council, but which did not expressly create the advisory council or define the appointment or administrative parameters for the advisory council; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to use the Governor’s authority to create advisory councils by executive order to establish the state advisory council on early childhood education and care referenced in state and federal statutes.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2006, Section 15.0593, I hereby order the creation of the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care (“Early Childhood Advisory Council”).

1. The Governor will appoint members to the Early Childhood Advisory Council to include:

a. Two parents with a child under age six;

b. A representative of the State agency responsible for child care;

c. A representative of the State educational agency;

d. A representative of local educational agencies;

e. A representative of institutions of higher education in the State;

f. A representative of local providers of early childhood education and development services;

g. A representative from Head Start agencies located in the State;

h. The State Director of Head Start Collaboration;

i. A representative of the State agency responsible for programs under section 619 or Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;

j. A representative of the State agency responsible for health or mental health care; and

k. Up to an additional four parent or public members as determined by the Governor.

2. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2008, Section 124D.141, Subdivision 1, the Legislature will appoint four additional members to the Early Childhood Advisory Council as follows:

a. Two members of the Minnesota House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of the House and one appointed by the Minority Leader; and

b. Two members of the Minnesota Senate appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration, including one member of the minority.

c. Any compensation of legislative members will be from funds appropriated to the Legislature and governed by the rules of the Legislature. The Legislature will determine the term of members appointed by the Legislature.

3. The Governor will appoint one of the members appointed by the Governor to serve as the chair of the Early Childhood Advisory Council. The members appointed by the Governor will serve at the pleasure of the Governor and the Governor will fill any vacancies. Members appointed by the Governor will serve two or four year terms.

4. The Early Childhood Advisory Council has the following responsibilities pursuant to the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, Public Law 110-134:

a. Conduct a periodic statewide needs assessment concerning the quality and availability of early childhood education and development programs and services;

b. Identify opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration and coordination among federally-funded and state-funded child development, child care and early childhood education programs and services, including collaboration and coordination among state agencies responsible for administering such programs;

c. Develop recommendations for increasing the overall participation of children in existing programs, including outreach to underrepresented and special populations;

d. Develop recommendations regarding the establishment of a unified data collection system for public early childhood education and development programs;

e. Develop recommendations regarding statewide professional development and career advancement plans for early childhood educators;

f. Assess the capacity and effectiveness of two- and four-year public and private institutions of higher education toward supporting the development of early childhood educators; and

g. Make recommendations for improvements in state early learning standards and undertake efforts to develop high-quality comprehensive early learning standards, as appropriate.

5. The Early Childhood Advisory Council has the following responsibilities under Minnesota Statutes 2008, Section 124D.141, Subdivision 2:

a. Make recommendations on the most efficient and effective way to leverage state and federal funding streams for early childhood and child care programs;

b. Make recommendations on how to coordinate or colocate early childhood and child care programs in one state Office of Early Learning;

c. Review program evaluations regarding high-quality early childhood programs; and

d. Make recommendations, including proposed legislation on how to most effectively create a high quality early childhood system in Minnesota in order to improve the educational outcomes of children so that all children are school-ready by 2020.

6. The Early Childhood Advisory Council will submit a statewide strategic report addressing the activities described in Paragraphs 4 and 5 to the Governor, the Legislature and the State Director of Head Start Collaboration. The report should be submitted on or before June 30, 2009.

7. The Commissioner of Education will provide general administrative and technical support to the Early Childhood Advisory Council.

8. The Early Childhood Advisory Council will make its meetings open to the public and provide an opportunity for public comment.

9. The following appropriations have been made in Minnesota Statutes 2008, Section 124D.141, Subdivision 3 for the Early Childhood Advisory Council:

a. Up to $12, 500 from federal child care and development fund administrative funds.

b. Up to $12, 500 from prekindergarten exploratory project administrative funds appropriated under Laws 2007, Chapter 147, Article 19, Section 3.

c. These funds may be used by the Commissioner of Education for the following purposes: (i) to reimburse expenses of the parent members on the Council and (ii) for technical assistance and administrative support of the Early Childhood Advisory Council.

d. The Early Childhood Advisory Council may pursue additional funding from the state, federal or private sources. If additional operational funds are received for use by the Early Childhood Advisory Council, the Council must reduce the amount of prekindergarten exploratory project funds used in an equal amount.

e. Unless additional appropriations are made or the appropriation is extended, the appropriation is available for state fiscal year 2009.

10. Once appropriated funds are exhausted or expire, the parent members will not receive reimbursement for expenses. If additional funds are not appropriated to the Commissioner of Education to support the administrative and technical assistance for the additional duties assigned to the Early Childhood Advisory Council pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2008, Section 124D.141, Subdivision 2, the Council’s responsibilities under this Executive Order will include only those duties required by federal law as set forth in Public Law 110-134 and Paragraph 4 of this Executive Order.

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2006, Section 4.035, Subdivision 2, this Executive Order will be effective fifteen (15) days after publication in the State Register and filing with the Secretary of State. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2006, Section 15.0593, this Executive Order shall expire two years after the date of this Executive Order.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have set my hand this 25th day of September, 2008.