05 LC 9
1634S
The
Senate Education and Youth Committee offered the following substitute to SR
21:
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Joint Early Learning Initiative Commission; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
early learning, especially for at-risk children, is essential to improving
school performance for Georgia students; and
WHEREAS,
the state has invested lottery proceeds, state funds, and federal funds in the
Office of School Readiness and
Georgiás
Pre-K Program, for a total of $360,959,969.00 in the 2004 budget adopted in the
2004 session; and
WHEREAS,
there are proposals for delegation of authority and funding over certain federal
early learning programs to the states; and
WHEREAS,
a comprehensive review of early learning opportunities currently available and
recommendations for improvement of early learning opportunities would be helpful
to the General Assembly in adopting education policies and appropriating funds
for the most effective uses.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created the Joint Early Learning Initiative Commission to be composed of 19
members, including four members of the House of Representatives to be appointed
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and four members of the Senate to
be appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments. The Governor shall appoint
six members, including one member with expertise relating to early learning
programs, one parent with a child enrolled in a pre-kindergarten program, one
parent with a child currently enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start, one
representative from the child care/early learning center community, one private
provider pre-kindergarten instructor, one public school pre-kindergarten
instructor, and one Head Start instructor. The director of the Georgia Lottery
Corporation, the director of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the Georgia
State School Superintendent or her designee, and the commissioner of Bright From
the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning shall be ex-officio
members of the commission. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
designate a member of the House and the Senate Committee on Assignments shall
designate a member of the Senate who shall serve as cochairpersons of the
commission. The commission shall meet at the call of the
cochairpersons.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall undertake a study of the
following: issues relating to the anticipated action of the federal government
in delegating authority relating to Head Start to the state; an examination of
federal and state early learning programs to define efficiencies in each;
options for combining federal and state programs if authority over federal funds
and programs are delegated to the state; an investigation of early learning
efforts statewide, including federal, state, and private programs to assess
innovative approaches and to recommend effective practices; an investigation of
ways to improve pre-kindergarten standards, with a focus on a state training
program for noncertified pre-kindergarten instructors; the possible creation of
an early learning program specially designed for at-risk four-year-olds;
possible expansion of early learning programs for at-risk three-year-olds; the
impact of an early education income tax credit for families with incomes under
200 percent of the federally designated poverty level that would allow
low-income families to afford early education options that wealthier families
can afford at institutions of their choice. The commission may recommend any
actions or legislation which the commission deems necessary or appropriate. The
commission may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may
deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its
powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this
resolution. The members of the commission shall receive the allowances
authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall
receive the same for not more than three days unless additional days are
authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution
shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives and
Senate. The Carl Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia is authorized
and directed to provide staff services to the commission. In the event the
commission makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions
for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before
December 31, 2006. The commission shall stand abolished on December 31, 2006.