Early Childhood Quality Standards
Task Force

BACKGROUND: South Carolina has long been recognized as a leader in early childhood education. With the passage of the Education Improvement Act in 1984 (creating the state’s initial 4-year-old child development program), full-day kindergarten in 1996, and the First Steps to School Readiness Act in 1999 (community-level collaboration to expand services to children from birth to age 5), our state has demonstrated a willingness to invest in our youngest learners. There is, however, important work left to be done.

In December 2005, Circuit Court Judge Thomas W. Cooper issued his ruling in the state’s long-standing school equity funding suit, suggesting the need to invest still further in the state’s children - particularly those in poverty:

“The overlay of poverty on the very young appears to create a template for poor academic achievement and intellectual ability that is very difficult to break. That is why it is essential to address the impact of poverty as early as possible in the lives of the children affected by it….”

There is ample evidence to suggest that quality early interventions have lasting positive impacts, particularly among children in poverty. Recognizing the need to focus on high quality early childhood interventions from the earliest age, the 116th S.C. General Assembly passed proviso 1.80 in June 2006.

Proviso 1.80: (0 to 4 Year Old Standards) The First Steps State Office must convene a task force to develop quality standards for programs serving children ages 0 to 4. Membership must include both public and private providers and is to be chaired by the Director of the First Steps State Office. A report must be issued to members of the General Assembly and the Governor's Office by January 9, 2007.

Much work has been done in the area of early childhood program quality at both state and national levels. South Carolina policy leaders and early childhood advocates have devoted significant time and attention to the issue in recent years. The task force will have a wealth of resources upon which to build.

PROCESS: The task force will meet five times from October to November 2006. During October, the task force will conduct 5 regional forums across the state—seeking input from parents, providers, business and community leaders. In addition, a statewide public opinion survey and series of targeted focus groups will be conducted to provide the task force with current data on the needs of our state.

State and national early childhood expertise will be tapped throughout the process, to assist the task force with its assignment, to ensure an adherence to best practices research, and to learn from the implementation experiences of other states. A state expert in early childhood strategic planning will facilitate the process.

TASK FORCE: The task force will be co-chaired by the Director of South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness and the President of the United Way Association of South Carolina. All meetings and public forums will be open to the public. Broad participation and input are a desired part of the process, and will be encouraged.

First Steps is partnering with the United Way Association of South Carolina to convene the task force and develop its recommendations. This public-private partnership will gather experts with a stake in the early education and economic prosperity of our state. The task force will consist of 20 members: 6 early childhood providers (3 public, 3 private), 4 lawmakers (2 each, House and Senate), 2 designees of the Governor, 2 parents, 2 business leaders, 2 education policy leaders, and 2 community leaders. Members are as follows:

Child Care Industry (6):

• Terence Alexander, faith-based sector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
  
• Mary Teresa Devine, public 4-year-old kindergarten teacher
  
• Shannon Erickson, private sector, S.C. Child Care Association president, owner and operator of two preschools, former preschool teacher, and member of NAEYC, SCAEYC and the Governor’s Advisory Committee for the DSS Child Care Licensing Regulations
  
• Thomas O. Manigo, military sector, child development services manager at Ft. Jackson, over 36 years experience in the child care industry
  
• Ida Thompson, non-profit sector, Director of the Child Care Center at Spartanburg Regional Health Care System, one of the few workplaces in the Upstate that provides on-site childcare for its employees
  
• Kathy Woods, public sector, Pee Dee Community Action Agency Head Start director
  

Lawmakers (4):

• Senator Mike Fair ;
  
• Senator Linda Short;
  
• Rep. Alan Clemmons;
  
• Rep. Jimmy Neal
  

Governor’s Designees (2):

• Kim Aydlette, S.C. Department of Social Services director;
  
• Charmeka Bosket, Governor’s education advisor and former public school teacher
  

Business Leaders (2):

• Jim Hart, Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC senior vice president, United Way Association of S.C. board chair, and March of Dimes of the Midlands vice chair;
  
• Ann Robinson, Bank of America senior vice president, Upstate Success By 6 board member, and parent of child(ren) in child care
  

Parents (2):

• Trina Austin, parent of child(ren) in child care and employee of the Capital City Club;
  
• Sal Estrada, parent of child(ren) in child care and multi-cultural coordinator at Founders Federal Credit Union
  

Education Policy Leaders (2):

• Susan Marlowe, Education Oversight Committee member and public school teacher (28 years);
  
• Danny Varat, South Carolina Board of Education member and Greenville County First Steps board member
  

Community Leaders and Task Force Co-Chairs (2):

• Susan DeVenny, S.C. First Steps executive director, over 20 years of experience in private industry, nonprofit organizations and education;
  
• Tim Ervolina, United Way Association of S.C. president and CEO, over 22 years of experience with the United Way and in the private sector

TASK FORCE MEETING INFORMATION:

Meeting 1 - October 4, 2006

Presenter Materials (pdf):

• Desmond Kelly, M.D., Medical Director for the Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, GHS Children’s Hospital - The Implications of Quality Early Education for Brain Development
• Janet Marsh, PhD, Institute on Family & Neighborhood Life, Clemson University - Understanding Child Care: Programs, Parents' Choices and Availability
• Judy Collins, State Technical Assistance Specialist, National Child Care Information Center - National Trends in Early Childhood Education

Meeting 2 - October 18, 2006

Presenter Materials (pdf):

• Nina Sazer O’Donnell, Director, National Strategies, Success By 6 - Early Learning: What the Research Says and Implications for Child Care Quality
• Eric J. Karolak, Ph.D., Early Care and Education Consortium - A New Perspective from the Provider Community
• Focus Group Findings - Candid Views of Key Stakeholders
• Survey Findings - What Matters Most, Hopes & Concerns

Meeting 3 - November 1, 2006

Presenter Materials (pdf):

• Dr. Don Schunk, Economist, University of SC Moore School of Business - Economic Impacts of the SC Child Care Industry
• Louise Stoney, Alliance for Early Childhood Finance - Quality Care in SC: Financing Options and Opportunities

Meeting 4 - November 15, 2006

Presenter Materials (pdf):

• Desiree Reddick-Head, National Care Info Center - Quality Rating Systems
• Kim Aydlette, Director - S.C. Department of Social Services

TASK FORCE STANDARDS SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING RESOURCES:

Meeting 1 - May 31, 2007

Presenter Materials (pdf):

SC Data Tables and Summary Points

REPORT:

Task Force Preliminary Report on Early Childhood Standards:
Executive Summary
Full Preliminary Report
Presentation Material

Final Report of the South Carolina Early Childhood Quality Standards Task Force:
February 2008: Full Report

PRESS RELEASES:

January 9, 2007 - Early Childhood Quality Task Force Releases Preliminary Report on Early Childhood Standards (html) (pdf)

September 19, 2006 - First Steps and the United Way Assn. of S.C. Convene Early Childhood Quality Task Force(html) (pdf)