CA’s RTTT early leaning program wins feds’ support for additional funds
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By Tom Chorneau
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
California’s effort to improve early learning programs, supported by a Race to the Top grant, has received a rare sign of support from the Obama administration after completing its first year – news of a pending supplemental grant expected to be about $22 million.
The initiative, launched in 2011 with a firm caveat from Gov. Jerry Brown that no additional state money would be available to support the operation, has nonetheless successfully organized the state’s broad array of sponsors and service providers under a new state umbrella charged with improving the quality of early learning programs, especially those serving high-needs students.
The primary accomplishment of the first year has been to get a loose network of 17 regional “leadership consortia” from 16 counties to agree on a set of research-based indicators common to quality service.
From there, a rating system was developed that will be used to evaluate preschools and child care centers statewide. Some of that review has already taken place and program sponsors are working with state agencies on helping