Expansion of early childhood education grants considered

Child care providers could receive early childhood education grants under a bill heard by the Education Committee March 9.

LB489, introduced by Cedar Rapids Sen. Kate Sullivan would authorize grants from the Sixpence Early Learning Fund—an endowment fund created by the Legislature in 2006 to address achievement gaps in early childhood education—to qualified child care providers that partner with school districts to provide early childhood education programming.

Sullivan said that the bill would help close the achievement gap by providing broader opportunities to Nebraska families.

“Closing the gap early is critical because a significant number of Nebraska’s children arrive at
kindergarten unprepared to learn, due to a lack of high-quality developmental experiences during the infant and toddler years,” she said. “Moreover, many school districts currently lack the space, staff and resources necessary to provide full-day, year-round services for infants and toddlers.”

To qualify, child care providers must enroll in the state’s quality rating and improvement system established under the Step Up to Quality Child Care Act. The act, passed in 2013 by the Legislature, provides five levels of standards for child care providers in the state, with additional resources available for programs that meet the increased levels of accountability.

Under LB489, a qualified child care provider must obtain at least a level three rating within three years of beginning the grant progress and maintain the rating to continue to receive funding.

Jen Goettemoeller, representing First Five Nebraska, spoke in favor of the bill, saying a strong early childhood education system is essential to kids’ success later in life.

“The reality is that 42 percent of young children, zero to 5 years of age, face significant obstacles during their formative years that will disrupt brain architecture and future learning,” she said. “If our children are going to be strong, the foundation must be built within the first three years.”

Greater Nebraska Schools Association Executive Director Roger Breed also supported the bill. He said it would promote local solutions and expand the reach of existing early childhood education efforts.

“[LB489] benefits providers by introducing high-quality standards and best practices for working with infants and toddlers,” Breed said. “It improves an already quality effort by giving resources and technical assistance to community programs that already provide these services to improve quality in an accountable and measurable way.”

No one testified in opposition to the bill and the committee took no immediate action on it.