WHEREAS, the advancement of early care and learning has had a positive impact on Idaho families and children; and

        WHEREAS, through these initiatives, children are healthier and better prepared to enter Idaho's school systems; and

        WHEREAS, the coordination of early care and learning initiatives, both public and private, is a priority of the State of Idaho; and

       WHEREAS, many of these initiatives may have similar or identical missions; and

       WHEREAS, greater coordination will allow for an accurate inventory of existing initiatives along with an increased understanding of the services available for families and children.

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me under the Constitution and laws of the State of Idaho do hereby order as follows:

1. There is created within the Office of the Governor the "Early Care and Learning Cross-Systems Task Force."
2. The Task Force shall be responsible for developing a sustainable and coordinated statewide-plan to achieve mutually defined goals for early care and learning with evidence-based outcomes and approval and support from stakeholders, as well as the Governor and will:

1. Facilitate the activities of the Early Care and Learning Cross-Systems Task Force which will establish an ongoing communication network between state agencies, policymakers, families, stakeholders and communities for the purpose of planning and implementation of a coordinated system of early care and learning in Idaho;
2. Develop multiagency state partnerships among critical stakeholders;
3. Compile resources and identify information on the current best practices in early childhood systems building;
4. Provide a comprehensive statewide mapping of existing early care and learning programs and resources, as well as existing gaps;
5. Support partnerships to align current initiatives in the support of a comprehensive system of early childhood professional development;
6. Increase public awareness of quality early care and learning programs as a critical part of the foundation to promote healthy families and communities;
7. Align policy and funding systems to develop and support integrated early care and learning system development;

3. Once the statewide plan is completed the Task Force will be responsible for ensuring implementation of the plan.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord two thousand and four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred twenty-eighth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred fourteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE