Infrastructure
State Advisory Council on Early Education and Care
(Per Ch. 15D, § 3A)
State Advisory Council Development (Per Head Start
Act of 2007)
Board of Early Education and Care
May 12, 2009
State Advisory Council on
Early Education and Care
Per Ch. 15D, § 3A
2
EEC State Advisory Council Per Ch. 15D, § 3A
Charge
The state advisory council on early education and care shall meet no
fewer than 4 times annually and:
3

May review and comment on EEC rules and regulations prior to
promulgation by the Board.

May make recommendations and comment to the Board for
changes and/or improvements to EEC programs and services that it
deems appropriate.

Shall provide recommendations on the development of the 5-year
master plan for early education and care required under section 4, and
the adoption of the educationally sound kindergarten readiness
assessment instrument (required under sections 3 and 13).

Shall provide recommendations regarding the age-appropriate
and developmentally appropriate standards, in the regulations, for
the following developmental stages: infant and toddler; pre-school;
early elementary; and older school age children.
EEC State Advisory Council Per Ch. 15D, § 3A
Charge Continued
The state advisory council on early education and care:
4

May make recommendations on the programmatic, financing, and
phase-in options for the development and universal implementation of
the Massachusetts universal pre-kindergarten program.

May make recommendations regarding the assessment and
reporting on the current and potential capacity of the existing early
education and care system to: enhance the quality of early education
and care programs; provide multiple points of entry and outreach for
families including those in hard to reach populations; deliver
comprehensive services including mental health consultation and
intervention services to decrease expulsion rates; foster collaboration
and coordinate resources among providers of early education programs
and linkages with human services agencies, the department of
elementary and secondary education and local school districts;
undertake school readiness assessments and program evaluations;
maximize resources for workforce and professional development for
early education and care professionals; and reestablish trial court child
care programs.
EEC State Advisory Council Per Ch. 15D, § 3A
Membership Entities Named in Legislation
•
•
•

5
30 Entities Named in Legislation represent a reasonable geographic balance
and reflect the diversity of the commonwealth in race, ethnicity, gender and
sexual orientation.
8 Legislative Appointments* Named in Legislation
• 3 members, appointed by Senate President
• 3 members, appointed by Speaker of the House
• 1 member, appointed by Senate Minority Leader (Cathy Flynn, Center
Director, Melrose YMCA Child Care Center)
• 1 member, appointed by House Minority Leader (Victoria Griffin, M.Ed,
Reading Integrated School Experience (RISE), Early Childhood Coordinator,
Reading Public Schools)
Additional Members May be Recommended by the Commissioner for
Appointment* by the Board
*All appointees shall have a special expertise or interest in high quality early
childhood education and care and shall represent a mix of representatives of the
early childhood community, the civic, labor, and business communities,
academics, parents, teachers, social service providers, and health care providers.
All members shall serve for a term of 3 years, and may not serve for more than 2
consecutive terms.
EEC State Advisory Council Per Ch. 15D, § 3A
30 Organizations Named in Legislation


















6
Child Development and Education, Inc.
MA Assn. for the Education of Young Children
MA Assn. of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
MA Elementary School Principals Association
Strategies for Children/Early Education for All
Child Care Resource and Referral Network
MA Assn. of Day Care Agencies
MA Independent Child Care Org.
Associated Early Care and Education
Together for Kids Coalition
Horizons for Homeless Children
Federation of Children With Special Needs
Commissioner Selected Family Child Care Provider
Parents Alliance for Catholic Education
MA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Bureau of Jewish Education
Boston Institute for the Development of Infants and
Parents
MA Assn. of Community Partnerships for
Children, Inc.
BOLD= have named a representative












MA Head Start Association
MA Assn. of School Committees
MA Assn. of School
Superintendents
MA Assn. of Regional
Schools
MA Teachers Association
American Federation of
Teachers
MA Business Alliance for
Education
YMCAs of Massachusetts
United Way of
Massachusetts Bay
MA After-School Partnership
BostNET
MA Early Intervention
Consortium
EEC State Advisory Council Per Ch. 15D, § 3A
16 Members Recommended by Commissioner for Appointment by Board
Early Childhood Community Representatives
Caroline Haines, Pathways for Children
James Ward, Early Childhood Centers of Greater Springfield
Leslie Christian, Crispus Attucks Children's Center
Jim Robertson, Plowshares Child Care Center
Marilyn Mahoney, Lynn Public Schools
Jason Sachs, Boston Public Schools
Donna Jasek, Executive Director, Southborough Extended Day Program
Civic Representatives
Kim Haskins, Barr Foundation
Sally Fuller, Davis Foundation
Ben Lummis, Mass2020
Social Service Provider Representatives
Patricia Quinn, MA Alliance for Teen Pregnancy American
Beth Ann Strollo, MA Association for Community Action Agencies
Academic Representatives
Bill Hart, MA Executive Offices of Community Colleges
Charlene Mara, Quinsigamond Community College
Marta Rosa, Wheelock College
Hannah Gebretensae, Urban College
7
All representatives listed above have confirmed their interest in appointment.
Head Start State Advisory
Council (SAC) on
Early Childhood
Education and Care
(Per Head Start Act, 2007)
8
State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Childhood
Education and Care, Per Head Start Act, 2007

Each state must establish a SAC for children birth through school
entry (Section 624B of the 2007 Head Start Act of School Readiness)

The Governor of the state shall establish or designate
existing entity to serve as the SAC

The Governor shall designate an individual to coordinate
activities of the State Advisory Council

To the extent possible, the Governor shall ensure SAC
membership includes a representative of:
 State Agencies responsible for: Child Care, Education, 619 or Part C,
Health or Mental Health
 Local educational agencies, & local providers of early education
 Institutions of higher education in the state
 Head Start agencies, including immigrant and seasonal HS
 The State Director of Head Start Collaboration
 Other entities determined to be relevant by the Governor
9
State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Childhood
Education and Care, Per Head Start Act, 2007
Functions:
10

Conduct a periodic statewide needs assessment of quality and
availability of early childhood programs & services

Identify opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration &
coordination among federally and state-funded, childcare and early
education programs, including outreach to special populations

Develop recommendations for: increasing the overall participation of
children, the establishment of a unified data collection system,
professional development plans, and improvements in State early
learning standards

Assess the capacity and effectiveness of 2-and 4-year public and
private institutions of higher education that support early childhood
educators
State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Childhood
Education and Care, Per Head Start Act, 2007
Recommendations
11

The Department recommends that:

the Governor designate the Board of Early Education and Care as the
Commonwealth’s State Advisory Council; and

the Commonwealth’s Director of Head Start Collaboration be designated as the
individual responsible for coordinating the activities of the SAC.

Regarding the membership of the Board and the SAC, the
Massachusetts Head Start Association (MHSA) has requested that:

membership of the EEC Board be reviewed to ensure that membership is
inclusive of Head Start representation and that if necessary, an appointment to
the Board be made to allow for the participation of a Head Start representative.

membership on the SAC include a parent of a child enrolled in Head
Start as well as a representative of the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start
program. Therefore, when issues related to Head Start are to be discussed,
individuals representing these constituents may participate in the Program and
Planning Committee of the Board.