State Legislation Approved or Adopted (Signed by Governor) as of April 18, 2003

Resolution to Support Head Start

North Dakota - HCR 3076
The Legislative Assembly in North Dakota adopted a concurrent resolution urging the United States Congress to recognize the success of Head Start, to maintain funding at the highest possible level, and to reject any proposal to move the Head Start program from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Education and to limit the scope of the program. Signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives on April 1, 2003 and by the Senate President on April 3, 2003.

Resolution to Support Early Childhood Education

Kansas - HR 6016
The House of Representatives in Kansas adopted a resolution that urges local school districts, and parents, despite difficult financial times, to make every effort to continue to support and maintain early childhood education, pre-kindergarten through third grade. Adopted on April 1, 2003.

Prepared for Kindergarten

Arkansas - HB 1951
This bill requires the Department of Education to determine and prepare a list of the skills that a child should have in order to be prepared when entering kindergarten. The list will be distributed at child care facilities. Approved by the Governor on March 27, 2003.

Repealing Exemptions from Child Care Licensing

Mississippi - SB 2149
Mississippi statute has language allows that any elementary and/or secondary school system, accredited by the Mississippi State Department of Education, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Mississippi Private School Education Association, the American Association of Christian Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International, and any Head Start program operating in conjunction with an elementary school system, with a school readiness program can be exempt from child care facility licensure. This bill extends the repeal of this statutory language for a year. These programs must now be licensed. Approved by the Governor on March 19, 2003.

Requiring State Agencies to Conduct Studies on Early Childhood Education Programs

Mississippi - HB 859
This bill requires the Department of Education to conduct cost-benefit analyses of establishing pre-kindergarten programs and implementing mandatory kindergarten throughout the state. Approved by the Governor on March 23, 2003.

Child Care Worker Benefits

Wyoming - HB 195
This bill excludes child care providers paid or subsidized by the Department of Family Services from coverage under the workers' compensation program. Approved by the Governor on March 6, 2003.

Notification of Correction Orders on Child Care Facilities

North Dakota - HB 1249
This bill requires the licensee of a child care facility to notify within three business days the parent, guardian, or custodian of any child receiving care at the facility that a correction order has been issued. Correction orders are issued when a facility is not in compliance with child care licensing regulations or statutes. Licensees must also notify the parent, guardian, or custodian of any child receiving care and all employees of the process for reporting a complaint of suspected licensing violation. Approved by the Governor on March 28, 2003.

School Calendar

Virginia - HB 2806
This bill gives public schools the option of operating on an alternative school schedule by operating on a four-day week, so long as a minimum of 990 hours of instructional time is provided for grades one through twelve and 540 hours for kindergarten per year. Individual schools must submit plans to local school boards for approval. Approved by the Governor on March 19, 2003.

Education Lottery

Oklahoma - HB 1278
This bill allows for the public to vote on an Oklahoma Education Lottery. It would go on the November 2004 ballot. If voted favorably, proceeds from the lottery would be used to support improvements and enhancements to educational programs. Forty-five percent of funds generated from the lottery would go to K-12 education and early childhood programs, including pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten. Adopted on April 10, 2003.

STATE NEWS

Alabama - Implementation of New Child Care Ratios Delayed
The Alabama Department of Human Resources has delayed the implementation of increased child:staff ratios for licensed child care centers until August 2003. DHR is concerned that the changes might make child care too expensive for parents. Under the new regulations, a center would need one staff member for every five children age 18 months and younger; the current ratio is 6:1 for that age group. DHR will make further decisions about the implementation of the new ratios after seeing the results from a study conducted by the University of Alabama on how the cost of child care for parents would be affected by the new ratios.

Colorado - State Tax Contributions Fund Quality Improvement
The Colorado Office of Resource and Referral Agencies (CORRA) has launched a campaign to inform tax payers that they can contribute to improving child care through their state tax return. The contributions go into the Colorado Child Care Improvement Fund and are returned to local communities in the form of education grants for child care providers. In 2002-2003, grants were awarded to 224 programs, totaling more than $300,000. Categories of awards included: professional development, accreditation support, consultation, and purchases of equipment and supplies. For more information, visit: .http://www.corra.org/CORRAPrograms/Tax_Check_Off.asp