Governance OptionsGovernance Options Part IPart I

Early Childhood Education Temporary Task ForceEarly Childhood Education Temporary Task Force

Governance Working Group MeetingGovernance Working Group Meeting

September 8, 2005September 8, 2005

Teresa VastTeresa Vast

Early Childhood Policy ConsultantEarly Childhood Policy Consultant

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Overview Overview

What do we mean by governance?What do we mean by governance?

Why create a new governance structure?Why create a new governance structure?

What are the roles of governance in the system?What are the roles of governance in the system?

What are key characteristics of an effective governance What are key characteristics of an effective governance structure?structure?

What are current state-level governance structures for What are current state-level governance structures for early care and education in the nation?early care and education in the nation?

What are some pros and cons of each model for Hawaii?What are some pros and cons of each model for Hawaii?

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DefinitionDefinition

Governance of ECE is….Governance of ECE is….

……that combination of formal and informal decision-that combination of formal and informal decision-making practices that establish the legal, fiscal, making practices that establish the legal, fiscal, operational, political, and economic basis of an operational, political, and economic basis of an early care and education system… early care and education system…

(adapted from Reveal, 1991)(adapted from Reveal, 1991)

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Why Create a New Governance Why Create a New Governance Structure?Structure?

To achieve child and family results, e.g. school To achieve child and family results, e.g. school readiness readiness

To coordinate all sub-systems into an effective To coordinate all sub-systems into an effective system for children and familiessystem for children and families

To establish decision-making authority that To establish decision-making authority that extends across existing programs and services extends across existing programs and services and that is not controlled or unduly influenced by and that is not controlled or unduly influenced by one government agencyone government agency

(Bruner, p. 17)(Bruner, p. 17)

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What are key characteristics What are key characteristics needed in a governance structure?needed in a governance structure?

RepresentativeRepresentative – involving those whose perspectives and – involving those whose perspectives and expertise are needed to make effective decisionsexpertise are needed to make effective decisions

LegitimateLegitimate – regarded as a fair and appropriate locus for – regarded as a fair and appropriate locus for decision-making by those affected by the decisions madedecision-making by those affected by the decisions made

EnduringEnduring – sustainable across changes in leadership – sustainable across changes in leadership

Effective and flexibleEffective and flexible – organized/structured for – organized/structured for continuous improvementcontinuous improvement

AuthoritativeAuthoritative – capable of holding all elements of the – capable of holding all elements of the system accountable to achieving their objectivessystem accountable to achieving their objectives

(Bruner, p. 10-11)(Bruner, p. 10-11)

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Current ECE Governance Current ECE Governance at the State Levelat the State Level

Voluntary Coordination/CollaborationVoluntary Coordination/Collaboration

Mandatory Coordination/CollaborationMandatory Coordination/Collaboration

Joint management by two or more Joint management by two or more departmentsdepartments

Two or more major programs consolidated in Two or more major programs consolidated in an existing departmentan existing department

New entity dedicated to early care and New entity dedicated to early care and educationeducation

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Voluntary Voluntary Coordination/CollaborationCoordination/Collaboration

Separate departments responsible for different Separate departments responsible for different aspects of early care and education aspects of early care and education

VariantsVariants no coordinationno coordination

voluntary coordinationvoluntary coordination may include advisory bodies, e.g. commission, may include advisory bodies, e.g. commission,

coordinating committeecoordinating committee may include private sector representationmay include private sector representation

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Mandatory Mandatory Coordination/CollaborationCoordination/Collaboration

Separate departments responsible for different Separate departments responsible for different aspects of early care and educationaspects of early care and education

Mechanism for cross-department Mechanism for cross-department

coordination/collaboration, coordination/collaboration, e.g. Children’s Cabinete.g. Children’s Cabinet

State examples: Delaware; Louisiana; Maryland; West Virginia State examples: Delaware; Louisiana; Maryland; West Virginia

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Mandatory Mandatory Coordination/CollaborationCoordination/Collaboration

VariantsVariants…… Authority to set standardsAuthority to set standards

Produce a cross-dept children’s budget with prioritized Produce a cross-dept children’s budget with prioritized

funding recommendationsfunding recommendations

Pool fundsPool funds

May disburse funds to support initiativesMay disburse funds to support initiatives

Advisory boardAdvisory board

Private sector representatives, parents may be includedPrivate sector representatives, parents may be included

May link to local governance entities or communities May link to local governance entities or communities

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Joint management by two Joint management by two departmentsdepartments

Two agencies jointly fund and manage early Two agencies jointly fund and manage early care and education programs, care and education programs, e.g. Human Services e.g. Human Services and Educationand Education

VariantsVariants One agency may have a greater roleOne agency may have a greater role Coordination with other agenciesCoordination with other agencies Coordination with private sectorCoordination with private sector May have linkages to local governance entitiesMay have linkages to local governance entities

State examples: Arkansas; Connecticut State examples: Arkansas; Connecticut

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Two or more major programs Two or more major programs consolidated in an existing consolidated in an existing

departmentdepartment

Effort to improve collaboration across programsEffort to improve collaboration across programs

VariantsVariants May create an Office of Early Childhood within an May create an Office of Early Childhood within an

existing departmentexisting department

Coordination with other agenciesCoordination with other agencies

Coordination with private sectorCoordination with private sector

May have linkages to local governance entitiesMay have linkages to local governance entities

State examples: Florida; Maryland; TennesseeState examples: Florida; Maryland; Tennessee

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New entity dedicated to ECE New entity dedicated to ECE

1.1. Establish independent office under Governor Establish independent office under Governor ….….OR…OR…

2.2. Consolidate early care and education Consolidate early care and education programs in a new, independent department programs in a new, independent department

Establish a governance board for oversightEstablish a governance board for oversight

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New entity dedicated to ECE New entity dedicated to ECE

VariantsVariants Advisory board to include additional expertiseAdvisory board to include additional expertise

Coordination with other agencies to link with Coordination with other agencies to link with comprehensive servicescomprehensive services

Coordination with private sectorCoordination with private sector

May have linkages to local governance entitiesMay have linkages to local governance entities

State examples: Georgia; Massachusetts; North CarolinaState examples: Georgia; Massachusetts; North Carolina

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Key ingredients for successKey ingredients for success Vision and leadership of individuals in the governance Vision and leadership of individuals in the governance

structure structure Create structures to meet objectivesCreate structures to meet objectives Connect different structures and activities so they are Connect different structures and activities so they are

aligned toward overall system goalsaligned toward overall system goals Legal authority Legal authority Power to control allocation of at least some portion of Power to control allocation of at least some portion of

resourcesresources New stream of funding New stream of funding Adapt and change Adapt and change Understand that political climate and culture are important Understand that political climate and culture are important

Caution: No single model will guarantee success!Caution: No single model will guarantee success!

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ReferencesReferences

Reveal, Elizabeth C. (1991). Reveal, Elizabeth C. (1991). Governance Options for The Governance Options for The Children’s Initiative: Making Systems Work. Children’s Initiative: Making Systems Work. Havertown, PA: Center Havertown, PA: Center for Assessment and Policy Developmentfor Assessment and Policy Development

Bruner, Charles, with Michelle Stover Wright, Barbara Gebhard, and Bruner, Charles, with Michelle Stover Wright, Barbara Gebhard, and Susan Hibbard. (2004). Susan Hibbard. (2004). Building an Early Learning System: The Building an Early Learning System: The ABCs of Planning and Governance Structures. ABCs of Planning and Governance Structures. Des Moines, IA: Des Moines, IA: Child & Family Policy Center, State Early Childhood Policy Child & Family Policy Center, State Early Childhood Policy Technical Assistance Network (SECPTAN)Technical Assistance Network (SECPTAN)