WHEREAS, the members of the Interagency Coordinating council and the Early Care and Learning Cross Systems Task Force voted unanimously to merge; and

             WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of children and families in Idaho to build a sustainable infrastructure for early childhood;

            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 Childhood Coordinating Council.

2. The Early Childhood Coordinating Council 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:

a. Facilitate the activities of the Early Childhood Coordinating Council 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;

b. Develop multiagency state partnerships among critical stakeholders;

c. Compile resources and identify information on the current best practices in early childhood systems building;

d. Provide a comprehensive statewide mapping of existing early care and learning programs and resources, as well as existing gaps every three to five years;

e. Support partnerships to align current initiatives in the support of a comprehensive system of early childhood professional development;

f. Increase public awareness of quality early care and learning programs as a critical part of the foundation to promote healthy families and communities;

g. Align policy and funding systems to develop and support integrated early care and learning system development;

3. The Early Childhood Coordinating Council shall perform all duties and functions of Title 16, Chapter 1 with expanded and strengthened roles and responsibilities as follows:

a. Expand the council’s scope from birth to three, to all children from birth through eight and their families;

b. Develop, implement, and sustain a statewide early care and learning strategic plan that maintains the framework of health, social and emotional development, early care and learning, parent education, family support and self sufficiency, and systems development;

c. Recognize language changes to meet federal guidelines for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) such as service coordination, social and emotional development, adaptive skills and developmental delay;

d. Expansion of membership to meet federal requirements for IDEA, and integration of Council members to build geographical, cultural, political, professional and family diversity with assurance of representation of all children and families to include:

i. Parents of young children to include at least 20% of Council membership who are parents of young children with developmental delays or disabilities;
ii. At least two (2) public or private providers of early intervention services;
iii. At least three (3) professionals who provide early care and learning services like preschool, elementary school, parent education, childcare, or after-school care;
iv. At least one (1) member of the state legislature;
v. At least one (1) person involved in personnel preparation;
vi. The superintendent of public instruction, or designee;
vii. A physician or health care professional skilled in early intervention;
viii. A representative from early childhood professional organizations;
ix. A representative of the State Medicaid agency;
x. A representative of the State child welfare agency responsible for foster care;
xi. A representative of the State agency responsible for children’s mental health;
xii. A representative of the State agency responsible for maternal and child health;
xiii. A representative of the State governance of insurance;
xiv. A representative of the office of the Coordinator of Education of the Homeless;
xv. A representative of the Idaho Migrant Council or Migrant Head Start Program;
xvi. A representative of either the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Services or an American Indian Head Start program;
xvii. A representative of the State agency responsible for child care;
xviii. A Head Start Association or program representative;
xix. A representative of the Head Start Collaboration office;
xx. A representative of the Governor’s office;
xxi. A representative of the Idaho Infant Toddler Program;
xxii. A representative of the seven Regional Early Childhood Coordinating Committees;

e. Council members:

i. Shall be appointed by the Governor;
ii. Shall be staffed through an agreement between the Governor’s Office and the Department of Health and Welfare;
f. Strengthen Regional Early Childhood Committee membership, roles and responsibilities to expand the outreach of and respond to the Early Childhood Coordinating Council.

4. Establish the provision for the Early Childhood Coordinating Council to accept funds from private, federal, state or public agencies and any other sources. The moneys shall be used to support the statewide effort in the development and sustainability of this council and support early childhood services.

5. Assure nationally acceptable standards are used statewide for the coordination and provision of early childhood services.

6. Build and support partnerships that will maximize the use of funding streams and close the gaps in the service delivery system.

7. Blend resources to sustain staffing and operating expenses for the merged council.

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 27th day of April in the year of our Lord two thousand and six, and of the independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirtieth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred sixteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE