Developing a Business-led Early Learning Initiative

Jessie CannonAssociate Policy DirectorPAES WorkshopMarch 10-11, 2010Washington, D.C.

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Building upon work that came before us

In Ohio …….. and at the national level.

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Why America Needs High-Quality Early Care and Education Over the past three decades, business leaders have invested time, expertise and resources in efforts to improve K-12 education in the United States. What we have learned leads us to conclude that America's continuing efforts to improve education and develop a world-class workforce will be hampered without serious federal and state commitments to high-quality early care and education for all children, zero through five. In challenging economic times, it is essential that public investment be as efficient and effective as possible. Investments in quality early care and education, with a particular focus on children most at risk, are a wise and safe investment in our nation's success.

October 2009 CEO Convening

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• Use business planning framework for all BRT initiatives

• Easy to communicate policy goals to CEOs using familiar planning construct

• BRT uses Procter and Gamble (OGSM) framework

–Focus on vertical alignment of objectives, goals, strategies and metrics

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Developing our plan

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Objective Aspirational, achievable statement of what we hope to accomplish

Words

Goal Together, if goals are achieved you will have met your objective

Numbers

Strategy How will you achieve the goal? Words

Measure How will we know we've succeeded?

Numbers

Developing our plan

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• Purpose Statement: Dramatically increase the number of Ohio children who enter kindergarten ready to succeed as learners.

METRIC By 2015, increase the percentage of Ohio children who are ready for kindergarten by ____%, and by ___% by 2020.*  *The percentage gain cannot be specified until the baseline data are generated in 2010

Developing our plan

Objective: Since the road to college – and to healthy and productive lives – begins at birth, Ohio will invest in its youngest children to succeed as learners before it invests in anything else.

• GOAL 1: Beginning in 2010, create a sense of urgency among state policymakers, families and other stakeholders for high-quality early learning experiences that prepare young children to succeed as learners.

• GOAL 2: By 2012, assess the kindergarten readiness of all children based on their social, emotional, physical and cognitive development.

• GOAL 3: By 2015, increase the availability of high-quality early learning experiences (in-home and out-of-home) to ensure that all children are prepared for kindergarten, and to give all parents and families better opportunities to make informed choices about how to prepare their young children to succeed as learners.

• GOAL 4: By 2015, secure a down payment for Ohio’s early learning system by tripling the state’s investment in early learning (baseline SFY 2009).

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Developing our plan – Draft Objective and Goals

• Feedback from stakeholders–Early learning advocates–Providers–Funders–State agencies

• Feedback from CEO leads/BRT governance

• Engage CEO task force

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Next steps

• Keeping the focus – unique role business community can plan in advancing early learning• What should we lead?• What should we support?• What should we avoid?

• Identifying short-term victories for long-term engagement

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Challenges