Best Beginnings

Advocacy Work

Public Policy Priorities for 2011

Alaska Early Care and Learning: Public Policy Priorities for 2011 are recommendations to assist public policy leaders in developing a system of early care and learning to promote school readiness, strong families, and a strong work force. These are advanced by a coalition working together to increase the accessibility and quality of early learning for young children and to strengthen families.

In addition to Best Beginnings, the coalition includes thread, Alaska's Child Care Resource and Referral Network; the Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children; the Alaska Head Start Association; and the Alaska Infant Learning Professional Association.

Be a Voice: Advocate

Public Policy Priorities for 2010

The Alaska Early Care and Education Public Policy Priorities for 2010 are meant to assist public policy leaders in developing a system of early learning to promote school readiness, strong families, and a strong work force. These are advanced by a coalition of early childhood advocates working together to support young children.

Best Beginnings in Juneau

Abbe Hensley (left), Best Beginnings executive director; Senator Bettye Davis; Melinda Myers, Best Beginnings senior manager; and Sue Hull, Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board Member.

At the invitation of Senator Bettye Davis, D-Anchorage, Best Beginnings made a presentation to the Senate Health, Education, and Social Services Committee on March 7, 2008. Best Beginnings staff Melinda Myers and Abbe Hensley updated the members on progress made since meeting with the committee during the 2007 legislative session. Best Beginnings received $150,000 in FY08 through the Department of Education and Early Development's Early Learning Programs as the State's contribution to this public-private partnership.

Committee members were briefed on the recently completed plan for Alaska's voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), an organized method of assessing, improving, and communicating the quality of early care and education programs. A two-year field test was discussed as the next step to getting this framework in place in the state.

Best Beginnings invited other partners with special expertise to participate in the presentation on other issues of concern. Sue Hull, a member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board and a Best Beginnings Early Learning Council member, spoke on the need to raise child care assistance rates for families. Mark Lackey, executive director of CCS Early Learning (Head Start), provided information about his program and Head Start programs around the state and the funding needed to ensure their viability. Finally, Carol Prentice, program manager of the System for Early Education Development (SEED), highlighted how investments in professional development have resulted in increased education levels of Head Start teachers in Alaska.

Senator Davis continues to be an enthusiastic advocate for young children in Alaska. Her support for the Best Beginnings public-private partnership and its goals demonstrates her strong commitment to the future economic vitality of Alaska.

As a result of the collaboration among the early learning community and the advocacy of Best Beginnings’ supporters around the state, the FY09 State budget includes:

an additional $600,000 to enroll more children in Head Start programs, helping to whittle long wait lists.
$307,100 for Early Learning Programs in the Department of Education and Early Development, including support for Best Beginnings.
funding to increase child care reimbursement rates from 25% to 50% of the market rate, making child care more affordable for working families.