Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) | Early Learning Board Meeting

Early Learning Board Meeting – December 12, 2024

Posted on Dec 6, 2024 in Board Agendas

Early Learning Board Meeting

Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024

AGENDA

1:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Center for Early Education and Development (CEED), 2nd Floor

Kindergarten and Children’s Aid Association (KCAA Preschools of Hawaii)

2707 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96826

The public may attend the meeting in person or remotely via the ZOOM link (see below)

2707 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96826

The Chair will preside in person

Early Learning Board Vision: Creating a sustainable early learning system that partners with families to ensure that every child is healthy, valued, and successful in school and life.

Early Learning Board Mission: To support children’s academic and lifelong well-being by directing and supporting the Executive Office on Early Learning for an effective, coordinated, high-quality early learning system from prenatal to kindergarten entry.

Board expectations:

Inquiry mindset. Ask informed questions. Other mindsets are equity, bold, and radical. (Anne Douglass)
Come informed: Written reports are to be read before meetings. Meeting time can be utilized for discussion and decision-making. Not all written reports require decision-making.
County representatives should be informed about early learning in their county.
Shifting in our thinking from seeing early educators as objects of change to agents of change. (Anne Douglass)

The Board will accept public testimony with each agenda item. Public comments are limited to 2 minutes per agenda item and must address items listed on the published agenda

I.	Welcome/Vision & Mission/Announcements/Roll call: Elaine Yamashita Vision & mission read by: Stephanie Shipton Voting board members: please let chair know if you are interested in serving on a subcommittee. Approved by-laws are in the ELB shared drive, and will be posted on ELB page when the new website is launched.	1:30 – 1:35
II.	Review and Approve Minutes: Elaine Yamashita Action: Approve 11/14/24 Meeting Minutes	1:35 – 1:40
III.	Executive Office on Early Learning Updates Report: Director Arikawa-Cross/Staff Roadmap to Achieve the Objectives of Act 46 and Act 210 (SLH 2021) related to early learning and early childhood care opportunities in the State of Hawaii by 2032 – Public Pre-Kindergarten Expansion & Early Learning Board (ELB): ● Workforce Development and Support ○ Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board New Business Item No. 24-14 ● Facilities for Early Childhood Education Programs ● Funding for the Early Care and Education Mixed Delivery System ○ Executive Budget Update ● Program Quality Improvement and Maintenance ● Health, Mental Health, Nutrition ○ Update on Hawaiʻi Dental Service Foundation Grant ○ Head Start: Migrant Farm Worker Outreach ● Systems Updates ○ Personnel Update: New Hire ELB/EOEL Office Assistant ○ Act 210 Report Update ○ 2024 NIEER Report Update ○ Hunt Institute Convening and Goals ○ Head Start Collaboration Office Updates ○ PDGB5 Updates Outcome: Information, questions Public comment	1:40 – 2:10
IV.	Update on ECE Registered Apprenticeships as a compensation strategy: Dr. Terry Lock (UH Mānoa ECE P3), Melodie Vega (Keiki o Ka ‘Āina), Caroline Soga (Honolulu Community College) This update will cover the components of Keiki o Ka ‘Āina’s Early Childhood Education Registered Apprenticeship Program (ECE RAP) as a “earn while you learn” workforce development and compensation strategy. In addition, a proposed 2025 legislative bill called the Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program, including a projected budget, will be shared. The purpose of this grant program is to incentivize other early learning programs to participate in KOKA’s ECE RAP. Outcome: Information, questions, discussion Public comment	2:10 – 2:50
	Break	2:50 – 3:00
V.	Vice-chair election: Governance committee, Matthew Shim The nomination and election process was approved at the 7/11/24 meeting. Nominations closed on 10/25/24. Today: announcement of candidates, vote Outcome: Voting for vice-chair Public comment	3:00-3:10
VI.	Unfinished business: Report on proposed Standing subcommittee to handle Legislative matters: Governance committee, Matthew Shim Referred to Governance committee at 10/10/24 meeting. The decision was to continue the practice of the EOEL Director, Government Affairs Specialist, and ELB chair meeting weekly during the session rather than forming a committee. Board member Kau‘i Burgess will also give input when she can. . Outcome: Update, discussion. Public comment	3:10 – 3:20
VII.	Vote on 2023-24 Framework of Policy Priorities as a base for 2025: Elaine Yamashita The Framework was approved in Dec. 2023 for the 2024 legislative session. It is the same as the 2023 version. Proposed 2024_25 Framework of Policy Priorities .docx No time for discussion in November. Board members, please review and come ready to discuss and vote. Outcome: Information, discussion, vote Public comment	3:20 – 3:35
VIII.	Update on possible Family Council: Elaine Yamashita We have been advised that Hawai‘i Revised Statutes do not give ELB or EOEL the power to create an attached entity such as a Family Council. EOEL Executive Director was working on implementing one of the previously approved evaluation criteria. Chair and EOEL Executive Director discussed this, and agree that there may be times in the future when ELB will need feedback from a variety of families. EOEL will compile a list of the groups that exist that could be tapped for feedback in the future. Another option is to have a subcommittee of the board rather than a council. Outcome: Information, discussion Public comment	3:35 – 3.40
IX..	Unfinished business EOEL Executive Director evaluation criteria: Governance committee, Matt Shim The memo from Governance for 2024 evaluation criteria for the EOEL Executive Director is adapted from the Dec. 2023 memo. Governance worked on criteria with the Executive Director. Governance Subcommittee Update to ELB on 10-10-24 (Sept 2024 update).docx No time for discussion in November. Board members, please review and come ready to discuss and vote. Outcome: Discussion, vote Public comment	3:40 – 3:50
X.	The proposed salary schedule for EOEL Executive Director: Governance Committee, Matthew Shim Referred to Governance by Finance committee. See 12/5/24 Governance committee update. Outcome: Presentation, discussion. The vote will be in January 2025 Public comment	3:25 – 3:35
XI.	Unfinished business: Update on Act 156 (SB 2475 SD2 HS2 CD1) – Establishing the Harm to Students Registry implementation: Phil Bossert, Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools At the Oct. meeting, the board voted to have this on the agenda for at least two more meetings. The Nov. update from board member Phil Bossert is below. Ran out of time in the Nov. meeting to review. “The implementation of the Harm to Students Registry program is moving along – slowly but surely. We are in the process of getting all of the 112 private school heads of school signed up as “primary users” for their institutions. Each school head receives an email from the Registry asking them to complete an “attestation” form by which they say they understand what the Registry is for and that they will use it responsibly. When they return that form to HDOE-IT, their account is established. The primary user is able to search the Registry to see if someone’s name is on the Registry and the primary user can also post the name of an offender to the Registry after a proper investigation has been conducted. Then each school can appoint one or two “search-only” users who can check the Registry to see if a potential employee’s, volunteer’s, or contractor’s name is on the Registry. HAIS has conducted two trainings for private schools thus far – one on what the Registry is and how to use it and a second one on how to conduct a fair and effective investigation of an incident of harm to students. The software for the Registry is still in the process of being developed – only Phase One has been released thus far and it allows a person to search the Registry one name at a time. Phase Two will allow a school to submit a list of names to the Registry to see if there are any “hits” that need further research. To our knowledge at this time, there is only one name that has been posted to the Registry.” Outcome: Information, discussion Public comment	3:35 – 3:40
XII.	Proposed ad hoc or standing committee: System communication and collaboration – Elaine Yamashita – A resource to read before the meeting: Building Block 5 of the Hawai’i Early Childhood State Plan 2019-2024 (pp. 20-22): OUR keiki OUR FUTURE – The purpose is to establish what information needs to be shared, what the communication channels are, and how the information is available in order to establish and maintain an effective early learning system. – Members would include key system stakeholders. Outcome: Discussion/questions. Possible action: Refer to Governance for further definition and development. Public comment	3:40 – 3:55
XIII.	Review Agenda Outcomes/Announcements/Closing – Elaine Yamashita	3:55 – 4:00

Items for the January agenda
I.	Proposed policy re: Mixed delivery system: Elaine Yamashita ELB has supported a mixed delivery system, which supports family choice. However, it has not been an articulated policy. Apparently, there is a perception in the community, especially with the EOEL expansion, supported by the Ready Keiki initiative, that the state is going to “take over” and there will be fewer families paying tuition and programs will close. That has happened in other states, however, in Hawai‘i, the Lt. Governor is aware and the Preschool Open Doors $50 million and year-round application is a way the state is supporting community-based programs. The Chair is working on a draft policy. Two documents give information on mixed delivery systems, as well as the EOEL diagram (link below) which shows the variety of funding that supports family choice. The packet also has a link to a short video explaining the mixed delivery system. https://earlylearning.hawaii.gov/early-learning-opportunities-in-hawaii/ Outcome: Information, discussion. Public comment

Next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2025

Public Written Testimony addressing items on the agenda: Interested persons may submit written testimony via email to Tara Castrovinci at [email protected]. For easier recognition, please include the word “TESTIMONY” in the email subject line. Testimony may also be hand delivered or mailed to Tara Castrovinci, Executive Office on Early Learning, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Elementary, 2759 S. King Street, Room C6, Honolulu, HI, 96826. Written testimony must be received no later than 3 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2024, for Board consideration and possible inclusion in the Board Packet. Any written testimony submitted after such time will be retained as part of the record and will be distributed to Board members at the beginning of the meeting. Written testimony may be part of the Board Packet and posted on the Board website; given that possibility, the public should be mindful about sharing personal information in their written testimony.

Remote Oral Testimony addressing items on the agenda may also be provided during the meeting. To provide Video/Zoom Testimony, interested persons may use the Zoom Meeting link https://hidoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsdeuuqj8qGtfhGwrroC_LXXdEK1-MG38v. They may use any one of the following methods to offer oral testimony: indicate in the chat they wish to offer oral testimony when the Chair announces an agenda item; call or email Tara Castrovinci (see email/phone number below) by 9 am on the day of the meeting to request that the testifier be called on by name to present oral testimony; or, use the “raise hand” feature in Zoom. Public oral testimony is limited to 2 minutes per agenda item and must address items listed on the published agenda.

Board Packets (Meeting Materials) are available on the EOEL/ELB Website at https://rebrand.ly/Ehttps://earlylearning.hawaii.gov/?p=22848&preview=trueLB. The Board Packet will also be available for public inspection in the EOEL’s Office (Prince Jonah Kūhiō Elementary, 2759 S. King Street, Room C6, Honolulu, HI, 96826)

The ELB is conducting in-person meetings at the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Center for Early Education and Development (CEED), 2nd Floor Kindergarten and Children’s Aid Association (KCAA Preschools of Hawaii) location (2707 South King Street, 2nd floor, Honolulu, HI 96826) with some Board members joining remotely. The Public may attend the meeting in person, or may join remotely using the link below:

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://hidoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsdeuuqj8qGtfhGwrroC_LXXdEK1-MG38v

Passcode: x9^LwZ^S

Meeting ID: 851 2264 4003

Dial a number based on your current location:

US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 444 9171 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 719 359 4580 or +1 253 205 0468 or +1 689 278 1000 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 305 224 1968 or +1 309 205 3325 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 360 209 5623 or +1 386 347 5053 or +1 507 473 4847 or +1 564 217 2000 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 646 931 3860

If you are logging into Zoom via computer or mobile app, we request that you identify your first and last name as well as the organization you are representing, but it is not necessary for you to do so to attend the meeting. If you choose to identify yourself, you can do this when you sign onto the meeting or once you are in the meeting. Attendees who wish to remain anonymous need not disclose their names or organizations and/or may use pseudonyms or other identifiers.

Captioning is available through Zoom; the host will turn it on for all.

If you need auxiliary aids/services or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Tara Castrovinci at (808) 784-5350 or at [email protected] as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill your request. Upon request, this notice is available in alternative formats.

If the Zoom connection is interrupted during the meeting, the meeting will recess for up to thirty

(30) minutes to allow staff to attempt to restore connectivity. If the audiovisual connection cannot be restored, the meeting may reconvene with audio only using the phone information listed above. If the connection cannot be restored within thirty (30) minutes of interruption, the Board may continue the meeting by notifying the public of the date, time, and place of the meeting at early learning.hawaii.gov/about-us/early-learning-board/. Otherwise, the meeting will be automatically terminated.

For help with Zoom, visit: https://support.zoom.com/hc/en