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Delaware Early Childhood Council
The mission of the Delaware Early Childhood Council (ECC) is to promote the development of a comprehensive and coordinated early childhood system, birth to eight, which provides the highest quality services and environment for Delaware’s children and their families. The Delaware ECC was codified in 2007 in Title 14, Chapter 30 of the Delaware Code. It was amended June 2010 in HR 470 (Section 1 Amendment 1703(n) Title 14. Delaware ECC By-Laws
Meetings
Please e-mail Tina Shockley to be added to the council mailing/meeting notification list. Previous year meeting information, including agendas and minutes, are available upon request by contacting early.learning@doe.k12.de.us or calling 302-735-4295.2019 Meeting Schedule
Date: January 30, 2019Time: 10:00AM-12:00PMLocation: Delaware State Police Troop, Robert Paris Community Room, 100 Lagrange Ave., Newark, DE 19702Handouts/Links:Date: May 8, 2019Time: 10:00AM-12:00PMLocation: Frazier's Restaurant, 9 E. Loockerman Street, Dover, DE 19901NOTE: Early Childhood Advocacy Day and De Readiness Teams MeetingHandouts/Links: TBDDate: July 31, 2019Time: 10:00AM-12:00PMLocation: Collette Education Resource Building, Conf. Rms. A & B, 35 Commerce Way, Dover, DE 19904Handouts/Links: TBDDate: September 18, 2019Time: 10:00AM-12:00PMLocation: University of Delaware, Carvel Research & Education Center, 16483 County Seat Hwy., Georgetown, DE 19947 NOTE: Meeting will be held in collaboration with the Sussex Early Childhood CouncilHandouts/Links: TBDDate: November 13, 2019Time: 10:00AM-12:00PMLocation: Delaware State Police Troop 2, Robert Paris Community Room, 100 Lagrange Ave., Newark, DE 19702NOTE: Meeting will be held in collaboration with the Wilmington Early Care & Education CouncilHandouts/Links: TBD2018 Meeting Schedule and Minutes
Subcommittees
The Delaware ECC is comprised of the following committees:
- Healthy Children and Families Committee
Chair: Leslie Newman, Children & Families First
DHSS Staff: Crystal Sherman
OEL Staff: Debra Taylor
Key Responsibilities: Identify strategic priorities for healthy young children & families based on the overall strategic plan for the Delaware Early Childhood Council, and recommend strategies for new program development or continuous improvement of existing programs and services. Review and recommend periodic program evaluations. Identify opportunities for cross-system collaboration and coordination to improve services, leverage funds, or create new funding sources for early health initiatives. Work in collaboration with the EIEIO, a sub-committee of the Healthy Young Children & Families Committee, to identify strategies to support high-quality inclusive early childhood opportunities.
- Early Learning Programs & Workforce Committee
Chair: Julie Johnson, Tender Loving Kare
OEL Staff: Christina Koutsourades
Goals: Identify strategic priorities, based on the overall Delaware Early Childhood Council Strategic Plan, to raise the quality and retention of early learning programs and practitioners for young children and families. Recommend strategies for new program development or continuous improvement of existing programs and services. Review and recommend periodic program evaluations. Identify opportunities for cross-system collaboration and coordination to improve services, leverage funds, or create new funding sources for early learning initiatives. Advise and monitor implementation of the state’s Strategic Plan for Professional Development and bring updates and issues forward to the full Council.
- Early Learning Data & Policy Committee
Chair: Madeleine Bayard, Rodel Foundation of Delaware
OEL Staff: Caitlin Gleason
Key Responsibilities: Monitor federal and state and legislative, regulatory and policy activities relating to DECC’s mission. Identify and recommend strategies, based on the overall Delaware Early Childhood Council Strategic Plan, to maximize legislation, regulations and policies to facilitate the fulfillment of DECC’s mission. Inform and engage Council members and the stakeholder community concerning relevant legislative, regulatory and policy activities. Ensure that Council members possess the requisite knowledge and skills to advocate on relevant issues. Promote coordination across agencies and programs contributing early childhood data to federal and state reports and plans. Identify standard data reports necessary to advance Delaware’s early learning system. Provide feedback on current data exchanges, data processes, data quality, and data utilization.
Annual Reports
Delaware's strategic plans for a comprehensive early childhood system.
The Delaware ECC requires specific committee members, as determined by Title 14, Chapter 30 § 3003 of the Delaware Code. Committee members and the legislative designation they represent are listed below:Center-based early care and education providersCheryl Clendaniel, The Learning CenterJulie Johnson, Tender Loving Kare Child Care & Learning CentersFamily-home based early care and education providerCarrette MonsantoParentTanisha Merced**Delaware Head Start/Early Childhood Assistance ProgramHeidi Beck, New Directions Early Head StartEarly care and education resource and referral agencyLeslie Newman, Children and Families FirstAdvocacy organizations focused on children's health and well-beingKelli Thompson, Nemours Children's Health SystemKatherine "Kate" Rudolph, Delaware Academy of PediatricsDelaware Association for the Education of Young ChildrenDr. Michelle Shaivitz, Delaware Association for the Education of Young ChildrenDistrict superintendentDolan Blakey, Ed. D., Colonial School DistrictHigher Education representative and P-20 Council memberElizabeth Ritchie, Delaware Technical Community College**Business community representativeOlivia Gatewood, JP Morgan Chase & Co.**Community membersGeneral AssemblyDebra Heffernan, State RepresentativeThe State Director of Head Start CollaborationDebra Taylor, Department of Education, Head Start Collaboration OfficeDelaware Department of Health and Social ServicesGabriela Kejner, Chief of StaffDelaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their FamiliesMeredith Seitz, Chief Policy AdvisorDelaware Department of EducationKimberly KrzanowskiCouncil Members, Ex Officio:Krzanowski Kimberly, Early Development and Learning Resource Center of the Department of EducationKaren ReRasmo, Prevent Child Abuse DelawareEd Freel, University of DelawareKaryl Rattay, Delaware Division of Public HealthElizabeth "Betty Gail" Timm, Department of Services for Children, Youth & Their Families – Office of Child Care LicensingMichelle Wilson, Capital School District, Booker T. WashingtonClara Martinez, Telamon Corporation/De Head Start Program**Pending appointmentFor more information about the Delaware ECC, email early.learning@doe.k12.de.us or call 302-735-4295.
