Thread by @ColoradoKidsOrg

🔔Keep up with this thread as House Education begins hearing HB22-1295 on the state Department of #EarlyChildhood and #UniversalPreK! #COleg #COpolitics

We'll be providing live coverage of the hearing & testimony. Tune in here: sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/Harmony/…

@AlecGarnett says HB22-1295 will bridge fragmented programs to create seamless #earlychildhood experiences for all #Colorado families.

It will save parents money, enroll more kids in the high-quality programs that we know work, all while being easy to access.#COleg

@EmilyForCO -- "The quality of a child’s early experiences can either positively or negatively impact their life outcomes."

Current #earlychildhood programs are spread across different departments with different eligibility requirements and funding streams. #COleg

Testimony is starting! Children's Campaign co-founder and #EarlyChildhood giant Anna Jo Garcia Haynes kicks it off...#COleg #HB1295

Anna Jo Haynes: "#HB1295 will really provide something incredible for children, families, and the all of the staff working with our children...Programs are currently difficult to navigate, threatening quality and accessibility for thousands of kids." #COleg

Anna Jo Haynes continues, "This is the best bill I’ve ever seen. Period. It’s a heavyweight, just so full of what people said and asked to be provided. This is where the rubber meets the road with children and families.” #COleg #HB1295

Now our VP of #EarlyChildhood & Policy Initiatives, Bill Jaeger, is up!

"This bill represents the best of #Colorado...it reflects a willingness to do big things for children..."#COleg #HB1295

"...to work across different perspectives...take on a little more complexity & change so that children & families can deal with less complexity and challenge," @ColoradoKidsOrg Bill Jaeger continues. #COleg #HB1295

Bill Jaeger: "I truly believe that there is more in this vision of a transformed, child and family-centered #earlychildhood system that brings us together than areas where our perspectives differ." #COleg #HB1295

Parent Ambassador at @ClaytonLearning and Co-Chair of the Fatherhood Committee George Davis stresses that his daughter excels academically, mentally, and socially because of her high quality #earlychildhood experiences at Clayton -- not all kids get that. #COleg #HB1295

Diana Herrera of @BalSwan describes, as a provider, that she is "acutely aware of the state of #earlychildhood programs" which make the current system so stressful for children, families, and providers. #COleg #HB1295

Vail Shoultz-McCole, Early Childhood Coach & Advocate: "This bill will bring positive changes for children and families across the state...Inclusion is so key to the success of our future." #COleg #COpolitics #HB1295

Vail Shoultz-McCole explains that #childcare facilities want to offer health care & benefits to staff but would have to raise fees...and that burden should not be placed on the parents & families that need care.

With this bill, "We are caring for our future." #COleg #HB1295

Corinne DePersis, #Colorado parent, shares her struggles finding care for her child, who requires some extra support.

By supporting community-based & mixed delivery services, #HB1295 means that "Parents won’t have to worry about asking whether their child will be welcome."#COleg

Amber Bilby, President of the #Colorado Association of Family Child Care, focuses on the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP):

Currently CCAP pays a fraction of the market rate, and many programs are still trying to recover from #COVID19. #COleg #HB1295

@Cathy_Kipp asks a parent on the panel to elaborate on challenges of finding child care.

Parent Corinne DePresis answers: Her daughter has significant needs...#Colorado already has a shortage of caregivers, so "special services does not leave us with large pool." #COleg #HB1295

Susan Steele, President & CEO of the Buell Foundation & ECLC Co-Chair joins to lay out the unanimous recommendations of the ECLC and all of the work that's been done by the Transition Advisory Group, parents, providers, and advocates. earlychildhoodcolorado.org
#COleg #HB1295

ECLC Co-Chair, President & CEO of @MHEarlyLearning Pamela Harris:

"CCAP is vital to families, especially those furthest from opportunity. It's a daunting funding stream to navigate...counties have diff. eligibility requirements... & none reflect the cost of quality care." #COleg

Pamela Harris of @MHHAlliance continues:

#HB1295 embeds the whole child whole family approach, steam-lining systems that will lower barriers for families and enhance payments for providers

#COleg #COpolitics

Jeannie McQueeney, Eagle County Commissioner & ECLC Member, is up!

McQueeney stresses that what we have isn't an early childhood system -- it's "just a series of programs and funding streams" that make services in the early years are confusing. #COleg #HB1295 #COpolitics

McQueeney: "Creation of a single application [for #earlychildhood programs and services] makes it less burdensome to let families know what is available to them." #COleg #HB1295 #COpolitics

Adeeb Khan of ECLC & @DeltaDentalCO:

- #EarlyChildhood is when the most important development occurs.

- Lack of #childcare leads the impact of women in the workforce.

-#HB1295 allows for blending/braiding of funds -- equitable access for kids furthest from opportunity

#COleg

George Welsh, Superintendent of Canon City Schools & Opportunity Coalition:

"Flexibility is the key to success of #PreK expansion." Mixed-delivery services open the door.

"If we don’t move forward out of fear of failure, we will never accomplish anything truly great." #COleg

Scott James, Weld County Commissioner, & Bruce Barker, WC Attorney, voice concerns from amend position, largely abt the structure of the Dept. under 1 Dir. -- they want to ensure counties are heard.

"[We're] implementers of laws that you pass, none of our programs are siloed."

Patty Hernandez, Family Engagement Liaison at @ClaytonLearning, reflects on 25 years in the #EarlyChildhood sector. Hernandez has seen families struggle to afford EC programs that both provide quality & support their families' needs. #COleg #HB1295 #COpolitics

Patty Hernandez of @ClaytonLearning: "Families have to decide whether to pay rent or pay for quality #earlychildhood programs." #COleg #HB1295 #COpolitics

Next up, Kayla Frawley of @ClaytonLearning! Clayton serves over 500 families living at or near the poverty line.

"The best infrastructure for #EarlyChildhood comes from collaborating w/ all the voices heard here today -- providers, parents, advocates, experts." #COleg #HB1295

@ClaytonLearning's Kayla Frawley continues:

"I don’t know many providers that don’t blend funding...Being community-informed & evidence-based are equally important" to providing high quality #earlychildhood services to #Colorado families. #COleg #HB1295

First amendment passes, intending to clear up some of the raised concerns about the administrative structure of the Department. Another passes asking that Dept. of #EarlyChildhood employees be mandatory reporters. #COleg #HB1295

Next amendment passes 7-2, adding language to ensure family strengthening home visiting programs can operate under the new state agency for #earlychildhood. #HB1295 #COleg

Next amendment passes concerning universal #PreK, making sure there's consistency in teacher development goals. Following amendment passes, clarifying local collaboration requirements. #HB1295 #COleg

As the Reps. share closing comments, Rep. Exum reflects on the bill he was "scared of" when he first saw it -- to be fair, it is over 480 pages.

He says #HB1295 will be a model for the country, in how to create & handle accessible, equitable #earlychildhood services. #COleg

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
HB22-1295 has been moved, as amended, to House Appropriations. 7-2. #COpolitics #COleg #HB1295

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