First 5 Santa Barbara County recently got some exciting news: It’s going to be one of the 16 participants in California’s successful Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant application to the federal government.
First 5 will act as lead organization of a regional leadership consortium tasked with developing an early care and education “quality rating system” designed to assess and improve such programs in the county.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting venture, and look forward to partnering with community members to develop a strong Quality Rating System through which we will all benefit—children, parents, and the community,” First 5 Executive Director Patricia Wheatley said in a statement.
Gov. Jerry Brown and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced in December that California received a $52.6 million Early Learning Challenge grant.
“This grant will help more California children get good care and a good start at learning, which we know is key to their long-term success, at school and beyond,” Torlakson said in a press release.
California was among 35 states to submit an application for the $500 million state-level competitive grant program to improve early learning and development. In California, different consortiums will work with licensed child-care providers and school districts to make relevant information more readily available to parents and policymakers.
First 5 Santa Barbara County Children and Families Commission is funded by Proposition 10 and works in partnership with individuals and organizations throughout the county to support the health, early learning, and well-being of children pre-natal to age 5 and their families.
School Scene is compiled by Managing Editor Amy Asman. Send information to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Jan 5-12, 2012.