Publication and Dissemination of the Workforce Commission Report

At the conclusion of their three-year appointment, commission members developed a set of recommendations to strengthen and expand Nebraska’s early childhood workforce. The Institute led the development, publication, launch, and dissemination of the report, Elevating Nebraska’s Early Childhood Workforce: Report and Recommendations of the Nebraska Early Childhood Workforce Commission. 138 The commission’s report articulates its vision, which is to elevate the early childhood workforce to a priority profession benefiting all children from birth through Grade 3. The report defines a priority profession as one that is essential to the social and economic well-being of the state. The report’s recommendations focus on four key goals:

1. Qualified workforce. Ensure the early childhood workforce is highly qualified and reflects the diversity of the children and families they serve.

2. Full funding. Fully fund high-quality care and education by 2030.

3. Informed, engaged, and committed public. Nebraskans champion the critical role of the early childhood workforce in young children’s learning and development.

4. Implementation and accountability infrastructure. Implement the commission’s recommendations through the formation of a statewide coalition.

Workforce Commission Report Launch Event

Report presented in Lincoln, Jan. 30, 2020

Speakers included:

• Matthew Blomstedt, commissioner, Nebraska Department of Education

• Marjorie Kostelnik, commission co-chair and dean emeritus, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

• Susan Sarver, director of workforce planning and development, Buffett Early Childhood Institute

• Senator John Stinner, commission member and Nebraska Legislature, Appropriations Committee chair

Panelists included:

• Samuel J. Meisels (moderator), commission co-chair and founding executive director, Buffett Early Childhood Institute

• Nancy Edick, dean, College of Education, University of Nebraska at Omaha

• Tawana Grover, superintendent, Grand Island Public Schools

• Catherine Lang, state director, Nebraska Business Development Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha

• John Spatz, executive director, Nebraska Association of School Boards

• Mariah Stowe, owner-operator, Splash of Color Child Care, Lincoln

On Jan. 30, 2020, the commission launched its report and proposed its recommendations at an event in Lincoln that was also transmitted live to watch parties across the state; hundreds joined for the event that included a presentation of commission recommendations and a panel discussion with experts. As part of the dissemination strategy, the report was mailed to more than 2,700 homes or offices, with many other copies distributed by commission members across their organizations and networks. The commission report informed the Nebraska Legislature’s Legislative Resolution 390 interim study report and continues to be referenced nationally.

Engaging the Nebraska Legislature Through Legislative Resolution 390

When the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted plans to conduct a statewide tour to share the commission report and recommendations, Senator John Stinner, chair of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee and a member of the commission, recommended undertaking a legislative study to keep the spotlight on the early childhood workforce, especially considering the pandemic. The Legislative Resolution 390 (LR 390) interim study sought to assess the fiscal and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nebraska’s early childhood workforce and the early care and education system. The commission report was named in the legislative resolution as foundational to the study, and other workforce-related efforts contributed to the LR 390 report.

A public hearing was held on Sept. 29, 2020. The hearing provided a valuable opportunity to brief members of the Appropriations Committee on the commission’s report and recommendations, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the early childhood workforce, and the ways in which the commission estimated the requirements for a fully funded early care and education system in Nebraska. The hearing was well attended by the committee, and Nebraska Public Media broadcast the hearing live on its website. University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter was among those who testified, and he noted that early childhood education remains one of the university’s top strategic priorities. The resulting press and social media coverage continued to communicate the importance of the issues and the Legislature’s growing concern for the early childhood workforce. In addition to the Sept. 29 hearing, a separate briefing was held with the Health and Human Services Committee on Dec. 15, 2020, to share comparable information and assist members in understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the early childhood workforce.