At their October 21 meeting, the First 5 California Commission followed their staff’s recommendation and approved the Program Concepts that resulted from the Project Legacy process.

Included in the Program Concepts is a recommendation that the Commission “develop and implement a professional development program that provides incentives for the early learning workforce to further their higher education and also provides stimulus for higher education systems change and builds on the First 5 CARES and AB 212” programs.

Many ECE advocates turned out to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting to encourage the First 5  Commissioners to continue their much needed support of the ECE workforce by approving the Program Concepts. Organizations represented at the meeting included Preschool California, the Los Angeles Child Care Planning Council, the California Community Foundation and the Los Angeles County Office of Education to name just a few. Representing the California Federation of Teachers at the meeting were Arleen Rivera, president of Early Childhood Federation of Teachers, Local 1475, Betty Robinson- Harris, United Educators of San Francisco, Local 61 and Sandra Weese, Early Childhood Education Organizing Project Director.

More information about the Signature Programs developed from the Program Concepts will be shared at the proposed January 27, 2010 Commission meeting in Sacramento.

Betty Robinson-Harris, Sandra Weese and Arleen Rivera at the Calfiornia First 5 Commission meeting.