Moving Toward a Comprehensive Early Childhood System in Hawaii: An analysis of the fiscal resources

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Introduction to the 2011 Hawaii Fiscal Mapping Report Presented by the Hawaii Early Learning Advisory Board (ELC) There is a clear and urgent need for early learning (prenatal to age five) programs in the State of Hawaii. High-quality early learning programs that are affordable and accessible for all children are critically important to ensure the success of Hawaii's keiki. Research has shown that high-quality early learning programs produce significant long-term benefits for the child, and for our community. Yet, Hawaii is among eleven states in the nation, which do not offer a state-funded preschool program. We offer the following report, which affirms our concern for the need for a statewide early learning and development system to support the implementation of high-quality early learning programs. While it appears that there are public and private resources supporting young children in Hawaii, further detailed analysis reveals that those funds are largely focused on health and special education and thus restrictive in nature and not meeting the needs of young children. The current level of funding does not support the full range of comprehensive services such as care and education for young children and their families’ support for preventive health and workforce development. Key Takeaways: •

The amount invested in early care and educational needs of children, families and the workforce, are minimal.

Public funds are narrowly focused, restricted and lack flexibility. They largely support health, nutrition and special education programs.

Despite public funds being available for health and nutrition, they are not adequate to support the health needs of the youngest children in this State.

Parents and private foundations play a primary and critical role in funding early care and education programs for children in this State, including family support and workforce development.

State agencies (Health, Human Services, Education) are committed to coordinating funding to leverage investments to build a comprehensive early learning system.

Background: The Hawaii Early Learning Advisory Board (HELAB), formerly the Early Learning Council (ELC), has responsibility to advise the new Executive Office on Early Learning on the development of a system to serve all children prenatal to age five. The vision of the HELAB is that All Children are Valued, Safe, Healthy, and Ready to Succeed. The HELAB created a framework for a comprehensive early childhood system (http://elc.k12.hi.us/brochure/brochure/index.htm) that recognizes the needs of the whole child, the family and the early learning practitioner. This framework focuses on specific measurable outcomes around four foundational components: 1) Early Education and Care, 2) Health, 3) Parent Education and Family Support and 4) Workforce and Professional Development. In order to design, afford and implement such a system, the first critical step was to determine the resources and programs that are currently available in the State of Hawaii through federal, state, private foundation and private (including parent) funds. It was also critical to compare these funds to those needed for the aforementioned framework. Comparing the current resources


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