Creating a Policy Framework and FY14 Proposed Budget

Presentation to the EEC BoardNovember 13, 2012 

EEC Mission Statement

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The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) provides the foundation that supports all children in their development as lifelong learners and contributing members of the community, and supports families in their essential work as parents and caregivers.

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Strategic Plan Context

The presentation of the FY14 budget request is in the context of the EEC Strategic Plan.

QUALITY: Create and implement a system to improve and support quality statewide.

WORKFORCE: Create a workforce system that maintains worker diversity and provides resources, supports, expectations, and core competencies that lead to the outcomes we want for children.

ACCESS: Increase and promote family support, access, and affordability. All preschool children have access to high quality pre-kindergarten programs that meet family needs.

ACCESS / TRANSPORTATION: All preschool children have access to high quality pre-kindergarten programs that meet family needs.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Build the internal infrastructure to support achieving the vision.

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EEC Total Available Budget

FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 FY2013$450

$470

$490

$510

$530

$550

$570

$468

$496

$537

$554

$505$509

$495$488(A

mou

nt in

Mill

ions

)

Building the Foundation: Highlights

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Over the past three years we have made a significant amount of progress improving the infrastructure and delivery of the early education and care system. We are ready for an investment in our future to sustain this partial list of successful initiatives and create new ones.

QRIS Professional Qualifications Registry Workforce Development Kindergarten Formative Assessment RTTT-ELC: Birth to Grade 3 (a significant investment in

community quality) Early Learning Standards Aligned with Common Core Updated Licensing Regulations

EEC Policies Related to FY14 Budget

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The requests for FY14 funding are in the context of long held and firmly developed EEC policies. 1. Quality Investment: EEC Rates will support the cost of providing

high quality childcare to ensure access for high needs children. 2. Access for High Needs Children: EEC will seek to ensure that

parents of birth to age eight children have access to high quality early education and care experiences. EEC will support the workforce by ensuring that sibling access is open, thus allowing parents to participate in the workforce.

3. Quality Programs: QRIS positions a program to support children and have a better chance to meet potential.

4. Transportation: EEC is committed to increasing and ensuring the health and safety of all children who receive transportation to EEC childcare.

5. Accountability: EEC will monitor the regulations and ensure programs receive feedback to improve, remove, or prevent practice that does not lead to outcomes for children across all domains of development in early education and care and out of school time.

Recommendations

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This presentation presents the following recommendations made by the combined Fiscal and Policy and Research Committees:An Investment in Quality: $15,594,821

Aligned with our mission and our Strategic Plan, we will invest in quality through and by the following:• Investment in Workforce Quality: A rate increase of 3% or $13,790,577

supports an increase in salaries, benefits, and stipends for child care workers.

• Investment in Quality Program Sustainability / Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS): A set-aside of $1M supports our investment in QRIS and helps sustain program improvements supporting children in care.

• Quality Infrastructure: $804,244 to support staffing which holds child care providers accountable for health and safety, quality care, and quality programs.

An Investment in our Children and Families: $36,209,423• Access will be opened for preschool age children.

An Investment in Transportation: $17,586,713• This request for funds affirms the Board’s vote in June 2012 to increase the

rate paid for transportation to support improvements in the system and the addition of one adult monitor on all vehicles carrying infants, toddlers, and preschool children.

Total Funding Request: $69,390,957

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Investment in Workforce Quality

The presentation of the FY14 budget is in the context of the EEC Strategic Plan: WORKFORCE.

Strategic Direction: Create a workforce system that maintains worker diversity and provides resources, supports, expectations, and core competencies that lead to the outcomes we want for children.

Indicator of Success: The early education and care workforce has a well-defined career ladder that adequately and fairly compensates educators as professionals.

Value: Our workforce is the backbone of our services; we value and support their skill development, diversity, and fair compensation.

RATE INCREASE: $13,790,577 (27% of $51M)A rate increase of 3% in all caseload accounts will allow providers to invest in the workforce and other program quality enhancements. Programs must be participating in QRIS to receive the rate increase.

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Investment in Quality Program SustainabilityThe presentation of the FY14 budget is in the context of the EEC Strategic Plan: QUALITY.Strategic Direction: Create and implement a system to improve and support quality statewide.Indicator of Success: Massachusetts’ Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) has been developed, validated, funded, and implemented with full involvement of EEC’s community partners and EEC staff. MA has standards for quality in early education and care programs that are research-based, broadly understood, successfully implemented, culturally appropriate, and aligned with a quality-building support system.UPK Appropriation Language states, in part, “…provided further, that any newly-funded programs designated as Massachusetts Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program participants shall fall within the quality standards established by the Massachusetts quality rating and improvement system; provided further, that programs receiving grant funds may use the funds to enhance teacher and staff quality and compensation, enhance program quality through participation in the Massachusetts quality rating and improvement system…”Value: We value all children and all families. Families live within communities and must be reached and supported in ways that maximize accessibility.

QUALITY PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY: $1,000,000

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Investment in Quality Infrastructure

The presentation of the FY14 budget is in the context of the EEC Strategic Plan: INFRASTRUCTURE.

Strategic Direction: Build the internal infrastructure to support achieving the vision.

Indicator of Success: EEC regions have the staff, resources, and stakeholder partnerships required to achieve the breadth of the agency’s readiness vision.

Value: Our workforce is the backbone of our services; we value and support their skill development, diversity, and fair compensation.

INFRASTRUCTURE: $804,244 This is our mechanism to support and hold programs accountable.

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Investment in our Children and Families

The presentation of the FY14 budget is in the context of the EEC Strategic Plan: FAMILY SUPPORT, ACCESS, AND AFFORDABILITY.

Strategic Direction: Increase and promote family support, access, and affordability.

Indicator of Success: Families are aware of the mixed early education and care system and have access to affordable, high-quality early education and care services.

Value: All children can succeed and we have the responsibility to help them do that.

ACCESS: $36,209,423 (71% of $51M) EEC proposes to open up access for siblings of children in care. We propose to open access to preschool children on the waitlist.

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Investment in Quality Transportation

The presentation of the FY14 budget is in the context of the EEC Strategic Plan: QUALITY.

Strategic Direction: Create and implement a system to improve and support quality statewide. Increase and promote family support, access, and affordability

Indicator of Success: Early education and care services are delivered through a seamless system that is responsive to the needs of all families and provides supports and resources. Comprehensive services … are embedded in the delivery of services for families and children.

Value: We value all children and all families. Families live within communities and must be reached and supported in ways that maximize accessibility.

TRANSPORTATION: $17,586,713

Proposed FY14 EEC Budget

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Line Item Descriptor FY13 BudgetProjected FY14

CostProposed FY14

Budget3000-1000 Administration $ 12,322,954 12,322,954$ 3000-2000 Access Management $ 5,933,862 $ 5,933,862 3000-3050 Supportive $ 77,330,875 $ 77,330,875

3000-4050TANF Related Child Care $ 125,495,740 $ 125,495,740

3000-4060Income Eligible Child Care $ 231,870,452 $ 36,209,423 $ 268,079,875 Transportation $ 17,586,713 $ 17,586,713

3000-5000 Grants to Head Start $ 8,000,000 $ 8,000,000

3000-5075 UPK $ 7,500,000 $ 7,500,000 3000-6075 Mental Health $ 750,000 $ 750,000

3000-7050Services for Infants and Parents $ 18,164,890 $ 18,164,890 Quality Improvements $ 15,594,821 $ 15,594,821

3000-7070 Reach Out and Read $ 750,000 $ 750,000 488,118,773$ 69,390,957$ 557,509,730$

Proposed FY15 EEC Budget

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Line Item DescriptorProposed FY14

BudgetProjected FY15

CostProposed FY15

Budget3000-1000 Administration $ 12,322,954 12,322,954$ 3000-2000 Access Management $ 5,933,862 $ 5,933,862 3000-3050 Supportive $ 77,330,875 $ 77,330,875

3000-4050TANF Related Child Care $ 125,495,740 $ 125,495,740

3000-4060Income Eligible Child Care $ 268,079,875 $ 30,000,000 $ 298,079,875 Transportation $ 17,586,713

3000-5000 Grants to Head Start $ 8,000,000 $ 8,000,000 3000-5075 UPK $ 7,500,000 $ 7,500,000 3000-6075 Mental Health $ 750,000 $ 750,000

3000-7050 Services for Infants and Parents $ 18,164,890 $ 18,164,890 Quality Improvements $ 15,594,821 $ 5,771,695 $ 21,366,516

3000-7070 Reach Out and Read $ 750,000 $ 750,000 557,509,730$ 35,771,695$ 575,694,712$

Appendix

Investment in Workforce Quality1. Offsetting the Funding Gap2. Quality Investment: Rate Comparison Center Based Programs3. Quality Investment: Rate Comparison Family Child Care4. Investment in Workforce Quality Summary5. Infrastructure Cost

Investment in Our Children and Families6. Caseload Waitlist Since 8/20117. EEC Waitlist vs. IE Children Served8. PreSchool Children on Waitlist9. Investment in Children and Families Summary

Investment in Quality Transportation10. Transportation Board Vote11. Quality Transportation Summary

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Offsetting the Funding Gap

FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 FY2013$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

$70

$48$45

$58

$66

$3

$20

$3

$13

Funding GapTotal SAC, ARRA, RTT/ELC

Since FY09, EEC’s total available funds have decreased as shown by the red bar which signifies the amount of reduction each year compared to FY09. The green bar shows how additional funds have offset the funding gap each year since FY09.

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Region Age Group EEC Rate 50th

Percentile75th

Percentile

EEC Market Access Rate

Infant $47.90 $ 52.00 $ 64.60 31%Toddler $43.20 $ 49.00 $ 58.20 12%

Preschool $33.40 $ 36.00 $ 44.00 7%Infant $49.20 $ 53.50 $ 65.80 13%

Toddler $44.20 $ 50.00 $ 60.00 17%Preschool $33.40 $ 40.00 $ 51.00 11%

Infant $54.95 $ 70.00 $ 80.00 5%Toddler $49.55 $ 62.00 $ 73.80 4%

Preschool $35.65 $ 48.04 $ 57.00 3%Infant $59.50 $ 75.00 $ 84.00 10%

Toddler $52.85 $ 70.60 $ 81.76 7%Preschool $36.70 $ 57.80 $ 66.51 6%

Infant $48.00 $ 50.00 $ 58.40 17%Toddler $44.20 $ 47.00 $ 54.00 8%

Preschool $33.40 $ 39.00 $ 46.00 7%Infant $54.55 $ 65.00 $ 79.00 15%

Toddler $48.40 $ 60.00 $ 76.11 13%Preschool $36.70 $ 45.00 $ 60.00 5%

Metro

S.E.

Boston

Western

Central

N.E.

Center Based Prices by Age

The most recent Massachusetts Market Price Child Care Survey shows that even with the implementation of the infant rate for all infants and toddlers, we will not be close to reimbursing at the federally suggested level of the 75th percentile.

Quality Investment: Rate Comparison

“EEC Market Rate Access” means that families can access this percentage of child care facilities based on the rates we offer.

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Quality Investment: Rate Comparison

Region Age Group EEC Rate 50th

Percentile75th

Percentile

EEC Market Access Rate

Infant $30.10 $ 35.00 $ 37.00 29%Toddler $30.10 $ 32.00 $ 35.00 43%

Over Age Two $26.40 $ 32.00 $ 35.00 9%Infant $31.80 $ 40.00 $ 48.00 13%

Toddler $31.80 $ 40.00 $ 45.00 20%Over Age Two $26.40 $ 36.00 $ 44.00 10%

Infant $31.50 $ 35.50 $ 50.00 35%Toddler $31.50 $ 40.00 $ 50.80 34%

Over Age Two $27.85 $ 35.00 $ 50.00 22%Infant $34.35 $ 57.50 $ 65.00 4%

Toddler $34.35 $ 56.00 $ 65.00 5%Over Age Two $27.85 $ 55.00 $ 66.00 1%

Infant $31.80 $ 40.00 $ 50.00 13%Toddler $31.80 $ 40.00 $ 45.00 19%

Over Age Two $26.40 $ 40.00 $ 45.00 3%Infant $31.50 $ 35.00 $ 40.00 28%

Toddler $31.50 $ 34.00 $ 40.00 37%Over Age Two $27.85 $ 30.00 $ 35.00 16%

Western

Central

N.E.

Metro

S.E.

Boston

Family Child Care Prices By Age

The most recent Massachusetts Market Price Child Care Survey shows that even with the implementation of the infant rate for all infants and toddlers, we will not be close to reimbursing at the federally suggested level of the 75th percentile.

“EEC Market Rate Access” means that families can access this percentage of child care facilities based on the rates we offer.

Investment in Workforce Quality Summary

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Rate Increase for Quality: $13,790,577 The cost of a 3% increase rate increase for programs in QRIS has

been added as a separate cost for each of the caseload accounts and is part of the overall $50M request. IE: $7,645,174 DTA: $4,397,492 DCF: $1,747,911

We are now in our fourth year of no rate increase. The last rate increase was March 2009 when we gave .45%. This did not correct the market.

This is the longest gap since FY02 – FY04. We will implement the same policy for the rate increase as used in

FY09: “This increase shall be directed to expenditures for salaries, benefits, and stipends for professional development of early education and care workers or other programmatic quality improvements.”

Programs must be participating in QRIS to receive the rate increase.

INFRASTRUCTURE COST

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In November, 2010, the Board recommended the staffing pattern recommended below. If we were to increase funding for access, it is even more critical to fill the open positions in Fiscal, Policy, Quality Supports, and Communication.

SalaryBoard

Rec'd FTE *

Post RTTT Pre RTTT

Child Care Licensing Specialist ***** $50,265 16 $804,244 $804,244Total FY14 16 $804,244 $804,244

Director of Operations ** $85,276 1Director of Community Partnership and Outreach *** $75,000 1 $75,000

Director of Policy, Evaluation & Research $75,000 1 $75,000 $75,000Deputy General Counsel $76,000 1 $76,000 $76,000Policy Analyst - QRIS $61,303 1 $61,303 $61,303Policy Analyst - Generalist $61,303 1 $61,303Family/Community Quality Specialist $61,303 2 $122,606Educator Provider Support Specialist $61,303 2 $122,606Audit Resolution: Fiscal Monitor **** $59,292 3 $177,877 $118,584

Total FY15 13 $771,695 $330,887

**Repositioned Director of Human Resources*** Position funded in RTTT; will end 12/2015.

***** Licensing Specialists; priority to fill positions**** One postion funded by Federal Grant RTTT

*FTEs authorized in state account: 155.3

Caseload Waitlist Since 8/2011

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*Waiting List Category 8/31/11 Total

9/29/11 Total

10/31/11 Total

11/30/11 Total

12/31/11 Total

1/31/12 Total

2/29/12 Total

3/31/12 Total

4/30/12 Total

5/31/12 Total

6/30/12 Total

7/31/12 Total

8/31/12 Total

9/30/12 Total

Child of Foster Care 116 125 131 137 143 153 149 162 205 216 215 227 255 269

Child of Homeless family 133 139 140 144 158 181 186 201 315 342 374 410 460 482

Child of Military Personnel 45 48 51 50 54 56 54 57 68 69 71 71 79 95

Child of Teen Parent 130 152 160 174 187 195 234 247 312 343 355 380 427 461

Child w ith Special Needs 823 849 893 936 975 1,031 1,083 1,149 1,449 1,577 1,676 1,765 1,978 2,056

Continuity of Care: Prior Year Summer Only

66 83 124 123 123

Continuity of Care: Aging Out 171 278 283 285 280 279 288 289 301 310 312 315 405 404

Continuity of Care: Approved Break in Service

226 275 286 294 301 303 309 315 337 353 359 383 448 450

Continuity of Care: ARRA 49 127 127 126 125 125 143 137 159 162 159 160 151 148

Continuity of Care: Geographic Relocation 60 69 65 67 73 84 86 90 118 123 134 142 182 171

Continuity of Care: Homeless Contract 5 5 5 5 8 8 8 10 16 17 18 19 20 20

Continuity of Care: Supportive Referral 83 93 98 102 100 108 112 114 184 204 226 233 247 255

Continuity of Care: Teen Parent Contract 22 20 20 20 20 20 22 21 23 23 23 23 31 32

General Priority 20,533 21,281 21,742 22,711 23,638 24,581 26,009 26,946 28,818 30,564 31,958 33,370 37,113 38,268

No Priority - Other Family Member - - - 6 14 26 347 32 144 171 482 220 253 268

Grandparent/Guardian Families 298 317 321 327 329 337 31 361 461 482 631 504 542 538

Parent w ith Special Needs 461 473 479 496 509 531 570 551 657 681 193 734 795 795

Sibling: Contract 229 240 244 250 266 282 330 334 485 460 700 516 602 630

Sibling: Voucher 447 514 549 575 605 641 680 683 685 603 500 684 734 745

Summer only care 590 592 596 591 586 595 619 621 736 748 653 875 876 888

N/A - 656 636 944 623 590 561

Grand Total 24,421 25,597 26,190 27,296 28,371 29,536 31,260 32,320 36,129 38,150 40,066 41,778 46,311 47,659

*Waitlist Data as of August 2011 is reported from KinderWait** Excludes Unborn children, Children 13 or older, “0” zip codes and towns out of state.

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ACCESSEEC Waitlist vs. IE Children Served

Spike in July 09 is due to 3A to 3D transitional children from DTA to IE.

Jul-0

7Oc

t-07

Jan-

08Ap

r-08

Jul-0

8Oc

t-08

Jan-

09Ap

r-09

Jul-0

9Oc

t-09

Jan-

10Ap

r-10

Jul-1

0Oc

t-10

Jan-

11Ap

r-11

Jul-1

1Oc

t-11

Jan-

12Ap

r-12

Jul-1

2

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

WaitlistIE Served

PreSchool Children on Waitlist

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Priority Infant Toddler PreSchool School Age

Total October 31,

2012Child Of Foster Care 17 44 93 115 269

Child Of Homeless Family 52 102 162 166 482

Child Of Military Personnel 11 24 36 24 95

Child Of Teen Parent 200 164 84 13 461

Child with Special Needs 63 264 681 1,048 2,056

Continuity of Care: Prior Year Summer Only- 1 1 121 123

Continuity Of Care: Aging Out 4 12 41 347 404

Continuity Of Care: Approved Break in Service7 35 123 285 450

Continuity of Care: ARRA 4 5 32 107 148

Continuity Of Care: Geographic Relocation 3 13 50 105 171

Continuity Of Care: Homeless Contract 1 4 10 5 20

Continuity Of Care: Supportive Referral 12 39 93 111 255

Continuity Of Care: Teen Parent Contract 1 12 12 7 32

General Priority 3,920 7,809 11,960 14,579 38,268

Grandparent/Guardian Families 16 83 167 272 538

N/A 24 116 187 234 561

No Priority - Other Family Member 15 17 35 201 268

Parent with Special Needs 41 131 275 348 795

Sibling: Contract 164 124 82 260 630

Sibling: Voucher 236 156 65 288 745

Summer Only Care 2 11 28 847 888

Total 4,793 9,166 14,217 19,483 47,659

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Investment in Children and Families Summary

There are 47,659 children on the waitlist. Of the 47,659 children on the waitlist, 14,217 (29.83%) are

preschool children. With $36.2M available and at an average cost of roughly $7,400

per preschool child in IE, we estimate that we can serve approximately 4,893 children.

4,893 children is roughly 34.4% of the total number of eligible preschool children.

We are serving 30,283 children in the IE caseload account as of September’s reports. Adding 4,983 children to our caseload takes us back to November 2010 when we last served 35,266 children in the IE account.

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TRANSPORTATION COST

In June 2012 the Board voted as follows:

Subject to a supplemental budget appropriation the Board approves an increased transportation provider reimbursement rate of $16.51 for round trip transportation and $11.11 for one-way transportation for all infants, toddlers, and preschool age children with the requirement that, if the recommended reimbursement rate increase is funded, entities that receive transportation payment from EEC for infants, toddlers, and preschool age children must dedicate one adult monitor on all vehicles. The transportation rate of $9.00 per day round trip and $6.00 per day for one way transportation will remain in effect for all transportation providers that transport school age children.

Quality Transportation Summary

The last transportation rate increase was in May 2006 when the one way rate increased from $5 to $6 and the round trip rate increased from $7.50 to $9.00.

The rate of $16.51 per round trip makes providers whole for the staff time already directed to satisfying the following recommendations: Management Responsibility Parent Notification Passenger Logs Secondary Vehicle Inspection

AND places an adult monitor on vehicles based on the number of children, ages, and length of routes.

Vehicle monitoring devices will not be required. The priority for any transportation funding received will be

dedicated to the cost of monitors followed by a sustained emphasis on training.

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