MECK Pre-K:How Mecklenburg County isExpanding Early Education

Presenters: Dena Diorio, County ManagerTameika Leslie, ECE Project Manager

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Why Early Childhood Education (ECE)?

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Why is Early Childhood Education important?

Source: The Committee on Economic Development, “Unfinished Business: Continued Investment in Child Care and Early Education is Critical to Business and America’s Future”

Programs that support families in children’s early learning promote positive

parenting

Disadvantaged children who participate in high

quality childcare and early educational opportunities

were found to be more likely to stay in school, avoid teen pregnancy,

attend college and have higher earnings

Each new dollar spent in the early education sector

translates to a broader economic impact of two

dollars

With early childhood education assistance,

parents living in poverty are enabled to pursue

employment opportunities and upward mobility

strategies

Stronger Families Healthy Communities Economic Development Upward Mobility

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Alignment- Economic Opportunity Task Force

Focus AreaMecklenburg County

Strategic Business Plan (SBP)Economic Opportunity

Task Force Report

Goal/Vision

To be an innovative organization focused on prevention and socio-

economic mobility, helping families and communities reach their greatest

potential

Charlotte-Mecklenburg as a community that cares about all of our children and youth- regardless of income, race or zip

code-and where all our children feel they belong, have big dreams, and find

the opportunities to achieve those dreams

Early Care and Education

College and Career Readiness

Child and Family Stability

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Focus of the County’s Strategic Business Plan The ECE expansion initiative aligns with County themes of:

• Strengthening families• Greater economic independence

for residents• Socio-economic mobility

The Opportunity Task Force recommendations released in March 2017 further reinforced the relevance of this initiative

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Early Childhood Education Roadmap

February 2016

ECE highlighted as a County priority in the State of the County address

July 2016

RFP issued for consultation services

October 2016

Charlotte Executive Leadership Council (CELC) funded the ECE access and expansion study

December 2016

- BOCC adopted ECE resolution- Expansion study kickoff with Early Learning Policy Group

& Committee For Economic Development

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Overview: ECE Study Phase 1 (completed 9/2017)Executive Committee Meetings:

• December 9, 2016• January 20, 2017• March 17, 2017• April 21, 2017

Subcommittee Meetings (2017):• February 17: Access Subcommittee• February 28: Evaluation Subcommittee• March 1: Finance Subcommittee• March 2: Workforce Subcommittee

Meetings Allowed For:

• Education to occur (e.g., a better understanding of current ECE programs, goals & purposes, children served & unserved, lessons learned from other communities, challenges, and opportunities)

• Barriers to be identified (e.g., better understanding about access issues like bus service for Pre-K expansion or workforce challenges like a pipeline needed for Pre-K expansion)

• Robust discussion (e.g., to identify additional information needed and potential recommendations to be considered)

½ Day Retreats (2017): • May 1 • May 19 • June 29

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Early Childhood Education (ECE) 5-Point Plan

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Public Will – Polling Results

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Public Will – Polling Results

Willing to Pay $10 Morein Taxes Per Month

• 72% yes to expand access to high-quality child care

• 71% yes to support voluntary, universal public pre-k

Willing to Pay $20 Morein Taxes Per Month

• 71% yes to expand access to high-quality child care

• 65% to support voluntary, universal public pre-k

76% of respondents said they would be more likely to support a tax increase if it were subject to the results of an evaluation about how the

program is working

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FY18 Community Survey Results

Access to High-Quality Preschool Programs:

85% of respondents agree that high-quality preschool programs should be made

available to every child in Mecklenburg County

Support Paying More in Taxes to Ensure Access to Pre-K

69% of those who agreed with high-quality pre-K availability for every child support paying more property taxes to ensure all

four-year-olds in Mecklenburg County have access to high-quality pre-K

Source: Mecklenburg County, 2018 Community Survey, Data Collection Summer 2018

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Leadership, Public & Staff Response

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MECK Pre-K Program Framework• Universal pre-K is achieved by creating MECK Pre-K, phasing

expansion over a six-year period and collaborating with local pre-K programs to reach more four-year-old children

• Projections for MECK Pre-K are based on NC Pre-K program rates and budget information

• MECK Pre-K is located in community-based childcare centers and managed by the local Smart Start partnership

• Ensures parity in Program, Policy and Practices• Implements coaching based on teacher/child interactions• Contracts with UNC-Child Development Institute for evaluation

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Proposed Expansion Budget For Universal Pre-K

Note: 1) Expenses include purchase of care per child, monthly supplemental payments to providers for teacher support (teacher premiums if applicable), health insurance, retirement and life insurance; and bus transportation; start-up costs, training and support for teachers and related costs (such as curriculum, child assessment and teacher assessment), EESLPD support, funds to support children with disabilities, technology, marketing and enrollment support, program evaluation, and administration. Note: 2) Funding was budgeted for 600 children; however max capacity is 18 for this age group. At 33 classrooms, 594 children served

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Early Successes• Year 1- September 2018 opened 33 classes

serving ~600 children• Year 2-Providers applied for 87 classrooms

• September 2019 opened 69 classes classrooms

• Serving over 1,200 children; over 1900 applications received

• Initiated external evaluation process• Increased community awareness • Increased collaboration with other pre-K

programs

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Lessons Learned• Start with the end in mind- establish vision, strategy and goals• Engage broad stakeholders from the community• Conduct community focus groups to solicit feedback• Poll the community• Utilize existing research, tools, policies and best practices• Ask others who have implemented similar initiatives • Don’t recreate the wheel- “Implement then perfect”• Define expectations• Plan ahead and expect challenges• Measure, Evaluate and Improve

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Questions